Amazon Accidentally Sells Urine as an Energy Drink
In a shocking revelation, Amazon was found to have listed and sold bottles of urine, misleadingly marketed as an energy drink named "Release." This startling discovery was made by Oobah Butler in his new documentary, "The Great Amazon Heist," which premiered on Channel 4 in the UK.
The drink, which quickly rose to the top of the "Bitter Lemon" category on Amazon, was filled with urine allegedly discarded by Amazon delivery drivers. These drivers, under pressure to meet tight delivery schedules, often resorted to urinating in bottles. Some even claimed they faced penalties for having these urine-filled bottles in their trucks upon returning to the warehouse. To avoid such penalties, many discarded these bottles on roadsides.
Butler, known for his audacious stunts, embarked on an investigative journey that began with him covertly entering an Amazon distribution center in Coventry. There, he encountered workers lamenting about challenging working conditions, including excessive heat and constant surveillance. Amazon spokesperson, James Drummond, countered these claims, emphasizing the company's commitment to employee safety.
The documentary also delved into Amazon's hiring practices, suggesting that the company might have intentionally hired extra staff to thwart union recognition efforts. Amazon has refuted these allegations.
The highlight of Butler's investigation was the ease with which he managed to list and sell the urine-filled "Release" drink on Amazon. Despite expecting stringent food and drink licensing checks, Butler found the process surprisingly lax. The drink even transitioned from the "Refillable Pump Dispenser" category to the drinks section due to Amazon's algorithm.
Amazon even approached Butler, offering to manage the packaging, shipping, and logistics for "Release" through its Fulfillment by Amazon program. Thankfully, no actual customers received the urine-filled bottles; Butler had orchestrated the purchases through a group of friends.
Upon seeing the product listed, Butler expressed a mix of amusement and concern, especially when genuine customers showed interest in buying the product. The incident raises serious questions about Amazon's product vetting processes and the safety of items sold on the platform.