WASHINGTON — In a world in which everyone wants everything right now, next-day delivery just doesn’t cut it. So, how about a wait time of two minutes?
Amazon has launched a new service called Instant Pickup, which promises “a curated selection of daily essentials available for pickup in two minutes or less.”
It’s testing the new service on five college campuses, including the University of Maryland.
“Instant Pickup is another way Amazon is making life more convenient for Prime members,” said Ripley MacDonald, director of Amazon’s student programs, in a company news release.
“As shopping behaviors continue to evolve, customers consistently tell us that they want items even faster. Whether it’s a snack on the go, replacing a lost phone charger in the middle of a hectic day or adding Alexa to your life with an Echo, Instant Pickup saves Prime members time,” MacDonald said.
Instant pickup is available to Amazon’s Prime and Prime Student members. Depending on the item you order, you can also get same-day or next-day delivery. Items available with Instant Pickup include snacks, drinks and electronics, as well as some of Amazon’s most popular devices.
The first five Instant Pickup locations going live Tuesday are in College Park; Atlanta; Los Angeles and Berkeley, California; and Columbus, Ohio.
