NEW YORK — Seattle-based Amazon launched a service Tuesday that lets Prime members in five cities pick up things like snacks, cold drinks or phone chargers within two minutes of ordering them online. Customers need to head over to an Amazon location to collect their order.
Instant Pickup is the latest move by the e-commerce giant to grow its presence in physical stores. Amazon.com Inc. has been opening brick-and-mortar book shops around the country and is buying organic grocer Whole Foods.
For now, the pickup locations are near college campuses in five cities: Atlanta; Berkeley, Calif.; College Park, Md.; Columbus, Ohio; and Los Angeles.
