Worth the wait? Most Americans willing to accept slower deliveries for better worker treatment by Amazon

NEW YORK — Most shoppers on Amazon have come to expect lightning-quick deliveries from the online retail giant. However, that relentlessly speedy service has reportedly come at a high price for the well-being of the Amazon workforce. Now, a new survey finds consumers have a message for Amazon — shape up before you ship out. Researchers find two in three Americans would be fine waiting longer to get their packages in exchange for Amazon treating its workers better.

The poll of over 1,200 people, conducted by GammaWire, reveals more than 67 percent would trade slower service for a guarantee that the company will take better care of its delivery and warehouse employees. Amazon has taken a black eye to its public image in recent years. In just the last month, a growing number of U.S. politicians have called for public discussions over the allegations that the online giant mistreats its workforce.

Amazon itself has taken a hardline in defending their business practices on social media. However, the company did apologize for some of their response to growing criticism. The new poll, completed in the first week of April 2021, finds consumers by and large are standing with workers.

“I rarely need things as fast as Amazon ships them. Totally fine if they delay it a day or two if it means giving their drivers or warehouse people more breaks,” one respondent tells GammaWire.

Choosing people over package delivery

The survey finds 50.9 percent of regular Amazon shoppers would accept adding one to two days to their delivery times. Another 16.5 percent are fine with it taking an extra three days or more to get their goods.

More than three in four women (77.4%) are in favor of waiting longer for better worker treatment. In comparison, only 57 percent of men are willing to make the same sacrifice. Additionally, one in three Amazon shoppers are not willing to wait longer for their deliveries at all.

“That’s Amazon’s job to figure out, not mine,” says one consumer, opposing any potential shipping delays.

Do people really mean what they say about Amazon?

Researchers note Amazon does offer customers the ability to choose slower shipping speeds for discounts on items like movie downloads. When the GammaWire team asked respondents if they ever choose this option, the answer was a resounding no.

Despite consumers “publicly” disapproving of Amazon’s reported treatment of workers, the poll admits it’s much different when people have to actually put their money where their mouth is.

“While it can feel good to reply to a survey with a morally superior answer, actually committing to it in practice might be a bigger ask,” researchers conclude.

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