Chicago, IL

Amazon adds 5% ‘fuel and inflation surcharge’ to seller fees

Published

2 years ago

April 14, 2022

Amazon is taking a step to offset its rising prices, saying Wednesday it’s going to add a 5% “gas and inflation surcharge” to charges it fees third-party sellers who use the e-commerce large’s achievement providers.

The Seattle-based firm stated on its web site that the added charges, which take impact April 28, are “topic to alter” and can apply to each attire and non-apparel objects.

The most recent payment hike follows one introduced in November and went into impact in January. Amazon did not instantly reply to a request for additional particulars on the latest transfer. However in a discover despatched to sellers Wednesday, the corporate stated its prices had gone up for the reason that starting of the COVID-19 pandemic because of will increase in hourly wages, the hiring of staff and development of extra warehouses.

It stated it had absorbed prices each time doable, and solely elevated charges to deal with everlasting prices and to be aggressive with different suppliers. Amazon opponents FedEx and UPS each have gas surcharges.

Amazon staff in New York Metropolis vote to unionize, 1st profitable effort in retail large’s historical past

“In 2022, we anticipated a return to normalcy as COVID-19 restrictions all over the world eased, however gas and inflation have offered additional challenges,” the corporate stated within the discover.

Federal knowledge launched Tuesday confirmed inflation jumped 8.5% in March, its quickest tempo in additional than 40 years. Gasoline costs have rocketed 48% prior to now 12 months.

Although the corporate is blaming inflation and rising gas prices for the surcharge, Stacy Mitchell, co-director for the anti-monopoly group Institute for Native Self-Reliance, criticized Wednesday’s announcement, saying Amazon was benefiting from the second.

“Amazon retains rising its charges on the sellers that must depend upon its platform,” Mitchell stated, including the brand new charges are a means “to take extra money out of the pockets of impartial companies and put it into Amazon’s coffers.”

Amazon hikes Prime membership value because of ‘expanded advantages’

Amazon’s third-party market, the place impartial retailers checklist tens of millions of their merchandise, is a big a part of its enterprise. It has about 2 million sellers, and greater than half the products offered on Amazon.com come from these sellers.

Final 12 months, sellers paid Amazon about $103 billion in charges, which made up about 22% of the corporate’s income. The web retailer stated the brand new charges will apply to merchandise ordered earlier than April 28 however shipped and delivered after that date. Amazon can also be anticipated to launch its earnings report from the primary three months of this 12 months on April 28.

Amazon has lengthy confronted accusations of undercutting retailers that promote on its platform by making “knock-offs,” or very related merchandise, and boosting their presence on the location.

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Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

Published

1 year ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.
Shutterstock

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

Published

1 year ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Published

1 year ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.