The Human Cost of Amazon's Fast, Free Shipping (NYT)

[Coventina]

5. There are critical differences between the two models.

The large dept. stores that do deliveries use large delivery companies like Fed Ex and UPS. (We can have a separate conversation about how those jobs have become more and more exploitative, but that's another issue).

Amazon is increasingly using hordes of independent contractors (gig workers) who have no protection of written working conditions, payment, benefits, etc. Therefore, if they don't meet arbitrary deadlines set for them, they don't get the work. The pressure on them to get the job done within the parameters set by Amazon is extremely intense. In other words, if they don't finish their route by the time Amazon says they need to finish it, they don't get their rent money.