As the world‘s largest online retailer, Amazon is constantly innovating to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers. While home delivery is still the most popular fulfillment method, a growing number of buyers are taking advantage of Amazon‘s package pickup options for added flexibility and security. In fact, a 2023 survey found that 43% of Prime members had used a pickup location in the prior 6 months, up from just 27% in 2021.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive deep into all the ways you can retrieve your Amazon orders in person as of 2024. From self-service lockers to in-store counters and curbside grocery pickup, we‘ll cover how each method works, the benefits and drawbacks, and expert tips for a seamless experience. Plus, we‘ll examine the surge in popularity of these alternatives to home delivery and what it means for the future of retail.
Package Pickup Options on Amazon
Amazon knows that every customer has different needs and preferences when it comes to getting their online orders. That‘s why the e-commerce giant has partnered with a wide range of retailers and shipping carriers to provide a variety of convenient pickup options. Here‘s an overview of the current choices and their key features:
Amazon Hub Counter
- Staffed pickup counters inside partner retailers (ex: Rite Aid, GNC, Health Mart)
- Available in all 50 states, with 45,000+ locations as of 2024
- Free for Prime members with no order minimum
- Non-Prime gets free pickup on $25+ orders, or pays standard shipping
- Notification email when order is ready with unique pickup code
- Bring ID and code to store counter during business hours to collect package
Amazon Hub Locker
- Self-service kiosks for secure 24/7 pickup
- Located in 900+ cities and towns, often in high-traffic areas
- 70,000 kiosks total across the US with 97% of population in 5-mile radius
- Free for all customers, no Prime required
- Automated email with unique code when order is delivered to Locker
- Go to kiosk anytime, enter 6-digit code on screen, assigned door pops open
- Lockers can hold packages up to 3 days before return
Amazon Hub Apartment Locker
- Self-service kiosks located inside apartment building lobbies
- Serves over 500,000 residents in 5,000 properties as of 2024
- Accessible 24/7 for tenants only, with ID verification
- Process works same as regular Lockers with email, code, and pickup
- Lockers have varying capacity but can fit multiple tenants‘ orders
- Ideal for apartment dwellers concerned about package theft or door access
Whole Foods In-Store or Curbside Pickup
- For Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market online grocery orders
- Free for Prime members in select cities, no order minimum
- Choose pickup time slot and store location when ordering
- Groceries held in temperature-controlled staging area until pickup
- Check in via Amazon app on arrival for curbside or in-store counter
- Employee loads order directly into car or hands off bags at service desk
Partner Carrier Locations
- Deliver to any UPS Store, UPS Access Point, Rite Aid, GNC or Health Mart
- 28,000 combined locations across the country
- Functions like a regular delivery: select spot, wait for arrival email
- Bring ID and unique code to partner store to retrieve package
- Free for Prime, $25 order minimum applies to non-Prime
- Offers flexibility to get orders at secure local businesses
Amazon Physical Store
- Supported at Amazon Books, 4-Star, Pop-Up and Go retail locations
- Most items fulfilled by Amazon eligible, with exceptions (hazmat, oversize)
- No added fees, Prime still gets free one or two-day to store
- Select "Search for an Amazon pickup location" and choose closest store
- After delivery, email gives instructions and code for in-store retrieval
- Bring ID and unique code, associate verifies and hands over package
- Easy exchanges/returns since already at Amazon store
Pickup Popularity and Benefits
The meteoric growth of e-commerce in the 2020s has also fueled increased adoption of alternative delivery options like in-person pickup. With US online sales expected to hit $1.4 trillion in 2024, both shoppers and merchants are looking for ways to optimize the fulfillment experience.
Case in point: 47% of consumers used BOPIS (buy online, pickup in store) services in 2023, up from just 31% in 2019 according to Statista. And Amazon‘s pickup offerings are some of the most robust. The company has seen clicks on its lockers and counters balloon 170% between 2021 and 2023. Amazon now accounts for nearly a third of all US package pickups.
So why are so many shoppers choosing to retrieve their own parcels? For one, it gives buyers more control over when and where they get their purchases. Rather than waiting around for a delivery truck, customers can snag their box at a time and place that fits their schedule. That‘s a big draw for the 81% of full-time employed US adults who say they‘ve missed a delivery due to work.
Home delivery also comes with the risk of package theft, with 49 million Americans having at least one box stolen in 2023. Directing orders to a secure pickup location ensures they‘ll be there when the customer is ready. In a March 2024 survey, 53% of Amazon shoppers cited package security as a top reason they use pickup.
