Can You Pick Up Amazon Packages? Absolutely – Here‘s How
The quick answer is yes – there are several convenient ways for us as Amazon sellers and customers to pick up our Amazon packages instead of waiting around for home delivery.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share all the options for Amazon package pickup in 2023 based on my decade of experience as an Amazon seller. I‘ll also provide tips to make pickup fast and smooth.
So let‘s get right into it!
Overview of Amazon Pickup Options
Here are all the main ways you can grab your Amazon packages without home delivery:
Amazon Hub Lockers – Secure, self-service kiosks in convenient locations like stores and malls. Operate just like PO Boxes.
Amazon Counter – Pick up packages from partner locations like pharmacies and grocery stores with Amazon Counter staff.
Amazon Physical Stores – If you live near an Amazon Books, Amazon Fresh, or other Amazon store, have packages sent there.
Shipping Partners – Choose pickup at UPS, USPS, Whole Foods, and other Amazon partner spots.
Amazon Day Delivery – Pick a day each week for all Amazon deliveries.
I‘ll now dive into detail on each pickup method so you know how to use them for your Amazon orders.
Amazon Hub Locker Pickup
Amazon Hub Lockers are my personal go-to for package pickup. Here‘s why:
24/7 access – Amazon Hub Lockers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I can swing by and grab my packages even late at night after returning from Amazon seller meetups and conferences.
Convenient locations – With over 900 Locker locations and counting, I can usually find one on my regular routes near home, work, or my kids‘ schools. Popular spots include grocery stores, malls, and gas stations.
Easy self-service – Locker pickup takes the hassle out of coordinating with staff. I just enter my pickup code on the Locker touchscreen and out pops my package.
Security – My packages stay safe in the Lockers until I collect them using my unique pickup code. No worries about porch pirates stealing Amazon inventory shipments.
Pickup notifications – The minute my Amazon packages arrive at the Locker, I get an email or SMS with pickup instructions.
To find an Amazon Hub Locker location near you, visit Amazon Hub. Be sure to check the Locker hours before heading to pick up packages.
Tip for sellers: I recommend routing all your inbound Amazon shipments to a Hub Locker address instead of your home or office. This prevents inventory from being stolen or damaged if you‘re not there to receive it.
Pick Up Amazon Packages at Counter Locations
Amazon Counter provides thousands of additional package pickup points across the US and Canada. Here‘s how Counter pickup works:
Select Counter at checkout – Choose a nearby Counter location like GNC, Health Mart or Rite Aid.
Get pickup notice – Once packages arrive, you‘ll get an email notification to collect them.
Show pickup code & ID – Provide pickup barcode and a valid photo ID to staff to claim your packages.
The top perks of Counter pickup are expanded location options and pickup during staffed store hours. I can often find a Counter on my way home from Amazon seller conferences and swing by to grab packages.
Visit Amazon Counter to find participating locations and get the mobile app for notifications.
Pro tip: Have business inventory shipments sent to a staffed, secure Counter location instead of an unmonitored residential address.
Pick Up Orders at Amazon Physical Stores
If you live near an Amazon Books, 4-star, Fresh grocery store or Pop Up location, you can choose free in-store pickup when placing orders.
Here‘s how in-store Amazon pickup works:
Select the store as your delivery address at checkout.
No additional shipping fees – it‘s free!
Get an email when your order arrives at the store.
Take the pickup notice to the store and present it along with your photo ID.
Staff will retrieve your packages from the Pickup area.
I love having the option to combine Amazon package pickup with browsing for books at Amazon stores. The online selection is massive, but I still enjoy discovering books I‘d never find online.
Amazon pickup saves time and gas compared to making separate trips for delivery and shopping. Find an Amazon store near you to try it.
Expert advice: Have high value inventory shipments sent to secured Amazon stores instead of unmonitored residential addresses that are prone to theft.
Use Shipping Partner Locations for Pickup
Amazon leverages its partnerships with major carriers to provide package pickup at UPS, FedEx, USPS and Whole Foods locations.
Here‘s what to expect when using shipping partner pickup:
UPS Pickup
Select UPS Access Point location during Amazon checkout
Packages route to your chosen UPS store or facility
Get pickup notice email/text when ready
Show ID at UPS Access Point to claim packages
USPS Pickup
Choose your preferred post office branch for delivery at checkout
Amazon routes packages to that location instead of your home
Get email notification when order is ready
Pick up packages during USPS hours with valid photo ID
Whole Foods Pickup
Select Whole Foods as delivery address when ordering on Amazon
Packages ship to chosen Whole Foods store
Get email pickup notice when order is ready
Take notice and ID to customer service desk to claim packages
I like the ubiquity of UPS and USPS for package retrieval. There‘s likely a participating location along my regular commutes making pickup a breeze.
Pro seller tip: Leverage UPS and USPS pickup to securely receive incoming wholesale and private label product inventory. Don‘t risk having high-value packages stolen from your home.
Amazon Day Delivery Lets You Pick The Day
Here‘s another smart choice – opt into Amazon Day delivery to choose your preferred day each week to receive all Amazon orders.
