Even though Amazon is primarily an online merchant, it is super simple to pick up your Amazon packages in person, from a variety of IRL locations.
Why You Might Want to Pick Up an Amazon Package In Person
- You’ve scored the hottest toy of the season for your kids and want to sneak the boxes in when they won’t be home.
- Your neighborhood has porch pirate problems.
- You don’t want to deal with your leasing office.
- You’ll be out of town and don’t want to let people know it by having packages sitting in front of your house for days.
- Weather is iffy and you want to make sure your order is protected.
- The pick-up spot is a convenient part of your route.
Whatever the reason you prefer pickup, here’s how to find the most convenient Amazon pickup location for you.
5 Ways to Pick up Your Amazon Package in Person
1. Pick up Your Package From an Amazon Hub Locker or Amazon Hub Locker+
When you order from Amazon, instead of having your package shipped to your home or office address, you can choose to have it delivered to one of the Amazon Locker locations in the U.S., which are located at sites like convenience stores, grocery stores, malls, Whole Foods and other buildings.
Amazon Hub Lockers are self-service kiosks that you unlock yourself with a special six-digit code, and some Lockers are even situated at locations accessible 24 hours a day, making it convenient to access around your busy schedule.
Amazon Hub Lockers+ are similar to Lockers as far as offering free package pickup, self-service kiosks, and the opportunity to drop off a package for return. In addition, Amazon says that all Amazon Hub Locker+ locations offer boxes and packing materials onsite so you can box up your return, and an Amazon associate is available for assistance at these locations.
To select shipping to an Amazon Locker, you can either search for and add your preferred Amazon Locker location to your address book, then select that as the shipping address when you check out, or you can choose a Locker location at checkout by searching for a new Amazon Pickup location then.
Once your package arrives at the Amazon Locker and is ready for you, Amazon will send you an email along with a unique six-digit code to unlock the self-service kiosk. You have three days to head to your Amazon Locker and retrieve your package. Don’t get to it in time? Your package is automatically returned to Amazon and you’re refunded your money.
Most items you buy on Amazon can be sent to an Amazon Hub Locker, but there are some weight and size requirements — for example, the package must be less than 10 pounds, smaller than 16” x 12” x 14” and the order can’t contain Subscribe & Save items.
2. Take Advantage of a Convenient Amazon Hub Counter
Amazon Hub Counters are similar to the Lockers — except once your item arrives and you get a confirmation email, you’ll go to your chosen Hub Counter location and pick it up from a store associate, who scans your email instead of you entering your six-digital code into a self-service locker. There’s no need to present an ID when you pick up, so if you’d like someone else to get your package from either a Locker or Counter, so long as you forward your email confirmation to them, they can handle it.
With a Counter pickup, you have seven calendar days to get your package (versus Locker’s three days), giving you plenty of time. If you don’t pick it up within that time frame, Amazon will automatically return your package and you’ll receive a refund.
An item delivered to a Hub location cannot exceed 33 lbs. or have dimensions larger than 36 (h) x 24 (l) x 24 (w) inches. It also can’t contain Subscribe & Save items.
There is no additional cost to use an Amazon Hub Locker or Counter.
3. Access Packages at an Amazon Hub Apartment Locker
Many apartment buildings and complexes offer Amazon Apartment Lockers, which are set up by your apartment’s property manager so residents can conveniently get their packages.
If your building has an Apartment Locker, you’ll be able to grab your package anytime, day or night, by scanning your barcode in your delivery notification email, just like with a Locker anywhere else.
However, unlike the typical Amazon Hub Locker, which can be used by anyone who is an Amazon customer and only accepts Amazon packages, an Amazon Apartment Locker is only available to residents of that specific location, and these lockers accept packages from anyone, not just Amazon.
A property manager can find out more about having a locker installed by going to Amazon and selecting “Partner With Us” to fill out a short survey.
4. Pickup at a Local Store
Not all Amazon products will be available for this option, but depending on what you’re buying and where you live, you may be able to shop online and pick up in a store near you, such as a participating Best Buy, Sears, Mavis Discount Tire or others.
