With population containment, online stores are facing unprecedented demand. Should I still order online? Are the shops able to deliver to individuals today? Elements of answers …
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Confinement requires, the coronavirus pandemic obviously benefits online stores, including Amazon. If delays are to be expected, the American giant does its best to keep up. According to France Blue, Amazon was already using agency workers to handle the influx of orders. And until yesterday (March 16), Amazon had the approval of the Ministry of the Economy to continue to operate its 10 delivery platforms in France, thus meeting the needs of mail-order selling to comply with the distancing instructions.
If the unions put forward tense working conditions, the American giant ensures that everything is done by providing hydroalcoholic gel, cleaning wipes and specially fitting out rest areas in order to comply with the health regulations set up by the government. . At the same time, the group announced a wage increase of 2 € more per hour of work.
Amazon is also recruiting with great enthusiasm since the company has announced the creation of 100,000 jobs in the United States, while according to AFP, the firm invites unemployed French people to join its teams: “We know how many people have lost or will lose their jobs in sectors like catering, tourism or travel due to this crisis, notes Amazon. We want these people to know they are welcome on our teams until they return to normal and when their past employers can take them back. ”
Deliveries remain authorized, but relay points are inaccessible
If most trips are prohibited, deliveries remain authorized while respecting the criteria of social distancing. The government insists on respecting a safety distance of 1 to 2 m. La Poste, which maintains its activities and specifies that 80% of the letter carriers ensure their tour, has implemented a strict protocol to allow delivery of packages without entering by limiting contacts. The postman sends the following SMS to the recipient: “Hello, I am your postman, I have this object (photo in the SMS) to give you against signature. As part of the prevention policy against Covid-19, I suggest that you drop it in your mailbox or in front of your door as soon as you receive this SMS. I need your agreement by return SMS. Without your consent, the object will be pending. You will find a calling card in your mailbox. Thank you for your understanding, your factor. ”
Withdrawal points other than automatic kiosks also pose some problems. Several witnesses report that some parcel relays no longer accept packages for shipments, explaining that the trucks simply do not pass. For the time being, priority would be given to the transport of foodstuffs. Other non-essential relay points such as drugstores, clothing stores, mobile phone shops, or even artisans, are simply closed. Some online sellers such as LDLC have had the packages supposed to arrive at a relay point repatriated in order to send them directly to the customer at their expense. Obviously, the withdrawal in store, as is usually possible at Darty, Fnac or Boulanger, is no longer possible.
At Fnac-Darty, deliveries are always guaranteed. “Our workforce is globally present. We call customers if they still want their purchase and if we can deliver it. We provide contactless deliveries. We have however ended the home installation procedures ”, explains Olivier Garcia, the group’s product director interviewed by Digital.
Boulanger tells us that deliveries are also made without contact: “Our deliverers will no longer return to customers and packages will be dropped off to leave deliverers and customers safe.” On the Cdiscount side, we are assured that “The warehouses are still operational: reception and delivery. We have just launched a Home delivery operation offered from 25 € of purchase to facilitate the equipment of families ”.
Towards stock problems?
If delivery is allowed, inventory may be an issue soon. Indeed, with containment, many companies operate in slow motion, when they have not completely suspended their activity. Consequently, importers and distributors are unable to supply products to the various online stores. In the United States, Amazon is out of stock on certain household hygiene products such as toilet paper or water bottles. A situation which should not occur in France, since these products are more generally bought in supermarkets.
But on the side of Fnac-Darty, we want to be reassuring. “We stocked it several weeks ago. We have enough stocks on the product lines. We are bringing up stocks from physical stores for the website ”, explains Olivier Garcia. The business continues, therefore.
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