Amazon Fresh is now incentivizing customers to shop for groceries at their stores by offering special coupons for returns made in-store. When customers make a return of items ordered on Amazon.com, they can receive a series of coupons including $10 off a purchase of at least $40 and a deal of a slice of pizza with a soda for $3. Signs in Amazon Fresh stores advertise this promotion with QR codes available for customers to claim their coupons.
In addition to the in-store coupons, Amazon is also promoting an offer of “up to $12 off $40 at Amazon Fresh” for customers making returns online between April 17 and June 30 or until Amazon runs out of codes for the discount. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed that the discounts apply to returns at any of the roughly 40 Amazon Fresh locations. They mentioned that many customers who make returns or pick up packages in-store often take the opportunity to shop for groceries as well.
Food industry analyst Phil Lempert believes that Amazon’s goal with these coupons is twofold: firstly, to encourage customers making returns to stick around and do their grocery shopping at Amazon Fresh; and secondly, to save money on processing returns as it is cheaper for customers to bring items back to an Amazon-owned location rather than ship them back. Despite these efforts, Lempert expressed that while he is a loyal Amazon.com shopper, he personally does not find Amazon Fresh indispensable in comparison. If you have a story idea or experience working or shopping at Amazon Fresh, you are encouraged to reach out to the reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com.
