Costco launching delivery service to compete with Amazon, Instacart
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Citrus Heights, California, USA - Jun 29, 2012: Costco Wholesale storefront in Citrus Heights, California. Costco is known for discounted prices on its merchandise. Costco Wholesale operates an international chain of membership warehouses, carrying brand name merchandise at substantially lower prices. (iStock)
Soon you won’t have to drag your party-sized box of chips or 50-pack of toilet paper home from the supermarket yourself.
Costco is launching an at-home delivery service, in conjunction with the delivery startup Shipt, that will bring bulk goods and everyday groceries to your door.
With the new service, the big box retailer says customers will be able to get exclusive discounts and coupons, choose a one-hour delivery time window, and order practically anything they’d see at a brick-and-mortar Costco. The service is launching first in Tampa but will expand to 50 more urban and suburban markets by the end of 2017.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With the new service, Costco joins the growing list of retailers offering one-hour grocery delivery service, including Whole Foods, and Walmart, plus online-only competitors like Amazon and Instacart.
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"We founded Shipt to simplify the grocery shopping experience, and are pleased to give our dedicated members access to unmatched savings as an extension of their Shipt memberships," said Bill Smith, founder and CEO of Shipt in a statement.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"As we continue to scale Shipt on a national level, we look forward to offering more options for delivery to our Florida members today, and to Shipt members across the country in the future."
Here’s the fine-print: You have to join Shipt to take advantage of unlimited grocery delivery-- and the membership isn't cheap, costing $99 each year.