Amazon will end “Amazon Local,” the e-commerce giant’s daily deals program on December 18, 2015. Reports about the killing of this project first surfaced last Friday, October 30, and visitors to Amazon Local’s website now see a message from the e-commerce company atop their computer screens.
Though the company is shuttering the doors on the daily deal program, customers that have purchased deals will still be able to redeem them, the company notes.
Reports first came from GeekWire on Friday, October 30.
Until the shutdown, Amazon will continue to sell deals, clear out back inventory, and customers will be able to use the website and the Amazon Local app. After the December 18, deadline, however, users won’t be able to install or download the Amazon Local app if they uninstall it or switch devices, noted GeekWire.
The move is not entirely surprising, as reports from daily deal competitors continue to appear grim. In September, Groupon announced 1,100 layoffs and the closure of operations in a few non-U.S. markets. Earlier in October, LivingSocial announced that it would lay off roughly 20 percent of its staff, moving away from daily deal offerings and more toward experiences (Amazon was once a part owner of LivingSocial). Also earlier in October, Amazon announced that it would close “Amazon Destinations,” which offered customers hotel deals within driving distance of their current location.
Amazon’s “Deal of the Day,” Kindle Daily Deals, Gold Box Deals, and Black Friday Lightnight Sale will not be impacted by this closure.
Does this mark the end of the daily deal company? We’ll know more after the closing bell on Thursday, when Groupon will announce quarterly results.
