Amazon debuts click-and-collect services in UK, Italy
LO N D O N : Amazon.com Inc is launching a delivery option that will let customers retrieve parcels from staffed counters at the United Kingdom and Italian retailers, aiming to take advantage of the popularity of click-and-collect services across Europe.
The United States online retailer had struck a partnership with Next Plc to operate the counters at the apparel chain’s more than 500 outlets across Britain, said Amazon yesterday.
In Italy, it has formed similar partnerships with bookstore operator Giunti and other stores.
The service, called Counter, marks a rare example of the e-commerce giant debuting a new offering outside its US home market.
Amazon said it chose Europe for the launch because of customer demand for convenient click-and-collect locations and the high penetration of online retailing. It has created a new app to make the process more efficient for customers and retail partners.
“There is a strong tradition of click-and-collect in both the UK and Italy and the plan is to roll Counter out across Europe,” said Amazon director of lockers and pickup Patrick Supanc.
“Next really understands clickand-collect.”
“In a tough retail environment, our aim is that Amazon Counter will contribute to the continued relevance and vibrancy of our stores,” said Next chief executive officer Simon Wolfson.
Meanwhile, Walmart Inc wants to one-up Amazon in the fight for online shoppers.
The world’s largest retailer is rolling out a next-day delivery service to counter Amazon’s recent move to speed shipment times for top customers to just one day from two.
Walmart customers in Phoenix and Las Vegas who buy more than US$35 (RM145.95) worth of goods will now get free one-day shipping.
The offer, which Walmart had hinted was in the works and will be applied to as many as 220,000 items, will extend to Southern California in the coming days and reach about three-quarters of the US by year-end.