Online retail giant Amazon announced today that it has struck a deal with the U.S. Postal Service to deliver packages to customers in New York and Los Angeles on Sundays. The service will soon expand beyond the two largest metropolitan areas in the country to include more major cities next year.
Amazon said that the service will be available for Amazon Prime subscribers, who receive two-day shipping free. So, if you place an order on Friday and live in these two cities, you can start receiving packages on Sundays. The company said that customers in New Orleans, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and elsewhere will have the service available next year.
“We’re excited that now every day is an Amazon delivery day and we know our Prime members, who voraciously shop on Amazon, will love the additional convenience they will experience as part of this new service,” Dave Clark, Amazon’s vice president of worldwide operations and customer service, said in a statement.
Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer, added, “As online shopping continues to increase, the Postal Service is very happy to offer shippers like Amazon the option of having packages delivered on Sunday.” Donahoe said that customers can “expect the same reliable and valued service that the Postal Service currently provides.”
The deal is expected to give the USPS a much-needed boost, as it tries to stay afloat and compete with UPS, FedEx and DHL. The USPS had tried to cut service to just five days a week, but that would only be for regular mail. According to CNN, the company has said that even as regular mail volume decreases, they have seen more packages being shipped.
Amazon, which is offering food delivery in Los Angeles and Seattle, and the USPS did not release financial terms of the deal.
image: Amazon.com