Amazon said it would immediately prioritize shipments of household staples and medical products while temporarily halting intake of other goods until April 5 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The change will apply to orders in the U.S. and European Union that are placed starting today, the company said in a statement posted on its website.
The company said it would prioritize products in six broad categories: baby products; health and household goods; beauty and personal care; groceries; industrial and scientific products; and pet supplies. Any sales placed before today can still be fulfilled, the company said.
“We understand this is a change to your business, and we did not take this decision lightly. We are working around the clock to increase capacity,” the company said, noting that it announced Monday it would hire an additional 100,000 workers in its U.S. warehouses to help handle increased demand.
The suspension affects mainly third-party sellers on the platform, who account for over half of sales on Amazon.
The news comes as several U.S. states and European countries have closed bars, restaurants and other businesses like movie theaters and gyms where people come into close contact in an effort to help stem the spread of coronavirus. With the business closures and “social distancing” recommendations, more people are turning to online retailers like Amazon for basic goods likRead More – Source
