Amazon Fresh in Kirkland

Lots of Kirkland Weblog readers have emailed us asking about the Amazon Fresh sign at the corner of Central Way and 3rd Street.   What is it?  Why Kirkland?  How does it work?  Should I try it? What the heck is Amazon up to?  Taken straight from the Amazon Fresh website it's "A new on-line grocery service founded by Amazon, serving customers in the Seattle area."

I knew we had to blog about Amazon Fresh, but thought the best way to approach the story would be to actually use the service and let you know what our experience was like.   So here goes...

First you go to the website at www.amazon fresh.com  and login using your Amazon credentials.  Some of you might need to ask for an access code.  Once in you basically shop (online), using the cool user interface to add items to your virtual shopping cart.  Amazon Fresh sells everything from fresh Coho Salmon, to organic fruits/vegetables, to non-perishables--and everything in between.  There are lots of specials and new items being added all the time.  Once you are done with your order you can choose an option for how you want to get your goods in Kirkland:

1. Pre-dawn delivery--here you place your order and your items arrive at your house sometime before 6am (and they do it quietly so you are not bothered during valuable sleep time). Outside your door you will find temperature controlled totes nicely packed with the goods and a copy of your order on standard paper.  Delivery is free once you hit the minimum order. 
2. Arrange for delivery to your home during the day/night and choose a one hour window for when you want the drop-off made.  In other words, make an appointment and Amazon Fresh will deliver! Delivery is free once you hit the minimum order.
3. Pick up your groceries at the local pickup station--in this case, where you see the sign on Central Way.  There is no minimum for pickup and you can do same day orders too.

So that is the basic rundown of the offering, but does it all work as advertised?  I signed on to Amazon Fresh Tuesday night around 9pm.   Janis had already done some shopping early that day so we didn't need a huge delivery, but with five mouthes to feed in the home we can always use more food--especially fruits, veggies, and fresh meats/fish.    After signing on I just started clicking on items I thought looked good from the pictures on the website.  I ordered 4 apples, 2 pears, a box of strawberries, 2 avocados (had to choose between ripe and almost ripe), Coho Salmon, lunch meats, some various dried fruits, and a few other items for the kids.  The site can be summed up in one word--easy!  You can add and delete items with a click and your entire order is seen at all times in a window on the right hand side of your screen with your dollar totals.  The pricing seemed comparable to the grocery store prices.  Elapsed shopping time equaled about 15 minutes (usually the time it takes me to drive to QFC and find a parking spot). 

After I completed my order I selected pre-dawn delivery.  I ordered up about $40 worth of food so the delivery for pre-dawn was free (I think the min order was $30 before it's free) and right now Amazon is waiving sales tax.  I must admit I was pretty excited to see what would be at my door in the morning.  I woke about 6:30am.  I opened the door and sitting there where hard plastic yellow and green totes from Amazon Fresh.  I carried them inside and began to unpack.  The totes were brand new, the groceries were nicely packed in brown paper Amazon Fresh grocery bags, and the totes had Amazon Fresh ice packs embedded inside for temp control.  Most importantly the produce and meat all looked exactly like the pictures on the website and everything was, dare I say...extremely fresh.  During the entire process I was also receiving emails from Amazon Fresh notifying me when my order was received and when it was on its way for delivery--leaving the distribution center about 4am.  Oh, and the totes get picked up during your next delivery or you can email Amazon Fresh to pick them up when are done with them.   

For a family of five this service is incredible.  We can order after our kids go to bed and have everything show up before we wake.  I love the pre-dawn service if you can't tell.  Is it better than taking my three little ones with me to to the store, shopping for an hour, loading/unloading, and hoping no one melts down in the process (including me)?    Yes!   

We are sold on Amazon Fresh and are going to try using it on a regular basis.    If you use Amazon Fresh please comment on the blog to let others know about  your experience.  Steve 

Comments

[Steve Lacey]

We've been using it for a few weeks now and love it!

http://www.steve-lacey.com/blogarchives/2007/08/amazon_fresh.shtml

[Debra Sinick]

Thanks for trying Amazon Fresh out and glad it was a good experience. I have not had a chance to try it yet. I have been eating too many dinners out recently!

I wrote about Amazon Fresh on my blog: www.kirklandhighlandsrealestatebuzz.com. By the way, I do not believe they deliver everywhere just yet.

[Jeff Barr]

And who do you work for aqain?

[newfguy]

One suggestion: Listing the comments from most current on top down to oldest makes for easier reading

[Amazon Delivery Guy]

Keep Janis away from the deliveries next time. If you don't, your kids will look like me!

M.I.L.F.