Amazon earlier complained to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), arguing that the CPSC's designation of Amazon services as a distribution platform was unconstitutional and that it was merely a third-party logistics platform.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission sued Amazon in 2021, accusing it of selling defective carbon monoxide detectors, unsafe hair dryers, and children's pajamas that could easily catch fire. In 2024, it classified Amazon services as a distribution platform, requiring Amazon to be responsible for the products sold by businesses using its logistics services and to recall and refund problematic products.
However, Amazon emphasizes that its service is mainly to provide a logistics platform, allowing merchants to pre-store their products in Amazon's warehousing system, and after consumers place an order, Amazon will pick, pack and subsequently deliver the goods.
Although Amazon has previously informed consumers that products sold through its platform are defective or dangerous, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission determined that Amazon's service positioning is that of a distribution platform, and therefore required Amazon to provide further handling measures.
However, Amazon stressed that it does not produce goods itself, nor is it directly involved in sales. Instead, it helps merchants sell goods by providing platforms, logistics and other resources.
