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Amazon will charge $9.95 for Whole Foods grocery delivery through Prime in the US.
In August, the company piloted the program across six cities.
According to the company, the service fee will be in effect on October 25, and will help offset operating expenses.
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Amazon has added a $9.95 delivery charge to Prime orders for Whole Foods items in the US.
A spokesperson for Whole Foods stated that customers have been notified via email about the fee. On October 25, the additional fee will be in effect nationwide.
According to the spokesperson, the fee will allow the chain to avoid increasing prices and offset rising delivery costs. The fee does not affect grocery pickup orders, or Amazon Fresh, which is available only in certain markets.
The spokesperson stated that prices are comparable between online and store options. This is something you won't find with many of our competitors. We are seeing more customers return to stores and that is because of our contactless payment options.
Bloomberg first reported that the company piloted the fee in six markets, including Detroit and Boston.
Whole Foods launched its grocery delivery service shortly after Amazon purchased the chain for $13.7 million in 2017. Prime members who purchased more than $35 in groceries were eligible for free delivery.
Whole Foods quickly outperformed other Amazon delivery options like Prime Pantry or Amazon Fresh. Amazon closed its Prime Pantry service in January to simplify its grocery offerings.
As more people looked for social distance, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods delivery grew in popularity during the pandemic. The new fee shows that Amazon is not immune to inflation as the price of goods keeps rising with higher shipping costs and product and labor shortages.
Business Insider has the original article.
