Charlotte on list of cities for new higher-speed Amazon delivery. What we know
Over 90,000 Amazon orders can now be delivered in one hour or three hours in some areas of Charlotte for a fee as part of a nationwide rollout, the online retail giant announced Tuesday.
Items available for the expedited delivery range from pantry goods and cleaning supplies to over-the-counter medications, as well as electronics, toys, clothing, and home and garden.
Amazon attributes the ability to offer these speeds to a revamped same-day fulfillment process and the use of existing same-day delivery sites. Amazon uses predictive AI inventory placement algorithms to streamline fulfillment, the company said.
One-hour delivery is available in hundreds of cities and towns, including metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
The three-hour option is more widely offered, reaching over 2,000 cities and towns across the U.S., encompassing large, mid-size and small communities, as well as surrounding suburbs, Amazon said.
Amazon officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment, including a map of where the new delivery service options are available.
Fast delivery options around Charlotte
Faster delivery options are growing in the Charlotte region, including using drones to stay competitive.
The city’s first home delivery service by drone launched last May. DoorDash and Wing, a service owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc., partnered on deliveries within minutes in a 4-mile radius of The Arboretum shopping center off Providence Road in south Charlotte.
Since then, more delivery drones are taking off in the Charlotte region.
In January, Wing expanded with a second “nest” (or hub) at the Northcross Shopping Center in Huntersville. It offers DoorDash delivery to homes in about 20 minutes.
Walmart is planning drone delivery service in the Charlotte region. The first drone service could launch from the University City area at 7735 N. Tryon St.
Amazon’s hour delivery fees
Amazon Prime delivery services already include two-day and next-day shipping.
Pricing for the faster delivery is tiered based on Prime membership status. Prime members receive discounted fees of $9.99 for one-hour delivery and $4.99 for three-hour delivery.
Customers can check if their area has one-hour or three-hour delivery by visiting amazon.com/getitfast.
And if you really feel the need for speed, the company is already testing Amazon Now, offering delivery in about 30 minutes or less on thousands of items in select locations.
