Amazon to push stockroom staff to new limits with one-hour delivery

18 Dec 2014

As if you didn’t need a package any faster, e-commerce giant Amazon is now going to offer residents of New York City, who are Amazon Prime members, the chance to get their packages in just one hour.

Launched under the title Amazon Prime Now, the service has the high street firmly in its sight. By accessing the service through the company’s new Prime Now app, users can select the one-hour service for many products that would be available in a supermarket, including paper towels, shampoo, books and toys.

So far restricted to certain areas within Manhattan in the bustling metropolis that is New York City, with delivery times starting from 6am, consumers could get their eggs and bacon by 7am.

However, if customers want their delivery within an hour, they better make it count – the cost for the courier to deliver the item is US$7.99.

For those who are willing to wait that bit longer, however, they can receive their delivery in two hours at no cost, as long as they are an Amazon Prime Now subscriber.

While still in early testing phases, it would be expected that Amazon would want to roll out this service outside of just New York City and, if their dream of Amazon delivery drones becomes a reality, would lead to a less costly solution to almost instant delivery.

Amazon’s senior vice-president of worldwide operations, Dave Clark, said of the new service, “There are times when you can’t make it to the store and other times when you simply don’t want to go. There are so many reasons to skip the trip and now Prime members in Manhattan can get the items they need delivered in an hour or less.”

Tired delivery worker image via Shutterstock

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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