For a long time I haven't been using Amazon and last week I finally deleted my account fully and requested a deletion of my details. And here are some of my reasons why:
Amazon's treatment of their workers:
Amazon are continually coming under attack regarding their treatment of their workers. The fact that Amazon oppose trade-unions should ring alarm bells as a consumer or an employee. Why would a company fear a trade-union (which is a collection or group that aims to protect worker's rights) unless they do not have their worker's interests at heart? Right?!
The BBC did an undercover report at Amazon's delivery depot in Avonmouth U.K. in November 2016 and found that after deductions, including van hire and insurance, Amazon drivers could be paid as little as £2.59 per hour, less than half the UK minimum wage. And also in some instances delivery drivers faced time constraints so tight that they had no choice but to break the speed limit and use their van as a toilet to save time.
And in December 2020 the National Labor Relations board accused Amazon of illegally firing an employee who urged for better working conditions during the pandemic.
Tax Avoidance:
According the the Fair Tax Mark in 2019, Amazon are the worst offenders of tax avoidance. Don't get me wrong, I know tax can be a pain in the arse. But also don't get me wrong: tax benefits everybody. It is essential for funding healthcare, transport infrastructure, policing and education. And it's not like Amazon are struggling to make ends meet. Former CEO Jeff Bezoz made $56.7 billion in the months 1st January 2020 to 1st July 2020 (that's $3,605 per second. Let that sink in.) And during the first three months of 2021, Amazon's net worth tripled. The very least they can do is pay their full tax requirement. I mean, you and I do.
They out-price small and independent businesses:
Their massive wealth and infrastructure mean that they are able to out-price small and independent businesses. Which often results in the destruction of the high-street and the presence of any alternative competitors.
Other unethical practices:
Amazon has been linked to human rights abuses in China linked to the forced labour of Uyghur Muslims.
They have came under fire for the sale of Anti-Semitic material.
They have even been held under scrutiny for their removal of LGBT works in 2009.
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These are just some of the reasons that I have cancelled my account. I honestly don't want to be associated with them at all and I definitely don't want them to have any access to my private and personal information that could be used for their own gain. Because I don’t believe they can be trusted with it.
Further Reading:
'Gay writing' falls foul of Amazon sales ranking system - https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/apr/13/amazon-gay-writers
Amazon under fire for allowing sale of Nazi paraphernalia - https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/amazon-accused-of-profiting-from-hate-1.3358259
Even Jeff Bezos can’t afford to ignore his employees’ climate-change demands - https://qz.com/work/1708849/climate-change-strikes-can-jeff-bezos-ignore-an-amazon-employee-walkout/
Uyghurs for sale - https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale
Former Amazon employee set for hunger strike at Seattle headquarters - https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/22/former-amazon-employee-hunger-strike-seattle-headquarters
Amazon fires two tech workers who criticized the company’s warehouse workplace conditions - https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/04/13/amazon-workers-fired/
Amazon posts record profits as North American sales jump 40% in Q1 - https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/article/amazon-sales/
China: 83 major brands implicated in report on forced labour of ethnic minorities from Xinjiang assigned to factories across provinces; Includes company responses - https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/china-83-major-brands-implicated-in-report-on-forced-labour-of-ethnic-minorities-from-xinjiang-assigned-to-factories-across-provinces-includes-company-responses/
New study deems Amazon worst for 'aggressive' tax avoidance - https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/02/new-study-deems-amazon-worst-for-aggressive-tax-avoidance
Here's How Much Money Jeff Bezos Has Made In A Day/Hour/Second In 2020 - https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/jeff-bezos-wealth
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Written by Emma Woodthorpe, the human behind the indie-business Embers and Ink that brings you bright and bold illustrated gifts that are planet-friendly and have a social conscience.
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