To use this option, as you’re browsing Amazon, products that you can pickup will have a “Store pickup” tab. The name of the seller, their address, and their distance from your default location will be displayed on the product detail page and during checkout.
When you see that, switch from “delivery” to “store pickup” before you add the item to the cart. You can’t change your delivery to store pickup after you’ve placed your order.
Once you are ready to check out, you’ll need to wait for Amazon to send you an email that your order is ready for pickup. The retailer says that most orders are ready for pickup between one and four hours, though certain products may take longer.
Once your item is ready, you can pick up any time within the 5-day pickup window. No one but you will be able to get your packages, though – you will need not only your Amazon order number but also a Government-issued photo ID that has the same name on the Amazon order.
Your item may also be eligible for local delivery through this program. If that works for you, look for “Arranged Delivery” at checkout. Once you place your order, your local retailer will contact you with the phone number provided to schedule the exact date and time/window.
5. Pick Up Groceries From Whole Foods Market
Amazon Prime members can stock up on pantry staples and fresh foods at Whole Foods — grocery pickup is available at over 500 stores. It’s easy, too! Just order online and choose an open one-hour pickup window at a time that works for you. When it’s ready, you’ll park in one of the dedicated pickup parking spots and your groceries will be brought out to you. Some Whole Foods don’t have designated parking spots, in which case, you’ll have to go into the store to get your purchases.
You can also choose to have your groceries delivered to you — choose a 2-hour delivery window, sometimes in the same day, if that is preferable.
If you haven’t explored Amazon Prime benefits at Whole Foods, check out all the perks here, like 10% off sale items.
Certain Whole Foods are also pickup locations for Amazon orders, and will also accept your Amazon returns.
Can You Pick Up Your Items at An Amazon Go Location?
Amazon Go stores are no-checkout-required shops that offer ready-to-eat breakfast, lunch and snack options. Though in some Amazon Go stores you can drop off returns of new and unopened items to Amazon within 30 days of delivery, at this time, there are no Amazon Go pickup options available.
Can You Pick Up Your Items at An Amazon Bookstore or Amazon 4-Star Store?
Not anymore. Amazon used to offer package pickup from its physical stores, but it’s in the process of closing all locations.
Are Amazon Pickup Locations Free?
Yes. There is no additional charge to use an Amazon in-person pickup location, whether you choose a Locker, Counter or store. If you’re a Prime member, you’ll still get the perks of free two-day, one-day or same-day shipping. If you’re not a Prime member and order something from Amazon for under $25, you will have to pay for shipping, same as if you shipped your package to your home or office, but there’s no additional fee added on.
Is It Faster to Ship to an Amazon Pickup Location?
Maybe! This can depend on what you’re ordering, but users have found that sometimes items arrive sooner at an in-person pickup location because these packages don’t have to be sorted before they’re delivered. Instead, they’re dropped off earlier at the centralized site. That said, there are no guarantees, but if you’re down to the wire, check out the estimated arrival date if you switch your package to an in-person Amazon store or Hub to check if your items will come sooner that way.
Can You Return Your Amazon Package in Person?
Yes, so long as your item is small enough and eligible, you can return your package to a Locker or Hub Counter or store, even if you did not pick up your package from that location.
As shoppers know, Amazon’s return policy is generous.
For example, for the current holiday season, the company says that “most” items purchased between October 11 and December 25, 2022 can be returned until January 31, 2023. They also offer multiple convenient ways to return your items, including returning your Amazon package to a physical store location.
Can I Pick Up an Amazon Package at the Post Office?
No. Amazon offers a variety of hub locker and hub counter pickup points, but USPS locations are not among them.
Can You Pick up Your Amazon Packages From a Kohl’s Store?
No. Though conveniently you can return your Amazon packages to a Kohl’s store near you (and you don’t even have to box it up, Kohl’s does that for you!), you can’t pick up your Amazon packages from Kohl’s.
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