Amazon Fresh: A Hybrid Grocery Store for All Your Needs
Introduction:
Amazon Fresh is Amazon’s native grocery store that combines the convenience of online shopping with the option to visit a physical store. Despite its investments in the grocery space, Amazon has struggled to capture a large share of the market. However, the company continues to innovate and make changes to improve the Amazon Fresh experience.
How Does Amazon Fresh Work?
Amazon Fresh allows customers to purchase groceries in multiple ways. You can choose to order online for delivery, opt for local pick-up, or visit a brick-and-mortar store. The store offers a wide range of national and local brands, as well as its own store brands and Whole Foods brand products.
When shopping online, it is important to note that you cannot combine Whole Foods delivery items and Amazon Fresh items in the same cart, as they are treated as separate entities.
Amazon Fresh Brick-and-Mortar Stores:
Amazon Fresh has physical stores in eight states and Washington, D.C. These stores offer both traditional checkout lines and tech-enabled checkout systems to expedite the shopping experience. One example is the ‘Just Walk Out’ shopping feature, which allows customers to skip the checkout line by scanning their Amazon One identity service, the in-store code from the Amazon app, or a credit card linked to their Amazon account. This feature makes shopping at Amazon Fresh stores quick and convenient.
Additionally, Amazon Fresh stores also serve as pick-up locations for Amazon orders and accept returns of Amazon purchases.
Prime Membership Benefits:
While anyone can shop at an Amazon Fresh store, Prime members enjoy additional perks. They receive an extra 10% discount on hundreds of products in-store, making it a cost-effective option for frequent shoppers.
Cost of Delivery:
The cost of Amazon Fresh delivery depends on the order value and whether you are a Prime member. Prime members now receive free delivery for orders over $100, whereas the previous threshold was $150. For grocery orders under the free delivery threshold, a delivery fee applies based on the chosen delivery window. The fees range from $6.95 for a two-hour window and a cart value of $50 or more to $9.95 for a two-hour window under $50. Opting for a one-hour delivery window may result in higher delivery fees.
Non-Prime members will have to pay delivery fees ranging from $7.95 to $13.95, depending on the order value and chosen delivery window.
Sales and Discounts:
Amazon Fresh regularly offers sales and discounts both in-store and online. It’s a great opportunity to find discounted items, from paper products to meats. However, some customers have reported encountering empty shelves in certain Amazon Fresh stores, which is a point to consider when planning your shopping trip.
