Your building’s package room? Yeah, now Amazon owns that, too.
In an attempt to streamline delivery, Amazon has made deals with some the nation’s biggest landlords to install Amazon locker systems in building package rooms, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Amazon now has contacts with the owners of roughly 850,000 units in thousands of properties across the U.S. For instance, AvalonBay Communities, Equity Residential, Greystar and Bozzuto Group are all on board. Under the locker system, landlords pay about $10,000 to $20,000 to purchase the lockers – about half of the cost they had previously been asking — which can be marketed as an amenity to residents.
Building staff spends a large amount of time dealing with packages for residents. Amazon argues that the new fully automated system will save labor and building managers money, while increasing convenience for residents.
But Amazon isn’t the only retail giant looking to simplify package delivery and pick up. Walmart’s online shopping platform Jet.com is teaming up with real estate startup Latch to make it easier for tenants in non-doorman buildings to accept packages ordered online via a keyless entry system free of charge in lobbies. [WSJ] – Christopher Cameron