Because no PR opportunity for Amazon. But I agree, it's a feeble dishonest excuse. Better to simply say "Because we're cutting costs", instead of weeping how it failed to set the world on fire with glowing PR for their munificence.

Personally I try hard to avoid sending my business to Amazon whenever there's an alternative, and this was one of the good things about them.

> Personally I try hard to avoid sending my business to Amazon whenever there's an alternative, and this was one of the good things about them.

same

Even worse, an anti-PR opportunity: “look at how much money Amazon donates to bad guys!”