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Archive for #Amazon

Developments from Amazon’s Decision to Terminate Free Whole Foods Delivery from Prime

Posted by David Brown 
· June 21, 2022 

Did you know Amazon recently terminated the free Whole Foods Delivery services on prime in September? Amazon acquired Whole Foods in 2017 and, in 2018, introduced a free two-hour delivery service for orders over $ 35 for Prime subscribers.

Analysts then embraced these moves since they saw them as an opportunity for Amazon to thrive amid competition. The recent activity to terminate the service and add a $99 .95 service fee was met by a pair of class-action lawsuits demanding refunds for thousands of subscribers.

An Overview of the Class Action Suits Filed Against Amazon One

The first suit was in May, while the second one was in June. As you will find out, both class action suits shed light on the fact that customers felt duped. Read on.

1. May Class-Action Suit

It was filed in a Washington court. The main allegations in this class suit are that.

  • Amazon engages in unfair business practices.
  • Amazon neither reduced the subscription cost nor refunded their customers after terminating the service.
  • Customers did not receive their membership bargain.

2. June Class Action Suit

The second suit happened in Washington, still in the same court where the accusation is that:

  • Amazon misinformed its customers.
  • The company wasn’t clear about their “Free Delivery” and “Free 2-Hour Grocery Delivery” Services.
  • The entity concealed certain product fees only to reveal them in the last stages of the purchase process, which allegedly misled customers (drip ricing).

In this second suit, the issue is that Amazon does not reveal a $9.95 service fee, surprising unsuspecting customers when it’s time to pay.

After introducing the free Whole Foods delivery service, the prices for an annual Amazon subscription increased from $99 to $119. Later, Amazon revealed a $9.95 service fee, which caused an uproar.

Customers allege that the $119 Prime subscription fee included the service fee. Amazon recently increased the subscription fee from 119 to $139, affecting current Prime subscribers and the second class-action suit.

Through all this, Amazon has remained quiet regarding the suit. Other entities might have to look at how they serve their customers after referring to these accusations. Also, it is an opportunity for customers to stay vigilant of the services they pay for.

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Amazon Settles Pesticide Lawsuit for $2.5 Million

Posted by David Brown 
· December 14, 2021 

Amazon will pay $2.5 million in a settlement agreed upon in November 2021. The Washington State Attorney General’s office alleges that the company allowed vendors to sell industrial-grade pesticides on its platform. The case involves pesticides bought between 2013 and 2020, according to Bizjournal.com.

Pesticides Sold Online

Under Washington state law, these pesticides were highly regulated, and members of the general public cannot purchase them through regular channels. In fact, the state requires sellers to hold the appropriate licenses. Sellers must also record information about buyers at the point of sale. Some of the pesticides also require buyers to hold a license due to the hazardous nature of the pesticides. In those cases, buyers need a pesticide applicator license.

EPA Investigation

The Environmental Protection Agency ordered Amazon to stop sales of the pesticides and won a settlement for $1.2 million in 2018. During the time frame in question, the tech giant sold high-strength pesticides in thousands of sales. Product descriptions for the pesticides did not warn customers that they were meant for industrial and agricultural use.

Therefore, it is possible that people bought them without knowing that they were any different from other products for sale to homeowners and individuals.

Possible Neurological Damage

Some people purchasing the pesticides probably didn’t know about the potential dangers, which include the risk of neurological damage if used improperly. Additionally, these pesticides may have contaminated groundwater, putting numerous endangered species at further risk. Species potentially impacted by the unregulated sale include Orcas and Chinook salmon.

According to news stories on several outlets, no allegations of harm have yet been made regarding customers or threatened wildlife.

Amazon Will Need a License to Continue Sales

Besides paying the $2.5 million settlement, Amazon must get a license in order to sell the pesticides in the future. The online seller will also have to make a number of changes to block unqualified buyers from purchasing the pesticides, intentionally or otherwise. Thus far, Amazon has cooperated with the state’s request for records related to the case.

It’s possible that some customers bought the pesticides without understanding the risks involved. Customers who bought pesticides on Amazon between 2013 and 2020 should contact Amazon directly.

