Amazon Preps One-Hour Delivery For Prime Day

Amazon is preparing for its second annual Prime Day on July 12, and the company is using the occasion to tout its one-hour delivery service, which it continues to expand in metropolitan areas across the U.S. and beyond.

Prime Now, Amazon’s hour-or-less delivery service, has expanded to more than 40 metropolitan areas worldwide since its 2014 launch. The service is available to Amazon Prime members, who pay $99 a year for a range of services including free standard shipping. Through Prime Now, Amazon provides one-hour delivery for $7.99 and two-hour delivery free of charge.

As part of the Prime Day program, Prime Now will feature deals including one that will provide a $10 discount for members who place their first-ever Prime Now order on select items. The deal begins today and continues through Prime Day on July 12. Amazon also plans to offer a promotional code for an additional $10 to shop on Prime Now later in July.

In the United States currently, Amazon noted that members can tap the Prime Now service in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Berkeley, Cincinnati, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tampa and Virginia Beach.

As for international coverage, Amazon offers Prime Now in several cities across England, as well as in Paris, Berlin, Milan and Rome. Prime Now is also available in several cities in Japan.

 “The only thing better than snapping up amazing deals on Prime Day is having your order arrive just minutes or hours after placing your order through Prime Now,” said Stephenie Landry, Amazon's worldwide vp/Prime Now. “Prime Day is all about rolling out the red carpet for Prime members, and we know customers love the amazing convenience of receiving their order in lightning-fast speeds.”