How To Return Amazon Fresh Totes In 2023? (+ Other FAQs)
Amazon Fresh allows Prime members to order groceries and other everyday essentials for quick delivery right to their door. This convenient service brings perishables, household items, and more directly from Amazon‘s fulfillment centers in temperature-controlled tote bags.
If you‘ve started using Amazon Fresh, you may be wondering what to do with those large green totes once your order arrives. Here, I‘ll explain how to return Amazon Fresh delivery totes, plus answer additional common questions about this grocery delivery service.
How Do You Return Amazon Fresh Totes?
Amazon makes the tote return process quick and simple. To return your used Amazon Fresh totes, all you need to do is leave them outdoors near your front door on the day of your next scheduled delivery.
When the Amazon driver arrives with your new grocery order, they will collect any empty totes from your previous delivery. There‘s no need to box up the used totes or contact Amazon to arrange a special pickup.
Step-by-Step Guide to Returning Totes:
Place any empty, used totes from your last Amazon Fresh delivery near your front door.
If possible, ensure the totes are dry, empty, and neatly stacked.
Leave the totes outside on the day you‘re expecting your next Amazon Fresh delivery.
The driver will take away the old totes when dropping off your new grocery order in fresh totes.
And that‘s all there is to it! Amazon will reuse your returned totes for future deliveries to other customers.
Do You Have To Return Amazon Fresh Totes?
Returning the totes is completely optional. Amazon will not penalize you or charge any fees if you opt to keep the delivery totes for personal use after receiving your groceries.
Some customers prefer to reuse the totes for purposes like:
- Storage containers
- Makeshift recycling bins
- Dog/pet food containers
- DIY gardening projects
- Kids‘ toys and activities
Or you can simply recycle the totes if you no longer need them. The Amazon Fresh totes are made from recyclable plastic. Check with your local recycling center to confirm they accept this type of plastic.
Can You Request An Amazon Tote Pickup?
Unfortunately, there is no way to request a special tote retrieval in between your regular Amazon Fresh deliveries. The drivers can only pick up the used totes when they arrive for a scheduled drop-off.
So if you want the totes gone sooner, you‘ll need to wait until your next delivery day. Place them outside as early as the night before so the driver is sure to see them.
What Do You Do With Old Amazon Fresh Totes?
As mentioned, you have a few options when it comes to dealing with your used Amazon Fresh totes:
Return them: Simply leave the empty totes outside for the driver to retrieve on your next delivery day. This is the easiest and most convenient option.
Reuse them: Repurpose the totes for storage, organization, children‘s activities, gardening, and more. The sturdy plastic holds up well for multiple uses.
Recycle them: Once you‘re finished with the totes, place them in your recycling bin to be responsibly processed. Check with your local program first to ensure they take this type of plastic.
Trash them: Tossing the totes in the garbage should be a last resort. Since they are fully recyclable, recycling is the better choice if you don‘t want to reuse them.
In most cases, I recommend returning or recycling Amazon Fresh totes when possible. This keeps them in circulation longer and diverts them from landfills. Reusing them around your home is the next best option.
What Is Amazon Fresh?
For those unfamiliar, here‘s a quick rundown on how Amazon Fresh works:
Amazon Fresh is a grocery delivery service available exclusively to Prime members in select cities. It offers fresh food, pantry items, household essentials, and more for delivery in as fast as 2 hours.
Using the Amazon Fresh website or mobile app, customers can browse groceries and place orders from Amazon‘s regional fulfillment centers. Delivery is free for orders over a minimum amount, which varies by location.
The groceries are packed in insulated, reusable tote bags to keep refrigerated and frozen items cold. An Amazon driver then delivers directly to your door at a scheduled time.
Amazon Fresh eliminates grocery store trips so Prime members can get everyday essentials quickly delivered by Amazon. This service is currently available in these metro areas:
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Boston
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Denver
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Minneapolis
- New York City
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Washington D.C.
Availability in more cities is expected in the future as Amazon continues expanding the Fresh program across the U.S.
Does Amazon Fresh Have Shipping Fees?
Amazon Fresh orders under a certain value will incur a delivery fee. This minimum order amount for free shipping varies by location, but is typically around $35-$50.
For example, the minimum for free delivery in Seattle is $35. So any order less than $35 would be assessed a shipping fee at checkout. Orders of $35+ ship free.
The delivery fee amount also depends on factors like:
- Distance from the Amazon fulfillment center
- Time of day
- Delivery speed selected
- Order size
In most cases, hitting the minimum for free delivery is easy with a typical grocery order. But you may encounter a shipping fee if placing a very small Amazon Fresh order.
How Do You Access Amazon Fresh?
Only Amazon Prime members can shop and order from Amazon Fresh. Here are the ways to gain access:
Full Prime membership – Either monthly ($14.99/month) or annual ($139/year) gets you all Prime benefits, including Amazon Fresh where available.
Prime trial – New members can start a 30-day free Prime trial to test services like Fresh. Just remember to cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged if you don‘t want to continue.
Prime Student – College students can join Prime Student for a 6-month free trial followed by discounted monthly pricing ($7.49/month).
Prime Household – After linking accounts, one Prime member can share their benefits with one other adult in their household.
Without one of the above Prime memberships, you won‘t be able to order delivery from Amazon Fresh. A Prime Video-only subscription does not include access.
How Much Is An Amazon Prime Membership?
Here are the current prices for the different types of Amazon Prime memberships:
- Prime monthly: $14.99/month
- Prime annual: $139/year (about $11.58/month)
- Prime Student: $7.49/month after the 6-month trial
- Prime Household: Free access for a second adult after linking to primary Prime account
The annual membership typically provides the best overall value for access to all Prime benefits like Fresh grocery delivery. But the monthly plan allows more flexibility to cancel anytime if you decide it‘s not worth the cost for your needs.
Where Is Amazon Fresh Available?
As of early 2023, Amazon Fresh is live in these metropolitan areas:
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
- Denver, CO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
- New York City, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Washington D.C.
Amazon continues working to bring the grocery delivery program to more cities. So don‘t be surprised if Amazon Fresh launches in your area soon.
How Do You Use Amazon Fresh?
Using Amazon Fresh takes just a few simple steps:
Sign into your Prime account – Access Fresh delivery by signing in online at amazon.com/fresh or via the Amazon Fresh app.
Enter your location – Make sure your delivery address falls within an eligible Fresh zone.
Browse & shop – Search for groceries, household items, and other essentials to add to your virtual cart.
Pick a delivery window – Select a 1-2 hour window for attended delivery or other options depending on availability.
Checkout – Review your order and delivery details then checkout. Don‘t forget to look for coupons and promotions.
Receive your delivery – Your order will arrive within the chosen delivery window in Amazon‘s temperature-controlled tote bags.
Return totes – Place used totes outside on your next delivery day for easy retrieval when you receive your new order.
And that‘s all there is to it! Amazon Fresh makes getting groceries fast, convenient, and contactless.
Conclusion
Returning Amazon Fresh delivery totes is hassle-free. Just leave them outdoors near your front door, and the driver will collect them when dropping off your next order. Recycling or reusing the totes are other great options too.
With Amazon Fresh, Prime members can skip trips to the supermarket and get groceries and essentials delivered conveniently. This service is currently available in select metro areas with more cities coming soon.
I hope this guide provided useful tips on returning Amazon Fresh totes after your deliveries. Let me know if you have any other questions!