With Amazon deliveries now available through Collect+, the footfall benefits to convenience retailers running the delivery and drop-off system have grown ever more attractive – but is it a service that retailers are keen to get behind?
John Cuthbertson
Premier Retailer
My shop is on Dundee University campus and there is an existing parcel collecting facility on the campus – so for that reason alone we don’t currently offer that service. Mind you, that’s not to say I don’t think it’s a service worth offering and we’ve been speaking to Booker about a few different options recently. Students are forever buying stuff on Amazon so the Amazon Locker is an interesting option and it may very well be something that we take a closer look at in future.
Tom Layden
Martin McColl retailer
The service is not something we have at the moment and with the shop being company owned it wouldn’t be my decision to make, but I wouldn’t be against the idea in principle if it was offered an as option. If it was done correctly and the right training was provided to staff I think it could work. There are changes to benefits which means we’ll be getting more footfall as more people use PayPal, and it’s all about driving footfall. Parcel collection could help that too.
Jahan Tayyab
Monteith Mini Market
I’ve been offering the service in the store for around a year now. I was, in fact, the 4,000th retailer in the UK to get the service, for whatever that’s worth! It’s been working well for us and there’s a steady stream of around 10 parcels a week. We didn’t get the system in to make money, but to drive footfall into the shop. It’s certainly done that and it’s brought people in from outside our catchment area. Not everyone spends money while picking up parcels though, so we’re working on that.
Stephen Carr
Nisa retailer
We don’t have it at it the moment, but it’s not for the want of trying! I definitely think it could work in my store but the first time I tried to get it I was told that there was another retailer doing it not far from me and so I couldn’t have it. I don’t know who it is that’s got it, but it’s not the guy closest to me so I’m a bit baffled. I’ve tried again since then but was refused again. It’s definitely something I’d do – especially in the run up to Christmas when it’s likely to bring in a lot of additional footfall.
