Amazon is to roll out its parcel collection lockers more widely in the US by installing them atStaples office supplies stores as an alternative to home delivery.
Staples, a $25 billion company with shops across North America and other continents,confirmed to Reuters last week that online shoppers could have their orders delivered to the Amazonlockers for convenient collection. It was not clear how many lockers would be installed at Staplesoutlets.
Amazon aims to improve delivery options by offering customers the choice of collecting goodsfrom a locker instead of having to wait at home. It has already installed lockers at a number ofstores in cities such as Seattle, New York and Washington DC in the US and in London in Europe.Most of its orders, however, continue to be delivered directly to homes by postal and parcelcompanies.
According to information on US-based amazon.com, users of Amazon Lockers receive an e-mailor text message with a pick-code code that is entered on a touchscreen display in order to open thecompartment with the package. Online shoppers can select the locker delivery option when makingtheir purchase.
In September, Staples announced plans to integrate online and offline retailing, downsizeits US chain by 30 locations this year and restructure European operations to improve its financialresults. US media speculated that by installing Amazon lockers, Staples could attract new customersinto its shops to generate additional sales.
