Amazon customers will now be able to pick up their orders from local Post Offices after the retailer signed a deal with Royal Mail.

Amazon is a leader in the click-and-collect space

Why are we talking about this now?

Amazon revealed today (November 25) that its customers will be able to collect their parcels from their local Post Office branches after it struck a deal with Royal Mail.

76%

The amount of shoppers expected to use click-and-collect by 2017

As part of the deal, customers can choose to have their parcels delivered by Royal Mail to 10,500 Post Office branches.

Customers will be able to choose their preferred branch when they’re going through the checkout process on the Amazon’s website and will receive their items upon showing identification.

How does this build on Amazon’s existing click-and-collect offer?

Amazon is considered one of the leaders in this space, with a number of ways for customers to pick up their orders.

Back in 2011 the retailer introduced lockers in shopping centres - enabling workers in the capital to collect their orders without having to wait at home for a delivery.

Now it has almost 300 in locations such as supermarkets, universities and libraries, as well as shopping centres.

Deliveries made to Amazon Lockers have more than doubled in the past year.

Further targeting the London commuter, Amazon installed lockers at two Finchley Central and Newbury Park Underground stations in June to make picking up orders more convenient for shoppers on the go.

In October Amazon joined forces with newspaper and magazine wholesaler Smiths News to launch a same-day pick-up service at 500 newsagents and convenience stores.

Through the service, customers are able to order products up to 11.45am, and collect their items at one of 500 locations from 4pm.

Are there any drawbacks to the Post Office deal?

The deal adds yet another pick-up location to Amazon’s bow but with many Post Offices closed on a Saturday afternoon and Sunday, together with shorter weekday opening hours compared to other click-and-collect pick up points such as Collect+ local newsagents and Amazon lockers, the deal isn’t the most convenient option for customers.

Why are retailers investing so much in this area?

Click-and-collect is a booming area of growth for most retailers that offer the service - and it’s expected to continue as shoppers choose convenience, speed and value for money over staying at home for deliveries.

Some 35% of UK shoppers use click-and-collect and this is predicted to surge to 76% by 2017, found recent data from Planet Retail.