Amazon is trying out a new subscription plan for unlimited grocery delivery and pickup for Prime members in select cities for $9.99 a month.
Customers who sign up for this grocery subscription tier pay a flat rate of $9.99 per month for deliveries from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods for orders over $35. Regardless of whether you place one order a month or one order a day, you won’t be charged individual delivery fees. The service also gives members unlimited 30-minute store pick-up orders with no minimum purchase required.
The fee is an add-on to your regular $14.99 a month Prime membership. The trial run is available to Prime members in Denver, Sacramento, California, and Columbus, Ohio.
Tony Hoggett, Amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide grocery stores, said Amazon wants to build the best shopping experience for customers online and in-store.
“We’re always experimenting with features to make shopping easier, faster, and more affordable, and we look forward to hearing how members who take advantage of this offer respond,” said Hoggett in a statement to Cord Cutters News.
The grocery delivery fee is just one way Amazon is looking to stay competitive with local retailers like Walmart, who have the advantage of a nearby brick-and-mortar store. Earlier this year, Amazon added online doctor appointments, the digital version of Walmart’s in-store wellness clinic.
The online retail giant used to offer free delivery on Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods orders over $35 until it added a $9.99 delivery fee in 2021. This sparked a class action lawsuit filed by customers citing unfair business practices. In January, Amazon hiked the minimum amount for free delivery from $35 to $150 and added a service charge for smaller orders. It also opened up delivery for non-members for a fee. In October, Amazon dropped the threshold to $100.
Image credit: Amazon