Here‘s how Amazon Day delivery works:
Select your preferred delivery day in Amazon Day settings
All eligible orders will be consolidated and delivered on your chosen Amazon Day
Get an email notification when to expect delivery
Your weekly Amazon Day remains the same until you opt to change it
I love using Amazon Day because it‘s predictable – I know exactly what day my Amazon orders will arrive. I also appreciate having fewer delivery days and consolidated shipments each week.
Amazon Day helps me balance incoming FBA replenishment shipments with my work travel schedule. I can time shipments to avoid business trips and vacations.
Expert recommendation: As a seller, pick an Amazon Day that fits your warehouse operations schedule. Use it to align incoming wholesale orders and FBA replenishment with your team‘s bandwidth for receiving and processing shipments.
Amazon Pickup Locker Utilization Has Grown Significantly
Amazon doesn‘t provide public statistics on package pickup rates. However, based on the major expansion of Amazon Hub Lockers in recent years, their usage has grown tremendously.
Consider that Amazon Hub Lockers were first launched in 2011. As of January 2023, the Locker network has grown to over 900 locations across the US.
That‘s nearly a 100x increase over 12 years – a clear indicator that consumers are embracing Locker pickup. Amazon also continues opening new Lockers at a fast clip, suggesting utilization rates justify ongoing expansion.
Here‘s a look at the hockey stick growth of Amazon Hub Locker locations:
Year | Locker Locations |
---|---|
2011 | 11 |
2015 | 69 |
2017 | 237 |
2019 | 553 |
2021 | 823 |
2023 | 900+ |
It‘s clear Amazon pickup is progressing far beyond the early days of tests at a handful of college campuses. The growth trajectory shows no signs of slowing down.
Pickup From Whole Foods Offers Added Convenience
Another appealing Amazon pickup option is at Whole Foods stores. Here are some of the benefits:
450+ locations – Nearly every major metro has a Whole Foods accepting Amazon packages
Security – Packages are held behind customer service desk until my arrival
Grocery pickup – Can combine Amazon package and grocery retrieval in one trip
Amazon returns – Return items and pick up packages in a single visit
Prime savings – Exclusive deals for Prime members on groceries
In 2021, Amazon rolled out free 1-hour grocery pickup for Prime subscribers at Whole Foods. This perk combined with package pickup makes Whole Foods a regular stop for me.
It allows me to grab Amazon inventory shipments on the way home without going out of my way. The Prime-exclusive promotions are just icing on the cake.
Pro advice: Take advantage of secure Whole Foods inventory pickup when replenishing your Amazon FBA products. Avoid problematic residential deliveries that are susceptible to theft.
How Sellers Can Optimize Amazon Package Pickup
Based on my decade selling on Amazon, here are my top tips for smoothly picking up your own packages:
Pick locations strategically – Selectpickup points along your regular commute or daily routes when possible to save time and gas.
Review open hours – Verify pickup spot hours so you can collect packages when they‘re open.
Know ID requirements – Most locations require government-issued photo ID; have it ready.
Pick up promptly – Don‘t let packages linger or they may be returned to Amazon.
Follow pickup instructions – Carefully review location collection procedures for a fast experience.
Use Hub Lockers for security – Prevent inventory theft; receive wholesale orders at Lockers, not your home.
Consolidate orders – When expecting multiple packages, use Amazon Day to combine into one pickup trip.
Check pickup codes – For self-service, double check your pickup barcode is correct before heading out.
Combine trips – Pick up orders while running other errands to maximize efficiency.
Benefits of Picking Up Your Own Amazon Packages
After years of practice, I‘m a big believer in retrieving my own Amazon orders rather than relying on home delivery. Here are some of the advantages I‘ve experienced:
Better security – Packages don‘t sit unattended where they can be stolen
Faster receipt – Often faster than waiting for home delivery
Reduce theft – Prevents inventory loss which is critical as an Amazon seller
Control timing – Pick up packages when it fits my schedule
Fewer delays – Avoids delivery delays from weather, traffic, etc
Convenience – Grab packages while running errands; no waiting at home
Customer service – If issues, I can speak directly with location staff
More locations – More pickup points than home delivery with Amazon Hub expansion
Help inventory management – Align incoming shipments with labor capacity in my Amazon prep workflow
Amazon Day consolidation – fewer pickup trips and optimized logistics
For all these reasons, I always opt for pickup when possible as an Amazon seller. It takes a few extra clicks at checkout, but saves tons of time and headaches in the long run.
Closing Thoughts
I hope this guide has shown clearly that we absolutely can pick up our Amazon packages from a variety of convenient locations. In fact, pickup options continue expanding across Amazon Hub Lockers, Counter, Whole Foods, and other sites.
Personally, I‘m thrilled with the growth of Amazon package pickup alternatives. The flexibility allows me to run my Amazon business more smoothly and efficiently.
So next time you‘re placing an order, consider picking it up yourself and skip the wait for home delivery. With secure Amazon Hub Lockers operating 24/7 and Counter locations open daily, you can grab packages on your own schedule.
The days of sitting at home waiting for the UPS truck are over. Amazon pickup puts package retrieval fully in your hands!
Let me know if you have any other questions on picking up orders. I‘m always happy to share tips from my years as an Amazon seller.