The District of Columbia has taken legal action against Amazon, claiming that the company has quietly stopped delivering directly to two neighborhoods that are predominantly Black, while still charging residents for Amazon Prime memberships.
The lawsuit was filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court and contends that since mid-2022, Amazon has ceased using its own delivery drivers for areas with zip codes 20019 and 20020. Consequently, residents have experienced a noticeable slowdown in shipping times.
Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb stated that Amazon is “charging tens of thousands” in the community for expedited delivery services that are not being provided. The complaint claims that the company has resorted to using other delivery services, such as the U.S. Postal Service and UPS, instead of delivering directly.
While acknowledging Amazon’s right to change its operations, Schwalb emphasized that the company cannot choose to treat customers in different neighborhoods unfairly. “We’re suing to put an end to this deceptive behavior and to ensure that residents receive the services they are paying for,” he added.
Amazon has responded by admitting to the changes made in delivery methods for these neighborhoods but defended its actions. A spokesperson from the company explained that the decision was aimed at protecting the safety of delivery drivers, who faced targeted threats in those specific areas. The spokesperson further argued that the claims of discriminatory or deceptive practices are completely false.
The lawsuit points out that approximately 48,000 people in these neighborhoods are Amazon Prime members who are being negatively affected by this situation. Since 2022, Prime membership has cost customers $139, and the Attorney General alleges that this change in shipping practices has led to “significantly longer delivery times.”
According to the lawsuit, only about 25% of Prime packages reached customers in these neighborhoods within the promised two-day window in 2023. This is a significant drop from the 72% rate before Amazon allegedly stopped sending its own drivers.
The District of Columbia has labeled Amazon’s decision to keep charging full prices, despite the delays in deliveries, as “misleading” and “deceptive.” The lawsuit aims to put a stop to what it describes as unfair and deceptive practices and seeks restitution and damages for the affected customers.
