While remaining fuzzy about the details, Amazon says Raleigh residents are buying lots of bananas and other goods through its “Prime” delivery service. To celebrate Prime’s growth here and elsewhere, Amazon is offering a host of specials.
A spokesperson for Amazon says Raleigh residents are showing preferences for a variety of food items that can be delivered as quickly as one hour. Some 500 items can be ordered.
“Raleigh Prime members want superfast delivery on bananas, water, Simply orange juice and Ben & Jerry’s Americone Dream ice cream,” she says.
Prime delivery launched in February and was expanded in April. Amazon’s warehouse/delivery hub is located in North Raleigh just outside the 440 Beltline.
To see if your neighborhood can get deliveries, you must check Amazon’s website, but Amazon is constantly expanding its reach, the company says.
To find delivery areas and to sign up for the service, visit:
http://www.primenow.com
Amazon also is facing more competition for delivery of food items. Instacart launched it owns service last month and has partnerships with several different grocery companies.
But the ecommerce giant, which now offers Prime in 40 markets, says it’s continuing to grow.
“We have dedicated teams focused on fulfilling Prime Now orders and have established a Prime Now hub in the city to support superfast delivery,” the spokesperson who could not be identified explains.
Amazon also is adding jobs, but just how many isn’t known.
“We’re not able to elaborate on number of jobs created but we expect to continue to add support to enable one and two-hour delivery,” she says.
As for expansion plans across the Triangle? Amazon has them – but won’t discuss what they are.
“We have a longstanding practice of not commenting on our future roadmap,” she explains.
“What we can say is that since day one we have building the infrastructure and operational expertise to support superfast delivery and we’re excited to continue to build the Prime Now service for customers.”
The Prime specials are available through July 12. “Hundreds of items” are available for delivery in one or two hours, Amazon says.
Amazon also is offering a $10 discount for a delivery and another $10 off a later delivery.
Enter 10PRIMENOW when ordering to get the discount.
How fast can Prime deliver?
“The fastest order delivered on Prime Day 2015 was an iRobot Roomba 595 Pet Vacuum Cleaning Robot to a customer in Austin, Texas,” Amazon reports. “The delivery was made in 10 minutes and 23 seconds.”
Its hottest markets are Manhattan, where Prime launched in 2014, followed by Austin and Baltimore.
