The Shipping Race Intensifies
Amazon is taking its fast delivery game up a notch with new options for 1-hour and 3-hour delivery across the U.S.
Customers can now easily shop for over 90,000 products through this updated shipping system.
You’ll see labels next to items available for speedy delivery in the Amazon app. Also, the app and website now feature search filters that let you find products available “within 1 hour” or “within 3 hours.”
The selection includes everyday items you’d typically find at local stores, like paper towels, toilet paper, health and beauty supplies, over-the-counter meds, electronics, toys, clothing, and household essentials.
“We are enhancing the shopping experience for customers on Amazon, making it more convenient,” the company noted in a statement.
This means you can quickly restock common household items or grab something special, say, an air mattress on the fly or a humidifier during cold and flu season.
Amazon’s one-hour delivery will reach hundreds of large U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., but smaller towns like Des Moines, Iowa, and American Fork, Utah, aren’t left out.
The 3-hour delivery option is widespread, covering over 2,000 towns and cities of various sizes. However, while checking in Manhattan, the Post found the three-hour service was unavailable.
Amazon has also set up a dedicated storefront for items eligible for these express delivery options, helping customers confirm availability in their areas.
Udit Madan, Amazon’s senior VP of worldwide operations, mentioned, “Our customers are busier than ever. They are looking for ways to save time while managing their finances. We identified a chance to utilize our operational expertise to ease their lives while delivering more value to Prime members.”
Speaking on Amazon Prime’s 20-year journey, he added, “We’re still finding ways to innovate for faster delivery while keeping our renowned low prices and vast selection intact.”
To achieve these quick delivery times, Amazon is revamping its existing same-day fulfillment site.
For Prime members, the cost for 1-hour delivery will be $9.99, while 3-hour delivery is priced at $4.99. Non-Prime members will pay $19.99 for 1-hour and $14.99 for 3-hour delivery.
The competition for rapid delivery is heating up, with major retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart vying against services like Instacart and DoorDash.
This new delivery option adds to Prime’s existing services like 2-day, next-day, and same-day delivery, available 24/7. Amazon plans to roll it out to even more locations in the coming months.
