Amazon is reportedly nudging consumers to buy fewer non-essential items on the platform as it struggles to keep up with a surge in orders during the coronavirus outbreak.
The e-commerce giant is quietly dialing back tactics that encourage impulse spending or upselling of other products.
The firm is said to have removed recommendation widgets, canceled promotions and will postpone the popular Prime Day extravaganza indefinitely, sources close to the matter told the Wall Street Journal.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos told shareholders Thursday that the demand for essential products remains high, but came without warning and created major challenges for suppliers and delivery network.
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Amazon is reportedly nudging consumers to buy fewer non-essential items on the platform as it struggles to keep up with a surge in orders during the coronavirus. The e-commerce giant is quietly dialing back tactics that encourages impulse spending or upselling of other products
Amazon has become an essential for Americans amid the pandemic as more than 340 million are under lockdown in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
As of Friday there are more than 677,800 cases and over 34,800 deaths reported in the US.
Because many consumers cannot purchase products at brick-and-mortar stores, they are taking advantage of Amazon’s massive library of items for sale that can be delivered right to their doorstep.
Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said Thursday in a letter to shareholders: ‘Amazonians are working around the clock to get necessary supplies delivered directly to the doorsteps of people who need them.’
Amazon has become an essential for Americans amid the pandemic as more than 340 million are under lockdown in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus. As of Friday there are more than 677,800 cases and over 34,800 deaths reported in the US
‘The demand we are seeing for essential products has been and remains high. But unlike a predictable holiday surge, this spike occurred with little warning, creating major challenges for our suppliers and delivery network.’
The demand has forced Amazon to change the way it operates, which includes eliminating many of its tactics that encourage customers to buy more products that they may not need.
Sources told the Wall Street Journal that Amazon has canceled its yearly Mother’s Day and Father’s Day promotions and is postponing Prime Day indefinitely.
However, the firm has yet to make these changes public.
The firm is said to have removed recommendation widgets, canceled promotions and will postpone the popular Prime Day extravaganza indefinitely, sources close to the matter told the Wall Street Journal
Not only has the firm experienced a surge in orders, but it is also facing worker strikes over conditions in warehouses and confirmed coronavirus cases at certain locations. Pictured are employees at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, NY protesting over conditions at the site
DailyMail.com has reached out to Amazon for comment and has yet to receive a response
Not only has the firm experienced a surge in orders, but it is also facing worker strikes over conditions in warehouses and confirmed coronavirus cases at certain locations.
It’s believed there are at least 74 Amazon facilities with employees who have been infected and on March 31, Gerard Tuzara, an operations manager at a fulfillment center in Southern California died from the virus.
With the surge in orders and diminishing workforce, Amazon has quickly put together a ‘speed team’ of senior executives that will develop a plan to get Amazon back to its normal selection and delivery times, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.
It’s believed there are at least 74 Amazon facilities with employees who have been infected and on March 31, Gerard Tuzara (circled), an operations manager at a fulfillment center in Southern California died from the virus
However, the sources noted that it could take more than two months before ‘the company is running at pre-pandemic capacity.’
But Amazon did announce this week that it would hire 75,000 more people for jobs ranging from warehouse staff to delivery drivers as the coronavirus epidemic keeps Americans locked in their homes and demand for online orders surge.
The company will also begin allowing third-party sellers to resume shipping nonessential items this week in a sign the company is gearing up to meet consumer demand.