Amazon has extended its Prime same-day delivery service to 11 new markets.
The expansion raises the number of metro areas to 27 — encompassing more than 1,000 cities and towns — where Amazon Prime members can receive same-day deliveries seven days a week at no extra cost.
The e-tailer charges customers $99/year for the membership tier, which offers two-day deliveries, unlimited cloud photo storage, and access to an expansive selection of music, movies, TV shows and books at no extra cost.
To qualify for same-day delivery, orders must:
*total $35 or more;
*be selected from a designated assortment of about 1 million eligible items; and
*be placed before noon for delivery by 9 p.m. that day.
The new market additions include Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Fresno, Sacramento and Stockton, Calif.; Louisville, Ky.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Nashville, Tenn.; Raleigh, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; and Tucson, Az., plus additional sections of Central New Jersey, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Amazon also offers Prime members in 25 markets free two-hour delivery and one-hour fulfillment for $7.99 through its Prime Now service.
“As our operational capabilities grow, we will continue to invent and expand delivery options that customers love,” said Prime VP Greg Greeley.
Indeed, Amazon continues to expand its distribution infrastructure in the quest to reduce delivery times and blunt the grab-and-go advantage of brick-and-mortar retail. According to supply chain and logistics consultancy MWPVL Intl., Amazon currently operates 75 fulfillment centers, 43 Prime Now hubs, and several dozen sortation facilities across the U.S. alone, with plans to build an additional 12 fulfilment centers domestically.
Source: MWPVL International
