D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is suing Amazon for allegedly misleading Prime membership holders in two wards to believe they had access to same-day, one-day, and two-day delivery speeds when they didn’t.
In 2022, Amazon stopped using its fleet of branded trucks to make deliveries in the D.C. zip codes 20019 and 20020, which are encompassed in Wards 7 and 8.
Both of these wards lead the city in violent crime. Last year, these wards saw the most carjackings, with a 100% increase compared to 2022. On several occasions, Amazon delivery drivers were victims of carjackings and armed robberies in these two wards, a source with the company told the Washington Examiner.
This prompted Amazon’s decision to make adjustments to its delivery times and also outsource deliveries to third parties to ensure the safety of its workers, according to Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel.
“In the zip codes in question, there have been specific and targeted acts against drivers delivering Amazon packages,” Nantel said in a statement. “We made the deliberate choice to adjust our operations, including delivery routes and times, for the sole reason of protecting the safety of drivers. And we’re always transparent with customers during the shopping journey and checkout process about when, exactly, they can expect their orders to arrive.”
However, Schwalb is accusing Amazon of not disclosing to Prime Members in these two wards, nearly 48,000 members, its changes to operations that resulted in the reduction of expedited deliveries.
In 2021, before Amazon implemented its “exclusion,” more than 72% of Prime packages in Wards 7 and 8 were delivered within two days. However, in 2023, after the “exclusion” was implemented, just 25% of packages to 20019 and 24% of packages to 20020 were delivered within two days of checkout.
Schwalb alleged that when members complained to Amazon about the reductions in expedited delivery services, the company falsely said it was not on purpose and was outside of Amazon’s control, violating the district’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
“Amazon is charging tens of thousands of hard-working Ward 7 and 8 residents for an expedited delivery service it promises but does not provide,” Schwalb said in a statement. “While Amazon has every right to make operational changes, it cannot covertly decide that a dollar in one ZIP code is worth less than a dollar in another. We’re suing to stop this deceptive conduct and make sure District residents get what they’re paying for.”
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An Amazon spokesperson said these claims are “categorically false,” and the company has been cooperating with the D.C. attorney general’s office in this investigation.
“What we’d like to do, and have offered, is to work together with the Attorney General and their office in an effort to reduce crime and improve safety in these areas,” Nantel said. “Nevertheless, we will proceed in the process and demonstrate that providing fast and accurate delivery times and prioritizing the safety of customers and delivery partners are not mutually exclusive.”