Amazon Expands In-Store Package Pickup Service

Amazon.com is expanding a program that turns physical retail stores into package pickup centers, GeekWire reported. The pickup service program, Counter, will be added to thousands of store locations at GNC, Health Mart and Stage Stores. Amazon launched the Counter program through a partnership with Rite-Aid in June.

"This new network of pickup points gives customers a pickup experience that's fast, flexible and convenient, and partners are thrilled with the strong engagement and additional foot traffic Counter is driving for their stores," Patrick Supanc, worldwide director of Amazon Hub, said in a company press release, GeekWire reported.

Total Retail's Take: Amazon's decision to expand its Counter program to GNC, Health Mart, and Stage Stores creates more options for its customers to easily pick up their online orders however is most convenient for them. The e-commerce company continually is investing in ways to make the purchase experience, from ordering to fulfillment, easier for its customers. For example, Amazon has partnered with Kohl's to have the department store chain accept Amazon returns in its stores, implemented thousands of Amazon lockers across the U.S., and opened pickup locations of its own. And for the retailers that have partnered with Amazon for its Counter program, they're realizing the benefit of increased foot traffic from customers picking up their packages.