What are the positive and negative impacts of the "Amazon
effect" for customers?
The positive impact for the Amazon effect for customers is
convenience. With Amazon, they can have their purchased items
delivered same or next day for free. The negative impact for
customers could be disappointment if delivery not received on time,
or the strain on the environment that the overwhelming amount of
delivery trucks on the road to deliver these promised packages
create.
As ethical concerns regarding business practices such as poor
employee treatment, negative environmental impacts of
production, and decreasing use of local storefronts are
recognized, how much, if any, of the responsibility of these
unethical practices fall to the customers, and how much, if any,
falls to businesses?
I think the businesses have a responsibility to treat all employees
fairly and make sure that they are providing a safe and healthy work
environment. This includes providing enough staff to meet high
quotas in short time periods and making sure to promote an equal
work/life balance. They also have a responsibility to protect the
environment and to develop sustainable practices. Although
consumers hold the buying power, it is ultimately the responsibility
of the business to meet these demands by successfully maintaining
social and environmental responsibility.
