Amazon launches same-day delivery
Service available in Vancouver
Amazon Canada TORONTO has upped the competitive stakes in the lead-up to the busiest shopping period of the year by offering free same-day delivery in Toronto and Vancouver for members of its Amazon Prime program.
Amazon.ca said Tuesday that Prime subscribers, who pay $79 per year for free delivery on items with no minimum order, will be entitled to free same-day delivery on orders above $25 placed in the two cities.
The move is an echo of what Amazon.com has introduced in 28 U.S. cities and could win the retailer more business as it heads into the busy pre-Christmas shopping season.
“We have been working quite hard to improve the speed of delivery and we got to a point where we are now able to offer that service,” said Alexandre Gagnon, vice-president of Amazon Canada.
“In general, people using e-commerce tend to want to receive those goods as fast as possible. In response to demand, we are launching this program.”
In other areas of Canada, the prior terms of Prime remain intact.
Amazon Prime was launched in the U.S. in 2005 to encourage more repeat customers, and debuted in Canada in 2013. In the U.S., the service also includes access to music and Amazon’s streaming video service, not yet launched in Canada.
“With the membership, Prime is like a Costco for online, and where they really made ripples when they first did this was during the holiday season,” said Jim Danahy, CEO of the retail advisory firm Customer Lab.
“They have clearly demonstrated that same-day and next-day delivery across the United States has made a difference. I can see this making a difference for people who are pressed for time. Many people decide which retailer they choose based on those kinds of features. It’s an infinitesimally small piece of Canadian retail at this point, but it is where the industry is going.”
Amazon does not reveal how many Canadians have a Prime membership.
Amazon.ca said Tuesday that Prime subscribers, who pay $79 per year … will be entitled to free same-day delivery on orders above $25 placed in the two cities.