Amazon officially opens Durham station, stepping up one-day delivery for Triangle

DURHAM – The war over next-day delivery is real between major retailers, and Amazon is determined to win it.

On Tuesday, the online retailing giant opened its second delivery station in the Bull City, tucked off Holloway Street in East Durham.

The station has actually been open for business since last year, but a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a gaggle of reporters made it official.

Already, the site is said to be supporting 385 permanent full and part-time jobs. Local entrepreneurs are also getting into the action through its Delivery Service Partnership Program, where independent contractors can reportedly make anywhere from $18 to $25 per hour delivering packages for Amazon.

“It’s a huge opportunity for people to pick up a second job if they need it,” Amazon’s regional director James Shively told the crowd gathered, according to the Triangle Business Journal.

Amazon is currently building a bigger distribution center at 4851 Jones Sausage Road will occupy 2.6 million square feet of space. The center is expected to employ up to 1,500 people and bring a payroll of at least $45 million to the town of Garner.

It’s not a surprise that Amazon is raising the stakes. Earlier this year, its competitor, Walmart, threw down the gauntlet when it revealed plans to begin offering its own one-day delivery services in select states.

Rival Target, meanwhile, is also getting into the game with next-day delivery on orders for household essentials above $35 through a program called Restock. However, those orders carry a $2.99 fee. The company also offers same-day delivery through its Shipt service from 1,500 Target stores, but that requires a $99 annual membership fee.