Amazon is throwing its hat into increasingly busy the same-day delivery ring today with the launch of Prime Now. It’s starting small though. The service is only available in ‘select areas’ of Manhattan and covers ‘essential daily items’ like paper towels, shampoo, books, toys and batteries.
Orders can be placed by existing Prime members through a Prime Now app on Android and iOS, which will also notify users when new areas are opened up. The company is charging $7.99 for one-hour delveries, while if you can wait two hours the delivery is free.
Given Amazon’s extensive network of fulfilment centers, this move has been expected for some time. The company joins eBay, Uber and startups like Postmates in offering some kind of limited, speedy delivery service on American streets.
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