Reply
Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,986
Registered: ‎10-04-2015

AmazonSmile will shut down on February 20th

SEATTLE — Amazon announced Wednesday it is shutting down Amazon Smile, its charity donation program that allowed customers to donate a small portion of their purchases to an organization of their choosing.

 

The program gets the ax as the company undergoes massive layoffs and cost-cutting measures.

 

"After almost a decade, the program has not grown to create the impact that we had originally hoped," Amazon said in a notice sent to customers Wednesday night. "With so many eligible organizations — more than 1 million globally — our ability to have an impact was often spread too thin."

 

A small percentage of purchases made through AmazonSmile was donated to an eligible charity of the customer's choice. Amazon has donated about $400 million to U.S. charities since the program began in 2013.

 

The program will end by Feb. 20, Amazon said. Charities that were part of the program will still be able to accrue donations until then. They will also receive a one-time donation of the equivalent of three months' worth of donations when the program shuts down.

 

Amazon said it plans to "make meaningful change" by investing in other areas like building affordable housing and natural disaster relief.

 

While it's not clear if layoffs were tied to AmazonSmile's demise, Amazon is currently in the midst of cutting 18,000 positions, the largest set of layoffs in the company’s history, as the e-retail giant adjusts to a changing economic forecast. 

 

The company has slowed its warehouse expansion plans and shuttered a number of divisions as it seeks to rein in costs, including the Amazon Care telehealth service, a children's video calling-device called Amazon Glow and the longtime online fabric store Fabric.com.

 
Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,848
Registered: ‎10-03-2011

Re: AmazonSmile will shut down on February 20th

My husband told me about this last night.  It's disappointing 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,019
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: AmazonSmile will shut down on February 20th

I am sad that my chosen charity, Warrior Canine Connection, will no longer benefit from my Amazon purchases.  I will try to make my personal donations throughout the year a little larger.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,532
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: AmazonSmile will shut down on February 20th

Yes, very disappointing as it was such an easy way to help out a little. My purchases benefited my favorite Cairn Terrier Rescue group.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,744
Registered: ‎10-30-2010

Re: AmazonSmile will shut down on February 20th

I received an email last night and was disappointed.

 

I have participated for years with my charity of choice ASPCA. 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,261
Registered: ‎03-19-2010

Re: AmazonSmile will shut down on February 20th

SO SAD..   my charity was GREY MUZZLE for senior dogs around the country.   I donate directly but was so happy my Amazon purchase contributed a little in addition. 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,871
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: AmazonSmile will shut down on February 20th

I'm sure some of our charities will miss this. I did Sierra Club. 

Super Contributor
Posts: 416
Registered: ‎09-07-2010

Re: AmazonSmile will shut down on February 20th

I received this e-mail last night. Very unfortunate. I like choosing the charity that would receive the funds. Now, Amazon chooses. 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,517
Registered: ‎08-20-2014

Re: AmazonSmile will shut down on February 20th

I designated a local wildlife rehabber where I know every cent goes to birds, not some CEO's pockets.  I'll just have to make period donations to the facility via their website.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 33,631
Registered: ‎03-20-2010

Re: AmazonSmile will shut down on February 20th

[ Edited ]

@MorningLover wrote:

SEATTLE — Amazon announced Wednesday it is shutting down Amazon Smile, its charity donation program that allowed customers to donate a small portion of their purchases to an organization of their choosing.

 

The program gets the ax as the company undergoes massive layoffs and cost-cutting measures.

 

"After almost a decade, the program has not grown to create the impact that we had originally hoped," Amazon said in a notice sent to customers Wednesday night. "With so many eligible organizations — more than 1 million globally — our ability to have an impact was often spread too thin."

 

A small percentage of purchases made through AmazonSmile was donated to an eligible charity of the customer's choice. Amazon has donated about $400 million to U.S. charities since the program began in 2013.

 

The program will end by Feb. 20, Amazon said. Charities that were part of the program will still be able to accrue donations until then. They will also receive a one-time donation of the equivalent of three months' worth of donations when the program shuts down.

 

Amazon said it plans to "make meaningful change" by investing in other areas like building affordable housing and natural disaster relief.

 

While it's not clear if layoffs were tied to AmazonSmile's demise, Amazon is currently in the midst of cutting 18,000 positions, the largest set of layoffs in the company’s history, as the e-retail giant adjusts to a changing economic forecast. 

 

The company has slowed its warehouse expansion plans and shuttered a number of divisions as it seeks to rein in costs, including the Amazon Care telehealth service, a children's video calling-device called Amazon Glow and the longtime online fabric store Fabric.com.

 

@MorningLover 

 

Sad, my contributions were for several favorite animal charities...

 

Gee I wonder if Amazon's tightening their budget and also implementing layoffs has to do with transitioning their fleet of vehicles to electric vans,  (they ordered 100,000 electric vechicles in U.S. and spent 700 million so far and are spending 972 million US dollars for Europe alone) and they also purchased the rights to NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (BTW the ratings have been very disappointing due to lousy game matches and fans unwilling to pay for Prime Membership to watch the games)🤔...And now Amazon will chose the charity and wonder if their contributions will be a lot less too.......Watch for yet another increase for Prime Membership too....JMHO

Animals are reliable, full of love, true in their affections, grateful. Difficult standards for people to live up to.”