Amazon Expands Whole Foods In-Garage Delivery to 5,000 Cities

Amazon expanded its Key by Amazon in-garage grocery delivery, launched in November (see 2011120031), to more than 5,000 U.S. localities, it said Tuesday. Amazon Prime members can have groceries from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods delivered inside their garage if they have a compatible opener or myQ Smart Garage Hub ($29.98). Users select “key delivery” at online checkout, a “trained shopper” fills the order and the items are delivered by a “delivery service professional,” it said. Shoppers are notified by app with an “arriving now” message. The driver opens the garage with a handheld scanner, and Amazon verifies that the package belongs to that address -- and that the driver is close to the garage door -- before opening it, said an Amazon FAQs page. Drivers are trained to place the package just inside the garage, out of the driving path, and then to close the door with their mobile device. Once the delivery is complete and the garage door is closed, customers receive a final notification. A camera is optional for the service; compatible cameras from Ring and myQ allow customers to view deliveries as they happen, it said.