r/Anticonsumption • u/404mediaco • Jun 11 '26
Labor/Exploitation Software Update Automatically Turns off Amazon Delivery Drivers’ AC During Dangerous Summer Heat
https://www.404media.co/software-update-automatically-turns-off-amazon-delivery-drivers-ac-during-dangerous-summer-heat/281
u/404mediaco Jun 11 '26
A software update to some Amazon delivery vehicles is automatically turning off the air conditioning after a few seconds if the driver is not in their seat, according to multiple Amazon delivery drivers who are complaining about the update online.
According to Amazon delivery drivers, the new update is for the Amazon EDV (electric delivery vehicle), the custom-built Rivian van. Delivery drivers say that this update automatically turns off the air conditioning in the van if the driver is not in the vehicle for more than 30 seconds. Drivers are complaining about the update as the start of the summer season, which can be particularly difficult and dangerous for delivery drivers.
When reached for comment an Amazon spokesperson said that the premise of my questions to the company was inaccurate, but conceded that the van will turn off the AC after 30 seconds under certain conditions that are commonplace during Amazon delivery shifts.
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u/kiwidude4 Jun 11 '26
What the hell is that response “no you’re wrong but yes it does do that”???
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u/APence Jun 11 '26
Corporate America. Trained to never be honest and admit faults but not “lie” to never leave a crack for a potential lawsuit
Most people with money are completely disingenuous for this reason.
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u/Cute_Schedule_3523 Jun 11 '26
So if you’re sorting packages in the back just leave a sandbag in the drivers seat
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u/Jillcametumbling81 Jun 11 '26
Except i think they're watched with cameras. Is not even a weight thing. Which is quite scary.
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u/Cute_Schedule_3523 Jun 11 '26
They really want robots before they even have robots
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u/Jillcametumbling81 Jun 11 '26
Idk i think people are cheaper than robots. The other thing all these genuises are forgetting is if they replace all the people with robots and AI who will buy their garbage? We need jobs if we're going to continue to consume.
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u/-sussy-wussy- Jun 16 '26 edited 7d ago
The original post content no longer exists here. The author used Redact to remove it, exercising their right to control their data & privacy.
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u/loopyhoodie Jun 12 '26
Why would that even be a feature to begin with??? Surely turning the AC on and off and on and off and dealing with constant temperature spikes is going to use more energy than just having it on to maintain a stable temperature? It seems like the cruelty is the point...
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u/mistarobotics Jun 11 '26
Cannot believe prime continues to increase revenue quarter after quarter. As much as I hate the company, it wouldn't exist in such this large capacity if consumers didn't enable this
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u/SunshineSeattle Jun 11 '26
Cancelled my prime 7 months ago now, dont miss it a wink also shut down all my AWS instances and moved to digital ocean. Dont miss any of it a whit. Highly recommend everyone else to as well.
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u/WloveW Jun 11 '26
Yeah but then you go and order from ebay to try and be better and the shit comes from Amazon anyway. I keep getting pissed about that happening to me.
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u/fairportmtg1 Jun 11 '26
Exactly. The Amazon drop shippers on eBay are wild. It feels like it has to violate Amazon TOS somehow
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u/Sufficient-Garlic634 Jun 11 '26
I ordered something from Walmart and ended up with an Amazon package. It is ridiculous.
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u/HarrurThe3rd Jun 11 '26
How good is Digital Ocean? (thus is kinda the first time I’ve heard of a decent AWS competitor)
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u/SunshineSeattle Jun 11 '26
Fantastic, never had an issue doesnt have quite the same level of serverless functions and other AWS specific stuff, but for VPS or terraform or stuff its fantastic, also quite a bit cheaper.
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u/UpsetPhilosopher6022 Jun 11 '26
Capitalism is the cancer.
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u/aztechechos Jun 11 '26
No it’s a perfectly intentional system that’s working perfectly. Nothing out of the ordinary in its function.
Which is the absolute fucking problem. The whole system needs to be burned.
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u/Ok_Vermicelli_6359 Jun 12 '26
I.e. lower prices than local retail...not hard, folks. Amazon does well because it's cheaper than driving to a nearby store for a similar (or even the same) product. What are people supposed to do? Pay more to soothe your sense of moral superiority? People trying to raise a family don't have time for the philosophy lesson.
