Amazon ‘overwhelmed with orders’ as customers wait WEEKS for Prime deliveries due to coronavirus delays
AMAZON Prime shoppers are having to wait almost a month for some deliveries as the online retailer prioritises essential orders.
Due to the coronavirus epidemic, Amazon has confirmed it is putting orders of food, health and personal care products, books, and items needed to work from home above everything else.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
But it's meant big delays for other items with shoppers taking to social media to say they're having to wait until the end of April for some orders.
One person tweeted: "Lots of Prime stuff has a month's delivery date at the moment, not sure if it's realistic or it's just doing away with short delivery times because it doesn't know if they'll be able to meet them."
Another said: ";Want to buy some more garden cricket balls from @AmazonUK as the last one disappeared over the fence.
"Why is all Amazon Prime garden cricket stuff not due for delivery until April 24?!? Seems very long even at the moment."
Someone else wrote: "@AmazonUK How's your delivery service affected?. I tried to order one day by signing up for Prime and it still said April 23 for delivery?"
Another person added: "Is @AmazonUK now running a month behind on Prime delivery??
"I can’t order some pegs... can’t get any at @Argos_Online either. What the hell."
Someone else tweeted: "@AmazonUK I’ve have Amazon Prime and have ordered three vinyl records which you claim are in stock.
";However the delivery dates you quote, instead of being next day, are the April 21 and 22 - over three weeks away! What’s going on?"
Another person added: "@AmazonUK seeing that you are delaying delivery for up to one month on items it would be pleasant of you to refund Prime users a percentage of their subscription.
"To be fair you will be making huge profits out of the pandemic and now's time to give back when your customers need it most."
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, .
To follow us on Facebook, simply .
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day - .
Prime customers pay £7.99 a month or £79 a year for the next-day delivery service, or £3.99 a month or £39 a year if they're students.
Amazon says it's looking into whether Prime customers will be fully or partially refunded if they're unhappy with the long wait for deliveries.
But Prime does come with other perks including free access to Prime Video and Prime Music.
Amazon isn't the only retailer to experience delays to deliveries caused by the pandemic.
Supermarkets have also sold out of online delivery slots.
Although some are offering refunds on their monthly and annual delivery saver passes.
Amazon couldn't given The Sun an average delivery time when we asked as it says it will vary by item.
More on coronavirus
But it did say users will see the delivery date as part of the ordering process, so they'll know before paying that there could be a delay.
An Amazon spokesperson said: “To serve our customers while also helping to ensure the safety of our associates, we’ve changed our logistics, transportation, supply chain, purchasing, and third-party seller processes to prioritise stocking and delivering items that are a higher priority for our customers.
"This has resulted in some of our delivery promises being longer than usual.”