Amazon Same Day Delivery Less Likely In "Black" Areas

Discussion in 'The Cocktail Lounge' started by Rainman, Apr 23, 2016.

  1. Rainman

    Rainman Senior Investor

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    Amazon Prime's same day delivery has been expanded and is now available in 27 metropolitan areas. Theoretically all prime members living in these areas should get whatever they buy delivered the same day they purchase it. But according to a Bloomberg report, the service bypasses ZIP codes that are predominantly black.

    Amazon explaining why their same day delivery services bypasses "black" areas.
    http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/...less-likely-black-areas-report-says/83345684/
    Thoughts?
     
  2. Alex

    Alex Senior Investor

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    I guess that is possible, but not unexpected, but how do you or they define a 'black area?' Is it deliberate or just a logistical fact as is often the case. Most deliveries depend on location to the the fulfillment centers and also the depots, and maybe this is just how it is for the time being.
     
  3. Rainman

    Rainman Senior Investor

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    Or they could have fewer prime customers in black neighborhoods. But if same day delivery is for all prime customers living in a certain city then all prime customers should get their stuff delivered the same day. If they can't they should stop promising they'll do something they can't or won't.
     
  4. erook7878

    erook7878 Well-Known Member

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    I don't think this is an issue of race. It could just be that poorer black areas are not hot spots for Amazon Prime membership. Considering the time sensitivity of same-day delivery, you want to serve areas where there are the highest number of Prime Amazon orders where a delivery truck can make the largest number of deliveries in the smallest time frame. If a delivery truck has to go out of there way to deliver a few packages in a neighborhood located faraway from their prime neighborhoods, that could disrupt their ability to deliver all of there orders on the same day.
     
  5. TaurusHorns

    TaurusHorns Well-Known Member

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    I can definitely see this being approved on a corporate level as not necessarily a racist measure, but a cultural measure tied to race. If a culture or area has a group of people more likely to steal or cause issues, it doesn't matter which race it is, it is in their best measure to avoid that area.
     
  6. Alex

    Alex Senior Investor

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    It does also boil down to how many people do have Prime memberships, because to be honest it's only worth it for families or if you order most things from Amazon. I've had it before, but right now it wouldn't be worth it for me, but also it depends on what items people buy as not all items come under the next day delivery or free Prime delivery. There is so much small print, I am just happy if the delivery is free!
     

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