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OVER 300 islanders have signed an online petition to BAN Amazon from bringing independent delivery drivers from the mainland.
Local firms say their cashflow has been hit by the online giant cutting them out of the supply chain.
Companies including Island Express and Cumbrae Couriers say they are losing thousands of pounds during the festive period as a result.
Now the protest, which has been named ‘Stop Amazon bringing vans onto Millport and give back to local couriers’ has called on the firm to give the business back to the island businesses.
Resident Susan Currie put the petition together.
She said: “Our local couriers including Island Express, Cumbrae Couriers and Royal Mail have been delivering goods flawlessly for years,
“We want people to sign our petition and help protect family-run businesses that have served us for many years.”
Former News Millport correspondent Mary Currie has been running Island Express for decades.
She said locals had decided to take a stand.
The local gran added: “We know all the nooks and crannies as we have local knowledge.
“We are now seeing a number of complaints from islanders that packages are going to the wrong places.
“It used to be that Amazon would sub contract it to us but now they have decided to change tact and send their own vehicles over on the ferry.
“We have written to them and spoken to different managers at Amazon and they have said they will get back to us, but the fear is that with them being a multi-billion pound organisation, really they couldn’t care less.
“Normally we look forward to the Christmas rush, but this has thrown a real spanner in the works for local companies that rely on this trade.
“We hope Amazon will sit up and listen, and the more people that support the petition, the more likely that is.”
Amazon have told the News that they engage independent delivery providers to provide delivery services and do not own the vehicles nor employ the drivers.
Their spokesperson said: “We have great partners in our traditional carriers and small-and-medium-sized delivery service partners, but we have a need to build even more capacity thanks to growing customer demand.
“Amazon continues to invest in its transportation infrastructure and other innovative ways to expand its supply chain capacity and speed up deliveries for customers. “Amazon Logistics adds additional capacity to ensure we continue to meet growing customer demand, but we continue to work alongside our existing carrier partners, who provide a high-quality service we value.
“We are happy to work with local independent delivery providers.
“Island Express have written to Amazon to discuss business opportunities and we will be taking forward this matter with them directly.
“Amazon also offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their own business delivering Amazon packages, as well as independent contractors the flexibility to be their own boss and create their own schedule.”
A total of 302 people had signed the petition as we went to press. To support it visit tinyurl.com/2p8fdxkw
