Amazon will discontinue one of its most popular Prime benefits early next year.
The service, Amazon Today, offers same-day delivery of items at select local stores in customers’ neighborhoods.
It differs from the main Prime delivery service, which applies to items sold by Amazon from its extensive network of warehouses throughout the United States.
Depending on the item and area, Prime delivery options could include two-day, same-day, or even one-hour delivery.
Stores, whether independents in a single city or chains with multiple locations, could sign up for Today. Popular partners include Office Depot, Staples, Petco, PacSun, GNC, Diesel and SuperDry.
Amazon will eliminate its same-day delivery service for Prime subscribers early next year
In addition to home delivery, Amazon Today allows customers to order items for pickup directly in stores.
Prime members enjoyed the service for free on orders over $25, but for smaller purchases, a $2.99 fee applied.
Today, launching in 2024, it will close for most retail partners on December 2 and will be extended until January 24 for a select few.
An Amazon spokesperson said the service is facing a crisis due to “overlap” with its other delivery services.
“This will streamline our offerings for customers, and most of the selections our customers purchase on Amazon Today will continue to be available for same-day or overnight delivery,” the spokesperson told The Street.
However, cutting service will also have huge ramifications for employees who will lose their jobs or be moved internally to other positions within the company.
Most customers were upset that Today was being cut; some said they would cancel Prime, which costs $14.99 a month or $139 a year.
“It seems like they don’t even try anymore,” another said about Prime on Reddit.
“It seems like the Prime I pay for doesn’t add any value to me,” a third agreed.
But one joked that it was a good decision for them, writing: “It’s annoying but I’ll probably end up with fewer spontaneous purchases so it’s probably a good thing in the long run.”
It comes just weeks after the company boasted of its record delivery speeds.
“So far this year, our delivery speed for Prime customers has been faster than ever, with more than 5 billion units arriving the same or next day,” CEO Andy Jassy said during a recent results conference call.
The new Amazon logo has replaced the blue ribbon with light and dark green stripes
“With more optimal inbound inventory placement, we hope to enable faster speeds, consolidate more orders into a single box, and reduce inventory transfers once items arrive at the fulfillment center,” Jassy told investors.
The removal of the benefit also comes after Amazon confused its loyal shoppers with an unannounced change to its shopping app logo.
The well-known logo of the colored cardboard box with a black arrow has undergone a subtle change in the latest update of the application.
The small square, which symbolizes the tape that seals Amazon packages, has changed from its familiar light blue to stripes of dark and light green.
Meanwhile, as pharmacies across the United States are struggling, Amazon plans to open 20 new pharmacies next year.
It contrasts with Walgreens, which said earlier this month it would close 1,200 stores over the next three years.