Amazon Launches $10 Monthly Grocery Delivery Service
Amazon is shaking up the grocery delivery world with a new service. For just $10 a month, customers can now enjoy unlimited deliveries from Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh, as long as their orders exceed $35. This new option is a big shift from Amazon’s previous delivery policies.
A Significant Change from Previous Offerings
In the past, Amazon required a minimum order of $100 for free delivery from Amazon Fresh, and charged between $7 to $10 for deliveries from Whole Foods. However, they did offer free delivery for Fresh orders over $35, a threshold that was later raised. Amazon is essentially bringing back this lower threshold, but now for a fee.
Added Convenience with Quick Pick-Up
Amazon isn’t just stopping at delivery services. They’re also offering a 30-minute pick-up option for any size order, although there might be limits for extremely large orders. This new feature joins a list of expanding benefits for Amazon Prime members, which recently included virtual healthcare services.
Will Customers Bite the New Price Tag?
With the annual cost of Amazon Prime at $139, or $14.99 monthly, the additional $10 for grocery delivery raises questions about customer interest. Given the current prices of groceries, regular customers of Amazon Fresh might find this new service beneficial, but it could be a different story for Whole Foods shoppers.
Testing the Waters in Select Cities
For now, Amazon is testing this new service in three cities: Sacramento, California; Columbus, Ohio; and Denver, Colorado. The success of the program in these areas will determine its future expansion. Customers in these cities will be the first to experience Amazon’s latest venture in grocery delivery.
Source: ZDNET
