Amazon Prime Day is officially delayed, but not cancelled, due to the pandemic.
The online retailer confirmed Tuesday that its typical mid-July sales event is being postponed in the U.S. because of the coronavirus crisis. A new date has not been announced, but the event will happen this year, the company said.
“Prime Day has become a special celebration and time for Prime members to shop incredible deals for themselves and for friends and family – and it’s something we look forward to every year,” Amazon said in an emailed statement. “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.”
Prime Day is running in India for 48 hours starting midnight on August 6. The digital Black-Friday-like extravaganza usually happens in July in the U.S.
The e-commerce giant launched Prime Day in 2015, marking its 20th anniversary. The event runs promotions on numerous gadgets and household items for at least a day. Last years’ bonanza was 48 hours long. In 2019, the discounted prices ran for 36 hours.
Rumors surrounding a Prime Day delay began swirling in April after a memo circulating around Amazon leaked that said Prime Day would be pushed back at least until the following month.
At the time, Amazon declined to comment on the rumor.
The news comes as the online retailer grapples with the pandemic. In recent months, Amazon has scaled back on speedy deliveries of non-essential items, put new grocery delivery customers on a waitlist and hired more workers to accommodate increasing demand.
In May, the platform ramped up its one- and two-day deliveries again.
