As an Amazon Prime member, you gain access to a variety of valuable benefits – from free 2-day shipping to streaming video and music. But one perk you may not be as familiar with is Amazon Fresh. What exactly is this service, and is it included free with your Prime membership? Let‘s dive into everything you need to know about Amazon Fresh in 2023.
What Is Amazon Fresh?
Amazon Fresh is Amazon‘s grocery delivery and pickup service. With Amazon Fresh, you can shop for a wide selection of fresh produce, meat, dairy, frozen foods, pantry staples, household essentials, and more. Then, choose a delivery window and have your order brought right to your doorstep. In some areas, you also have the option to pick up your order yourself from an Amazon Fresh pickup location.
Do Prime Members Get Amazon Fresh for Free?
The big question: Is Amazon Fresh free for Prime members? As of 2023, the answer is yes… with a few caveats.
Amazon Fresh orders over a certain dollar amount qualify for free delivery for Prime members. However, this minimum order amount varies by area. In most regions, you need to spend at least $35 or $50 (before tax) to get free delivery on your Amazon Fresh order. If your order total is below that threshold, Prime members will be charged a delivery fee, typically ranging from $5-8.
It‘s also important to note that while Amazon Fresh delivery is free for Prime members, you still need to tip your delivery driver an appropriate amount.
One interesting stat: According to a 2022 survey by Statista, 48% of Amazon shoppers in the U.S. said they had used Amazon Fresh in the past 12 months. So it‘s a popular offering, but still only used by about half of Amazon‘s customer base currently.
How Amazon Fresh Pricing Has Changed
Amazon Fresh hasn‘t always been included for free with Prime. When the service first launched back in 2007, it cost Prime members an extra $299 per year on top of the regular Prime membership fee. Yikes!
Pricing became much more reasonable over the years, dropping to a $15/month add-on fee for Prime members. But it wasn‘t until late 2019 that Amazon finally made Amazon Fresh free for Prime subscribers, as long as you hit the order minimum. This change made Amazon Fresh much more competitive with grocery delivery services from rivals like Walmart.
How Amazon Fresh Compares to Whole Foods Delivery
One point of confusion: Amazon owns Whole Foods Market and also offers free 2-hour delivery for Prime members on orders over $35 from Whole Foods stores. So how is this different from Amazon Fresh?
While there is some overlap in the products offered, Amazon Fresh has a much larger overall selection, with many items sourced from Amazon warehouses. Whole Foods delivery is great if you‘re looking for organic, premium groceries, but Amazon Fresh is better for a wider assortment of pantry staples and brands.
Geography is also a factor – Amazon Fresh is currently available in more than 2,000 cities and towns, while Whole Foods delivery is limited to around 90 U.S. metros. So Amazon Fresh casts a much wider net.
Using Amazon Fresh Step-by-Step
Ready to try out Amazon Fresh for yourself? Here‘s a quick step-by-step guide to placing your first order:
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Log in to your Amazon Prime account and search for Amazon Fresh, or download the Amazon app and tap the Fresh icon.
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Enter your zip code to see if Amazon Fresh delivery is available in your area. You can also see if there are any Amazon Fresh pickup locations near you.
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Start shopping! Browse the Amazon Fresh selection and add items to your cart. You can search for specific products or browse by category.
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When you‘re ready to check out, select a delivery window that works for you. Options typically range from same-day to a week out, depending on availability.
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Select your payment method and place your order. You‘ll receive confirmation and tracking info letting you know when to expect your delivery.
Easy, right? You can also enable features like Subscribe & Save for recurring orders of staple items to save even more.
Amazon Fresh: Pros and Cons
As someone who‘s tried many grocery delivery services over the years, I‘ve found a lot to like about Amazon Fresh. Some of the biggest advantages in my experience:
- Excellent selection, often better than my local grocery store for many items
- Frequently lower prices compared to other grocery delivery services
- Easy, intuitive shopping experience on Amazon‘s website and app
- Reliable, on-time deliveries (at least in my area)
- Convenient integration with my Alexa smart speaker to add items to my Fresh cart
However, there are a few potential downsides to consider as well:
- Unpredictable inventory, especially for high-demand items
- Minimum order requirements to get free delivery
- Required driver tip adds to total cost
- Delivery fees can be high if you don‘t meet the order minimum
- May not be available in all areas, especially more rural regions
Overall, if you‘re a Prime member and Amazon Fresh is available where you live, I think it‘s absolutely worth trying out for yourself. You may find it saves you a lot of time and hassle on your regular grocery shopping.
Is Amazon Fresh Available Internationally?
Currently, Amazon Fresh offers fairly limited availability outside of the U.S.
For example, in the UK, Amazon Fresh is a free benefit for Prime members, with free delivery on orders over £40. However, the service is only available in limited areas, mostly around London. Shoppers can enter their postcode on the Amazon UK website to check availability.
Amazon Fresh also has some availability in parts of Europe and Japan, but the service is not nearly as widely available internationally compared to in the U.S. No word yet on further expansion plans.
Tips to Save Money With Amazon Fresh
Want to get the best bang for your buck when using Amazon Fresh as a Prime member? Here are a few money-saving tips I‘ve learned:
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Always check the Amazon Fresh Deals section first when shopping. Here, you‘ll find discounts and coupons on a variety of products.
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Take advantage of Subscribe & Save. Setting up recurring deliveries on eligible items can get you up to 15% off.
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Use the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card. You‘ll get 5% back on all Amazon Fresh orders as a cardholder.
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Be flexible with brands. Amazon Fresh offers low-priced options on many staples through its Happy Belly and Amazon Kitchen brands.
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Plan your orders to get over the free shipping minimum. Don‘t place a bunch of small orders and rack up delivery fees.
The Future of Amazon Fresh
Amazon has shown a huge commitment to expanding Amazon Fresh in recent years, building a network of high-tech fulfillment centers across the U.S. The company is betting big that grocery delivery will continue to boom, aiming to capture a larger chunk of the $1 trillion U.S. grocery market.
Based on the current trajectory, I expect we‘ll see Amazon Fresh continue to expand into new markets and offer additional perks for Prime members in the coming years. It‘s quickly becoming a must-have part of the Prime ecosystem. While anything could change in the future, I‘d be surprised if Amazon starts charging Prime members extra for Amazon Fresh again anytime soon. The free delivery perk has become a key selling point.
Overall, one thing is clear in 2023: Amazon Fresh has evolved to become a major benefit for Prime members that can drastically change the way you handle grocery shopping. If you haven‘t taken advantage of this perk yet, now is the perfect time to explore how Amazon Fresh can fit into your shopping routine as a Prime subscriber.
