Amazon's Discount Store Arrives, Overflowing with Low-Quality Goods
In a move aimed at catering to impulsive late-night shoppers, Amazon has launched a new mobile-exclusive discount store called Amazon Haul. The new service, accessible via a separate tab on the Amazon phone app, offers a wide range of products including fashion, home, lifestyle, and electronics.
Delivery times for Amazon Haul products are between one and two weeks. The price cap for items in Amazon Haul is set at $20, with most items priced under $10. Shoppers can enjoy a 5% discount on orders above $50 and 10% off on orders $75 or more.
However, concerns have been raised about the quality and origins of the items available in Amazon Haul. A market report suggests that many of the dirt-cheap items may contain toxic levels of lead. The quality of items in Amazon Haul is reportedly similar to what is offered by budget Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein.
These budget retailers have been criticised for their labor practices. According to a U.S. Congressional Select Committee, they use a model that underpays and severely mistreats millions of Uyghur Muslims living in China.
Amazon, however, has assured that all product sellers in Amazon Haul are screened and that the products are safe, authentic, and compliant with applicable regulations. The company also requires all products sold in its stores to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and Amazon policies, including its supply chain standards for labor rights, health and safety, and sustainability.
Amazon also requires safe, healthy, and fair work conditions as a requirement for doing business with Amazon in every country it operates. However, the search results do not provide direct information about who operates the fulfillment centers in China for Amazon Haul's new discount shopping service.
Despite launching during the holiday season, it is questionable whether many of the products in Amazon Haul may be too low-quality to be considered decent gifts. This article was updated on 11/13/2024 at 8:45 PM ET with clarifications from Amazon about Haul product quality and Amazon labor practices.
To access the Haul tab on the Amazon app, users can update the app, search for "Haul" in the app search bar, or visit Haul on a desktop and scan the QR code with a phone.
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