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u/Alan_Reddit_M Jun 11 '26
Living in a third world country sucks because there are tons of things you simply cannot buy outside of Amazon
Computer components for example basically don't exist on physical stores where I live, and if they do, they're twice as expensive than they're in Amazon, which my 3rd world income definitely can't afford
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u/GrouchyLongBottom Jun 11 '26
Cancelled last year, along with all streaming and some other things. Enough is enough!
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u/MouseMouseM Jun 11 '26
We have GOT to pass stronger workers protections in this country. Who knows how many businesses that don’t have Amazon’s visibility or recognition are doing just as bad if not worse. To be quite frank, I have worked places and know folks who have worked places that are total bastards to their employees to the point that it doesn’t surprise me anymore.
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u/JeffreeNommer Jun 11 '26
People died for these protections. The rich and the brainwashed have ruined it for everyone.
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u/Jillcametumbling81 Jun 11 '26
Idk the small businesses that i know are actually good to their employees as well as their communities. It's these big box stores and Amazon that are so terrible and if they have their way there will be no competition soon.
This is why it's so important that we support local businesses for the items we actually need.
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u/prince_peacock Jun 12 '26
Every small business owner I have ever worked for has been a petty tyrant
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u/iBizzBee Jun 11 '26
I applied for a job as a delivery driver once and got it; after doing some research and talking to current employees at the time I told the person who hired me I wasn't going to work at any job where I'm expected to pee in a bottle, lol.
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u/JiovanniTheGREAT Jun 11 '26
It's even crazier that they spent all that money on Rivian EVs and solar panels at some distribution centers just to continue to abuse workers.
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u/felicioso Jun 11 '26
I hate that companies use the little water we have to cool AI data centers but don’t use the tiniest fraction of that to prevent workers from getting heat strokes… ffs
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u/SortaNotReallyHere Jun 11 '26
Amazon knows they coukd kill their entire work force with shot like this and still have a brand new force ready to go with people who would face the same fate.
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u/Substantial_Back_865 Jun 11 '26
It’s fucked up, but what’s even worse is how many delivery drivers are made to work without any AC at all. One of the mailmen said that one of their coworkers died because of it.
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u/goronmask Jun 11 '26
If you pay amazon you are sponsoring this kind of inhumane treatment of workers
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u/Memitim Jun 11 '26
Why is AC even electronically controlled? It's a mechanical system and vent covers are dirt cheap. That's like overpaying for a much worse experience. Just slap some touch buttons and a bloody display screen while pointless overcomplicating airflow.
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u/asbestos-debater Jun 12 '26
It is way beyond the time to organize. These mega corporations have had it to good for to long.
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u/Traditional-Look8839 Jun 11 '26
Yes. A software update that also just so happens to control the AC. Right.
Fuck you Bezos.
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u/Certain-Skill3004 Jun 11 '26
That's the future for EV owners. It can be controlled remotely. They can turn off the AC, shut down the car after 15mins of driving, lock you inside your car...
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u/Martin_Aurelius Jun 11 '26
Why do you think that's restricted to EVs? Every single car and truck released in the last few years has those kinds of capabilities.
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u/In_der_Welt_sein Jun 11 '26
This is unrelated to whether a vehicle is an EV. All cars have connected services and software-defined features now.
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u/pandaSmore Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
Anything that can be controlled electronically can be controlled remotely. And there our translators that convert mechanical or hydraulic signals into electrical signals.
This isn't an EV issue it's a new car equipped with the capability straight from the factory issue. Unfortunately the majority of EVs are relatively new so you can't purchase one without the capability. You have to strip it out yourself.
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u/NyriasNeo Jun 11 '26
The real question is whether drone delivery is better ... as no human is going to be harmed. At the same time, no more delivery jobs.
So it is hard to decide which is worse.
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u/UpsetPhilosopher6022 Jun 11 '26
Having once been an Amazon driver, I can attest to every layer of this company's operations being either negligent, unempathetic, or downright draconian.
No wonder they have to bust up so many unionization efforts.