Amazon accused of halting fast deliveries to Black neighborhoods in DC

In mid-2022, a significant shift occurred in Amazon's service delivery model within the District of Columbia, targeting two predominantly Black neighborhoods identified by zip codes 20019 and 20020. This change, labeled as a 'delivery exclusion', involved Amazon ceasing to use its own logistics to provide fast delivery to residents, instead opting to rely solely on third-party providers like UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. The lawsuit asserts that this move was not disclosed to existing Prime members in these areas, who still continued to pay for a service that was no longer being provided as promised. Furthermore, data revealed that before the exclusion, a staggering 72% of Prime packages were being delivered within two days, but this rate plummeted to a mere 24% following the operational shift. This alteration led to widespread dissatisfaction among the membership base, which the District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb emphasized, noting the reliance on Amazon for essential goods in urban neighborhoods that lack adequate retail options and are characterized as food deserts. Given that nearly half of the population in these areas are Prime members, the implications of Amazon’s decision were particularly impactful. The lawsuit seeks court intervention to stop Amazon from continuing what is perceived as unfair or deceptive practices, alongside demands for restitution for affected consumers and civil penalties against the company. This lawsuit comes amid an ongoing contentious relationship between Amazon and the District, which previously filed an antitrust complaint challenging the company’s market practices. Amidst the current legal challenge, the District aims to hold Amazon accountable for the alleged disregard for equal service provision across different neighborhoods, reinforcing the broader narrative of inequalities within urban service delivery systems.