Amazon Changing Prime Delivery Nationwide: What to Know

Amazon is set to expand its same-day and next-day delivery to more than 4,000 small cities, towns, and rural communities across the US this year, the company announced on Tuesday.

Tens of millions of customers will benefit from the faster turnaround times, according to the firm, which said the move was about “transforming daily life for rural customers, who typically live farther from brick-and-mortar retailers, have fewer product and brand choices, and face limited delivery options when shopping online.”

In future, customers who pay a fee for the Amazon Prime service will be able to receive an item at their home within hours of buying it through their cell phone or computer.

Why It Matters

Amazon continues to dominate markets globally, despite a tough economic climate and fraught political and diplomatic tensions worldwide. The latest announcement about a move into more U.S. markets suggests that Amazon is continuing to push for growth.

In February this year, Amazon.com revealed its fourth quarter results for the period ending December 31, 2024. It said net sales increased 10 percent to $187.8 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with $170 billion in fourth quarter of 2023. While the most recent accounts, released on May 1 this year, for the first quarter ending March 31, showed that net sales increased 9 percent to $155.7 billion, compared with $143.3 billion in the first quarter of 2024.

Amazon’s positive business news comes despite some negative publicity in recent months. The company was among retailers targeted by a nationwide “economic blackout” boycott in February, and also faced criticism after revealing it expects AI to replace some human staff.

Meanwhile, Bezos’s upcoming wedding to former TV journalist Lauren Sanchez in Venice, Italy, has sparked protests. Activists are demonstrating against wealth inequality, demanding that Bezos pay more taxes, and criticized the billionaire for taking over entire sections of the city for his personal use.

What To Know

A statement published by Amazon on its website on Tuesday laid out the company’s plans for the rest of this year.

The company said it will spend $4 billion to “triple the size of our delivery network by 2026” with a focus on smaller areas across the country.

“As we continually work to improve the lives of all our customers, we’re announcing plans to expand the convenience and reliability of Same-Day and Next-Day Delivery to tens of millions of U.S. customers in more than 4,000 smaller cities, towns, and rural communities by the end of the year,” the statement added. “After delivering to Prime members at record-breaking speeds in 2023 and 2024, we are continuing to innovate to deliver even faster in 2025.”

Places slated for the faster service included North Padre Island in Texas, Asbury in Iowa, Lewes in Delaware, and Fort Seneca in Ohio.

“AI is helping us predict local customer preferences, so we can stock popular items alongside products curated for specific communities,” the company said.

Goods available for same-day delivery will include everyday essentials such as groceries or household products, because “no one wants to wait two days to receive paper towels, diapers, or dog food when they’ve run out.”

What People Are Saying

Doug Herrington, CEO of Worldwide Amazon Stores, said: “Everybody loves fast delivery. So, whether you live in Monmouth, Iowa, or in downtown Los Angeles, now you’re going to have the same fantastic Amazon customer experience: the ability to get the wide variety of items you need to keep your household running every day, delivered the same or next day.”

What Happens Next

Customers can see whether their area has same-day delivery by visiting Amazon’s ‘Same Day Store’ and browsing what’s available, or they can look for the words “free delivery today” next to product names while shopping with Amazon online.