Ambitious plans to grow location network.
Amazon has begun introducing Amazon Hub – a network of parcel pickup points designed to offer Australian customers more choice and convenience. Over 100 Amazon Hub locations are now available with hundreds more to become available by the end of the year and thousands to be rolled out across the country in 2020. The network includes two pickup point options – Locker and Counter.
Locker, which first originated in the US in 2011, is a self-service kiosk that gives customers the option to pick up their parcels from a location convenient to them, which includes dozens of Commonwealth Bank of Australia branches, Victorian Authorised Newsagents Association (VANA) locations and Stockland Shopping Centres. Customers have three days to collect their parcel from a Locker.
Counter, which originally launched in Europe earlier this year, is a pickup network staffed by store partners for quick and easy collection of parcels in more than 100 VANA stores in Victoria, with more locations coming soon. Customers have 14 days to collect their parcel from a Counter location.
When the parcel arrives, customers receive an email notification with a unique barcode and six-digit code that they will use to retrieve the parcel. At the Locker, customers will scan the barcode or use the code to retrieve their parcel. For Counter locations, customers will provide the barcode or code to store staff.
Delivery to an Amazon Hub location is available for more than 125 million items sold on amazon.com.au and works with free expedited delivery and standard delivery at no extra cost.
Amazon Hub director, Patrick Supanc said since launching Amazon Australia in 2017, the company has committed to making e-commerce rooted in low prices, vast selection and convenience. “We are excited to partner with large and small businesses in Australia to extend Amazon’s customer service and innovations in delivery.”