Amazon Counter, the online retailer’s in-store pickup choice that started this summer at 100+ Rite Aid locations in the U.S., is soon expanding.
The company declared today the service would reach thousands of added places with the involvement of new partners GNC, Health Mart and Stage Stores.
GNC is a well-known fitness and nourishment chain.
Health Mart runs a network of individually owned and managed pharmacies.
Stage Stores, meantime, operates Gordmans off-price shops, Bealls, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Peebles and Stage department stores.
The Story of the Amazon Counter
Amazon Counter is part of the developing Amazon Hub network, which allows pickup places for Amazon deliveries along with thousands of pickup Lockers over the U.S.
The system caters to those who don’t find home delivery comfortable possibly because they work in an office or don’t have any place safe to accept packages.
Amazon today gives a range of options to leave packages on the doorstep, which includes Amazon Counter and Amazon Lockers, Key by Amazon for keyless entry into houses and vehicles and Amazon Day delivery dates.
With Counter, Amazon’s system is created to be minimally disruptive to the brick-and-mortar’s day-to-day actions.
Customers show a barcode to the store employee to collect their package.
Retailers Partner With Amazon
It may look surprising that the very retailers Amazon has been placing out of business with its online superstore would accept to partner up like this.
But as it rolls out, Amazon can drive transactions offline, too.
Department store chain Kohl’s, for example, recently increased its Amazon partnership on returns to all its 1,150 U.S. places after its first trials drove notable revenue increases.
Struggling Stein Mart also lately included the enemy with plans to install Amazon Lockers in some 200 stores, wishing for the same result.
The current set of Amazon Counter partners could likewise benefit.
Patrick Supanc, worldwide director of Amazon Hub, said in a statement that this latest network of pickup points gives consumers a pickup experience that is quick, adjustable and comfortable.
Plus the partners are excited with the strong commitment and added foot traffic Counter is driving for their stores.
Though not specified by Amazon, it is worth looking out that some of its Counter partnerships are with brick-and-mortar pharmacies.
After Amazon’s takeover of online pharmacy PillPack and the launch of its healthcare JV, some assume Amazon will move farther into the world of pharmaceuticals in the future.
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