Amazon has announced it is launching a new service that completes deliveries in 30 minutes or less in Seattle and Philadelphia. This new ultra-fast delivery option will allow Amazon to better compete with services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart.
Customers will be able to order a wide range of items, including milk, eggs, fresh produce, toothpaste, cosmetics, pet treats, diapers, paper products, electronics, seasonal items, over-the-counter medicines, chips, dips, and more.
Prime members can choose the fast delivery option for a fee of $3.99 per order, while non-Prime members will pay $13.99. Orders below $15 will also include a small basket fee of $1.99.
Customers in Seattle and Philadelphia can now check the Amazon app and homepage and look for the 30-Minute Delivery option in the navigation bar to see if it is available in their area. After placing an order, customers can track their deliveries and tip drivers through the app.
Amazon explained that it is utilizing specialized smaller facilities designed for efficient order fulfillment, strategically placed close to where customers live and work in these areas. This approach prioritizes employee safety, reduces travel distance for delivery partners, and enables faster delivery times.
The move follows Amazon’s launch of a 15-minute delivery service in the United Arab Emirates in October. The company said at the time that some customers received their orders in as little as six minutes.
The launch of this new service marks Amazon’s latest effort to enter the fast delivery market in the United States. In 2014, the e-commerce giant introduced a Prime Now service that offered one-hour deliveries, but the company discontinued it in 2021.
Amazon has been working to expand its delivery options and announced in June that it plans to invest more than $4 billion to triple the size of its delivery network by 2026.