USPS Teams up with Amazon
There’s nothing better than getting a package! And now Amazon customers in New York City and Los Angeles will be able to receive packages 7 days a week!
How’s this happening? Amazon just announced a partnership with the United States Postal Service that will allow for Sunday Package Delivery. This services is expected to expand to other major markets like Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, New Orleans and beyond.
This is an incredibly aggressive move with the holiday season just around the corner. Admittedly, it isn’t available everywhere yet, but nearly 40 million people live in the New York and LA metro areas, over 10% of the US population.
Read more about who benefits and my theory on why this is happening.
A Boost for Prime
There are already many great reasons to become an Amazon Prime member, including free streaming TV shows and movies, $3.99 overnight shipping and the Kindle Lending Library.
Now Prime Members will be getting packages on Sunday! While this partnership will benefit all Amazon users, Prime members will see the biggest boost. They’ll be able to order on Friday and have their items before the end of the weekend at no extra cost. Wow!
A Boost for the USPS
The USPS’s struggles have been well documented. From budget deficits in the billions to threatened service cuts, it has been a rough few years for the postal service.
Now, this partnership with Amazon could be the shot in the arm they need. UPS doesn’t deliver on Sundays at all and FedEx delivers on Sunday, but at a premium cost.
Working with Amazon, a very popular and forward-thinking brand, puts the USPS in a very good place. They’re now innovators instead of the sluggish dinosaurs many news articles portray them as.
This could end up being a great move for the USPS!
A Great Boost for FBA Sellers
If you’re an FBA seller, you should be loving this news. Last minute holiday shoppers will have another day to receive items before Christmas. Amazon will be in the news during the biggest shopping season of the year, thanks to this new service.
More shoppers than ever will be coming to Amazon. And they’re going to be buying from FBA sellers!
My Theory
Amazon is known for using their huge size and success to put pressure on other businesses. They’ve done it to publishing houses like Macmillan and they’ve even done it to UPS in the past, once cutting off UPS shipments and relying on FedEx during a contract dispute.
I think Amazon went to the USPS and said, “You’re desperate to makeover your image and to get some new revenue. Deliver packages for us on Sunday and you’ll do both.” But what they were really doing was saying to FedEx, UPS and other courier services was, “We’ve found someone willing to take on Sunday delivery. Everyone else better get on board or be left behind.”
I wouldn’t be surprised to see UPS offering Sunday delivery within 8-10 months.
Stefana Mihai is an expert in international Amazon sales, multi-lingual customer service and the challenges faced by global businesses.
Email her and find out how she and the SellerEngine Services team can help you!
