Amazon is offering US customers $10 to collect a purchase rather than have it shipped to a home address, as the ecommerce giant looks to cut delivery and returns costs, according to reports.
Reuters has seen an email sent to an unknown number of Amazon Prime subscribers offering them $10 to retrieve an order of $25 or more at Amazon’s pick-up points including Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh or Kohl’s stores.
Upstate New York-based shipping consultant Dean Maciuba was among the customers who received the offer. Increasing use of Amazon pickup points would help the company bypass costly residential package drop-offs and is “a huge opportunity for Amazon to reduce the cost of delivery,” said Maciuba
He added that the collection discount also helps train consumers to tender returns directly to the company.
Amazon did not respond to a request for comment. There was also no suggestion that UK shoppers will be offered something similar.
Amazon does offer collection in the UK through partnerships with Collect+, the in-store parcel service from PayPoint, as well as high street giant Next.
