Amazon has started delivering goods to British online shoppers through the 4,700 CollectPlusstores across the country as an alternative to home delivery or collection from a self-service
locker.The world’s largest online retailer, which already uses CollectPlus to offer parcel returns, hasnow given online shoppers the option to have purchases delivered to one of the delivery operator’sretail outlets. These are small businesses such as newsagents or corner shops.
Amazon.co.uk already offers a wide choice of delivery options in the UK, including guaranteeddeliveries (next-day express, one-day or same evening), first-class (1-2 days) and ‘super-saver’(3-5 days).
The e-commerce giant also offers delivery to ‘Amazon Lockers’ in various locations such as largeshopping centres and train stations across the UK. New locker locations are being “added everyweek”, according to the firm, which has already trialled such self-service machines in Seattle andNew York in the USA.
However, Amazon UK does not let shoppers select their preferred delivery company for homedelivery orders. “Orders may be delivered by various carriers but it’s not possible to choose whichcarrier will deliver your order,” its online delivery information says. Delivery companies used byAmazon UK include City Link, City Sprint, DHL, DPD, Hermes, Parcelforce Worldwide / Royal Mail, UPSand Yodel, according to its website.
Mark Lewis, CEO, CollectPlus, welcomed the new cooperation. “We are delighted that Amazon.co.ukcustomers can now choose to have purchases delivered to a CollectPlus store local to them. Byopting for a CollectPlus ‘pick up location’ at checkout, Amazon.co.uk customers can choose tocollect their items from one of our thousands of shops nationwide, at a time that suits them best,”he explained.
“CollectPlus is already integrated into Amazon.co.uk Marketplace, so sellers can choose us astheir delivery service. The extension of our service means that more people will be able to useCollectPlus, providing further choice and convenience for their deliveries,” he added.
CollectPlus, a joint venture between parcel delivery firm Yodel and payments company Paypoint,now works with over 125 retailers and is processing parcels at a run rate of 5 million a year.Parcels are transported to and from the stores by Yodel, while the retail partners use PayPointterminals for transactions.
The company, which describes itself as “the first national network of alternative delivery andcollection points”, has over 4,700 stores, making it about one-third the size of the Post Officenetwork. CollectPlus claims it is “unique” because 98% of these stores are open early to late,seven days a week.