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Lawsuit Claims Apple, Google, and Amazon Are Spies

Posted by David Brown 
· September 16, 2021 

We all love the convenience that Big Tech firms afford us in the 21st century, but does it mean we involuntarily sacrifice our privacy by buying into these services? The answer might very well be yes, according to a class-action lawsuit that will make you think twice about using your favorite voice assistant Siri. Apple, the company behind the Siri persona, stands accused of violating the California privacy law and the federal Wiretap Act.

Not only that but there are also lawsuits of a similar nature against Google and Amazon. The common denominator seems to be that these giant tech companies are illegally recording conversations to extract information sold to advertisers. These allegations come when voice assistant features and smart speakers are becoming more popular by the day. Still, it’s only a lawsuit, and the claims are only valid if Big Tech is proven guilty. So, that means you have nothing to worry about, right?

It never hurts to be cautious around voice assistant technology

As mentioned, Apple, Google, and Amazon are all facing similar lawsuits, and the plaintiffs claim they are listening in on your private discussions. All three companies have voice assistant features. Coincidence? Right now, there’s no way to know for sure. Google insists they don’t retain audio recordings. Amazon says they manually review a tiny portion of Alexa requests with the consent of users only to improve user experience and not to sell to third parties.

But because the concern has already been raised, there’s no harm in exercising some due diligence. It’s best to ensure your privacy is protected in the worst-case scenario.

For starters, it’s important to avoid accidentally activating your voice assistant. By way of example, simply saying “Alexa” will activate this feature if you have an Amazon smart device.

“Okay, Google” and “Hi Siri” will do the trick for Google and Apple smart devices, respectively.

The other thing is to make sure all your privacy settings don’t have any loopholes. You don’t want your recordings to be saved? Here’s how you do it:

Alexa

  • Open the Alexa app
  • Click the privacy menu
  • Go to Manage your Alexa data
  • Click the “Choose how long to save recordings option.”
  • Choose “Don’t save recordings.”

Google

  • Go to your Google Account
  • Click on Data and Privacy
  • Click on Web & App Activity
  • Uncheck the box that’s next to “include audio recordings.”
  • Also, uncheck the default settings

Apple

According to Apple, they will only retain your recordings if you opt-in by changing your settings.

No doubt, more information will be revealed as the progress of the lawsuits. For now, it’s up to users to do what they can to protect their privacy.

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Amazon’s Workers’ Compensation Premiums Might Increase in the Near Future: Why Is This Happening?

Posted by David Brown 
· November 19, 2020 

During the past few years, online sales have risen steadily and are poised to pass brick and mortar sales in the near future. As a result, many companies, such as Amazon, are relying on warehouses to help them fulfill orders. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Amazon is pushing its workers harder to fulfill orders and keep customers happy. Unfortunately, this might also be leading to more workplace injuries. Recently, it was reported that local governments are thinking about charging Amazon more money in worker’s compensation premiums to reflect this higher risk.

Studies that have been published recently have found that individuals are more likely to get injured working in an Amazon warehouse center than in other high-risk Industries, such as logging operations and meat packing plants. Essentially, if Amazon’s worker’s compensation premiums go up, the company might be in its own category.

There are a number of injuries that people may suffer when working on an Amazon fulfillment center or warehouse. For example, individuals who are asked to lift multiple heavy objects repeatedly during the course of their shift run the risk of suffering serious back injuries. Another injury that people might suffer involves a slip and fall accident. A slip and fall accident could lead to a bone fracture, a head injury, or other types of contusions. In some situations, these injuries might leave individuals out of work for an extended period of time.

Finally, it is also important to note the risk of being struck by a falling object. With so many objects being pulled from shelves on a regular basis, it is not unusual to see objects tumble to the floor. If they strike someone on the way down, this might lead to a serious injury.

It seems that regulatory authorities are finally starting to take note of the risk of injury when it comes to working in an Amazon fulfillment center. Anyone who is hurt on the job, including an Amazon fulfillment center, needs to remember that they are not alone. There are always trained professionals who are willing to help them file a workers’ compensation claim and state the compensation they deserve.

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