Coronavirus leads to postponement of Amazon Prime Day

By

Robin Driver

Published
Jul 23, 2020

American e-commerce juggernaut Amazon has announced that this year it is delaying Prime Day, its biggest annual sales event, due to disruption caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

 
Speculation that the event, which usually happens in July, would be postponed because of the coronavirus crisis has been circulating for a while. Amazon confirmed these suspicions on Tuesday, revealing that the online shopping bonanza will take place on a series of unspecified dates in different territories later this year.  
 
The only country that the company gave specific dates for is India, where shoppers will be able to head to Amazon for Prime Day deals on August 6 and 7.

“This year we’ll be holding Prime Day later than usual, while ensuring the safety of our employees and supporting our customers and selling partners,” said the company in a statement. “We are excited Prime members in India will see savings on Aug. 6 and 7, and that members all around the world will experience Prime Day later this year. We look forward to sharing more details soon.”
 
With lockdown and social distancing measures leading to widespread store closures, the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a surge in sales for Amazon, which reported a 26% rise in revenues in the first quarter of 2020.

However, the company’s extensive logistical network has been challenged by the health crisis, and concerns have also been raised about the safety of employees working in the e-tailer’s warehouses and distribution centers.
 
Some reports have indicated that it is limitations in Amazon’s warehouses that have led to the postponement of Prime Day, with the fact that facilities have had to move to focus on more essential products having caused delays in the company’s preparations for the event.
 
Launched five years ago, Prime Day is now a two-day sales event, which saw Amazon move 175 million products in 2019, more than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined.

The company does not publicize specific sales figures, but analysts estimate that last year’s Prime Day netted the e-commerce giant at least $7.16 billion in revenue.
 
Amazon intends to publish its full second-quarter earnings results next week.