Reducing environmental impact and minimizing packaging are other motivators. Many eco-conscious consumers prefer the efficiency of consolidated delivery to a locker that serves multiple people. It‘s one reason Amazon‘s pickup locations eliminated the need for over 492 million boxes in 2023, a figure that‘s expected to hit 1 billion by 2025.
For Amazon and its fulfillment partners, encouraging pickup offers potential cost savings along with sustainability perks. Serving multiple customers from one delivery endpoint cuts down on total shipping miles and eases the strain on last-mile logistics. Amazon‘s own data shows that Locker deliveries are 30-50% cheaper than individual home drop-offs.
The rise in pickup also benefits the brick-and-mortar retailers hosting Amazon‘s lockers and counters. An estimated 56% of shoppers picking up an online order make an additional in-store purchase. Kohl‘s saw visits increase 8.5% in Q4 2023 after installing Amazon return counters in all its locations. It‘s a prime example of how physical retail and e-commerce can work together symbiotically.
However, there are some drawbacks to pickup compared to doorstep delivery. Unlike the near-instant gratification of ultrafast shipping, retrieving an order requires some delayed effort on the customer‘s part. And while Amazon‘s pickup network is extensive, rural shoppers may still face long drives to a locker or counter.
Privacy is another potential sticking point, as getting a package in person involves exchanging info with a store employee or using a surveilled locker. For highly sensitive items, some shoppers will always prefer the anonymity of a plain cardboard box left at the front door.
Expert Tips for a Stellar Amazon Pickup Experience
By now you know the basics of Amazon‘s various package pickup options. But there are some key tricks to make the process as painless as possible:
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Double check the address and operating hours of your pickup location before ordering, especially for in-store counters. Some spots have limited days/times for retrievals.
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Keep an eye out for the email alert that your package is ready. It will include the deadline for picking up before the order gets returned to Amazon.
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Have your ID and unique pickup code ready when you arrive. The code will be in your email and in the "Your Orders" section of your Amazon account.
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If using a Locker, give the on-screen prompts a few seconds to load after entering your code. The door will pop open automatically, so don‘t try to yank it.
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For curbside pickup at Whole Foods, make sure to park in a designated spot and check in on the app. Curbside orders have a limited wait time before they‘re cancelled.
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Build in a buffer between your pickup date and when you actually need the item in case there are delays. Some pickup spots get backed up during the holidays.
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If you‘re running late, see if a friend or family member can retrieve your order. Most places will release packages to anyone with the unique pickup code.
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Take advantage of Amazon‘s nearby retail locations for easy returns or exchanges. Dropping off an unwanted item at a store is often quicker than shipping it back.
The Future of Amazon Pickup
As Amazon continues to expand its footprint across the US, the company is investing heavily in new pickup options and technologies. Amazon is piloting smart lockers equipped with computer vision and sensors that can automatically detect which packages are being retrieved. The tech could eventually allow shoppers to grab their boxes without needing a code.
The e-commerce behemoth is also experimenting with in-garage delivery and pickup, leveraging connected devices like myQ. Such services enable secure order retrieval for the 79% of Americans with a garage. Walmart has already launched in-home delivery to fridges and kitchens in some markets, so it‘s likely only a matter of time before Amazon explores more access points.
With drone delivery still facing regulatory hurdles, pickup may be Amazon‘s best bet for reducing fulfillment costs and increasing order density in the short term. The company aims to have a pickup spot within 5 miles of 99% of the US population by 2026. It‘s also possible that a majority of Amazon orders will be channeled through pickup within the next few years as shoppers embrace the convenience and security.
For brick-and-mortar stores, hosting Amazon pickup services is quickly becoming table stakes. Beyond Kohl‘s, Stein Mart, Rite Aid and others are racing to add Amazon counters and lockers chain-wide. While they forfeit some sales to the online giant, retailers are betting that the extra foot traffic will make up for it.
The Bottom Line on Amazon Package Pickup
No longer just a novel add-on, in-person package retrieval has rapidly become a core pillar of Amazon‘s fulfillment strategy. With an array of convenient and mostly free pickup options, more shoppers are skipping the doorstep drop-off in favor of grabbing their goodies on the go.
Whether you‘re a picky Amazon addict or just an occasional buyer, taking advantage of a locker, counter or curbside spot can add flexibility and peace of mind to your shopping experience. So next time you‘re checking out on Amazon, consider trading the tracking numbers for a short trip to claim your package on your own terms.
