Is your state affected? Amazon hits pause on popular delivery perk
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Attention, Amazon Prime members! A popular delivery perk is temporarily on hold, and it might affect your shopping experience.
Could this change impact your convenience?
The e-commerce behemoth has taken a proactive step to address a software issue by pausing its technologically advanced drone delivery service, known as Prime Air.
This decision comes in the wake of two drone crashes that occurred in Oregon at the end of December.
However, Amazon spokesperson Stephenson clarified that the crashes were not the primary catalyst for the pause.
“We're currently in the process of making software changes to the drone and will be voluntarily pausing our commercial operations on Friday, Jan. 17,” Stephenson stated.
He reassured customers that “Prime Air continued to deliver to customers safely within federal compliance until we voluntarily paused the service on Jan. 17.”
The affected states where Prime Air's innovative drone delivery service is taking a temporary hiatus are parts of Arizona and Texas.
If you're residing in these areas, you might miss the sight of drones buzzing overhead with packages in tow, at least for a little while.
Despite the pause, Amazon's ambitions for drone delivery are far from grounded.
The MK30 drones, which are the latest addition to Amazon's fleet, debuted in November and have been making deliveries in select areas.
The company still has its sights set on expanding drone deliveries nationwide, with a press release in May indicating plans for broader implementation by 2024.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had previously granted Amazon permission for its drones to fly beyond the operators' visual line of sight, a significant step towards realizing the full potential of drone delivery services.
While the drone delivery service takes a breather, it's worth noting that Amazon Prime offers a treasure trove of benefits that go beyond speedy shipping Sean Keach, The Sun's Head of Technology and Science, reminds us not to overlook these valuable perks:
- Amazon Photos: Unlimited full-resolution photo storage and 5GB for video storage.
- Kindle Owners' Lending Library: A vast selection of books to borrow for free.
- Amazon First Reads: Early access to a new book for free every month.
- Prime Gaming: Free games and in-game content, plus a free Twitch channel subscription each month.
- Amazon Luna: Access to free games through Amazon's cloud-gaming service.
- Free Grubhub+: A year-long subscription offering unlimited $0 delivery fees on orders over $12 (US only).
It's important to make the most of your Prime membership by taking advantage of these additional features, which can enhance your entertainment and save you money.
Looking ahead, Amazon has announced that after January 31, 2025, the Prime Try Before You Buy service will no longer be available.
This perk allowed members to test up to six pieces of eligible merchandise, such as clothing, shoes, and accessories, and return what they didn't want.
Amazon cites new AI-powered features like virtual try-on and personalized size recommendations as reasons for phasing out this service.
Moreover, Amazon's extended return policy on holiday gifts is set to end later this month, marking another change for Prime members to keep in mind.
As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of online shopping, it's crucial to stay informed about changes to services we've come to rely on.
While the pause in drone delivery may be a minor inconvenience for some, it's a reminder of the importance of flexibility and the value of the many other perks available to Prime members.
Have you used Amazon's drone delivery service, or are you looking forward to its return? What are your thoughts on the other Prime perks? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below, and let's continue to make the most of our Prime memberships together.
Could this change impact your convenience?
The e-commerce behemoth has taken a proactive step to address a software issue by pausing its technologically advanced drone delivery service, known as Prime Air.
This decision comes in the wake of two drone crashes that occurred in Oregon at the end of December.
However, Amazon spokesperson Stephenson clarified that the crashes were not the primary catalyst for the pause.
The pause follows two drone crashes at an Amazon facility in Oregon. Image source: James Yarema/Unsplash.
“We're currently in the process of making software changes to the drone and will be voluntarily pausing our commercial operations on Friday, Jan. 17,” Stephenson stated.
He reassured customers that “Prime Air continued to deliver to customers safely within federal compliance until we voluntarily paused the service on Jan. 17.”
The affected states where Prime Air's innovative drone delivery service is taking a temporary hiatus are parts of Arizona and Texas.
If you're residing in these areas, you might miss the sight of drones buzzing overhead with packages in tow, at least for a little while.
Despite the pause, Amazon's ambitions for drone delivery are far from grounded.
The MK30 drones, which are the latest addition to Amazon's fleet, debuted in November and have been making deliveries in select areas.
The company still has its sights set on expanding drone deliveries nationwide, with a press release in May indicating plans for broader implementation by 2024.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had previously granted Amazon permission for its drones to fly beyond the operators' visual line of sight, a significant step towards realizing the full potential of drone delivery services.
While the drone delivery service takes a breather, it's worth noting that Amazon Prime offers a treasure trove of benefits that go beyond speedy shipping Sean Keach, The Sun's Head of Technology and Science, reminds us not to overlook these valuable perks:
- Amazon Photos: Unlimited full-resolution photo storage and 5GB for video storage.
- Kindle Owners' Lending Library: A vast selection of books to borrow for free.
- Amazon First Reads: Early access to a new book for free every month.
- Prime Gaming: Free games and in-game content, plus a free Twitch channel subscription each month.
- Amazon Luna: Access to free games through Amazon's cloud-gaming service.
- Free Grubhub+: A year-long subscription offering unlimited $0 delivery fees on orders over $12 (US only).
It's important to make the most of your Prime membership by taking advantage of these additional features, which can enhance your entertainment and save you money.
Looking ahead, Amazon has announced that after January 31, 2025, the Prime Try Before You Buy service will no longer be available.
This perk allowed members to test up to six pieces of eligible merchandise, such as clothing, shoes, and accessories, and return what they didn't want.
Amazon cites new AI-powered features like virtual try-on and personalized size recommendations as reasons for phasing out this service.
Moreover, Amazon's extended return policy on holiday gifts is set to end later this month, marking another change for Prime members to keep in mind.
As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of online shopping, it's crucial to stay informed about changes to services we've come to rely on.
While the pause in drone delivery may be a minor inconvenience for some, it's a reminder of the importance of flexibility and the value of the many other perks available to Prime members.
