【1994 Archives】

Amazon994 Archivesstill delivering packages as the coronavirus pandemic rages on, but that doesn't mean you should continue using the online shopping service like before.

Even if you try to order your usual random items, your Amazon experience looks a bit different these days. Amazon already announced it's not restocking its warehouse inventory for certain items, like toys and books. Usually an Amazon Prime subscription guarantees you same-day, or one- to two-day delivery windows for certain items. But as of this weekend, as Recode reported, certain "non-essential" items were projected to arrive about a month out, with many posts showing an April 21 delivery date for Prime members.

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We reached out to Amazon and a spokesperson confirmed that the COVID-19 outbreak is changing how Amazon ships products. "This has resulted in some of our delivery promises being longer than usual," Amazon said in an email statement.

Changes to logistics, transportation, supply chain, purchasing, and third-party seller processes were made recently to "prioritize stocking and delivering items that are a higher priority for our customers," Amazon reps said.

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Most of the change-ups are to protect Amazon workers, who are still working and exposing themselves to infections as the coronavirus spreads through more people throughout the U.S. Amazon said it's hiring 100,000 positions in the U.S. to get the delivery process going — and faster.

For anyone stuck at home, this means items deemed more essential like food, medical supplies, or other basic necessities are prioritized over your impromptu arts-and-crafts project supplies or silly graphic tee. That's how it's likely going to be for the foreseeable future.

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