Amazon Expands 30-Minute Deliveries to 7 Countries, Charging Prime Members $3.99
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · May 12
Amazon Expands 30-Minute Deliveries to 7 Countries, Charging Prime Members $3.99
10 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · May 12
Amazon has rolled out Amazon Now beyond U.S. pilots to urban areas in seven countries, using small hubs stocked with about 3,500 urgent items such as medicine, groceries and household basics.
Prime members pay from $3.99 per order, while non-members pay $13.99 and orders under $15 incur a $1.99 fee; Amazon says faster delivery makes shoppers buy more and return more often.
The service relies on 5,000- to 10,000-square-foot micro-warehouses, with AI tailoring inventory by neighborhood; popular U.S. orders include soap, bananas, toothpaste and wireless earbuds.
That push puts Amazon more directly against Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats and Walmart Express, which offers 1-hour delivery on more than 100,000 products and says many orders arrive in under 30 minutes.
Amazon is expanding even as analysts warn ultrafast delivery can be costly and risky, citing failed 10- to 15-minute grocery startups and consumer concerns about environmental impact and worker pressure.
Can Amazon's ultra-fast delivery be profitable in the U.S. where similar ventures failed due to high operational costs?
Will Amazon's 'dark stores' revolutionize urban delivery or displace local businesses and strain city infrastructure?
As AI manages logistics, what protections will gig workers have from algorithms that control their pay and employment?
Amazon Now and the 30-Minute Delivery Race: Strategy, Challenges, and the Future of Ultra-Fast E-Commerce
Overview
Amazon Now is rapidly expanding by using a network of smaller, localized fulfillment centers placed close to where customers live and work. This setup ensures efficient order fulfillment and reduces travel distance for delivery partners, making it possible to deliver thousands of items in 30 minutes or less. The service uses a flexible last-mile delivery approach, mainly relying on Amazon Flex drivers with cars, but is open to other transportation modes as it grows. This localized and adaptable model is key to Amazon Now’s ability to scale quickly and reach more customers with ultra-fast delivery.