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Amazon, USPS to offer Sunday package delivery

November 11, 2013

Earlier this year, the U.S. Postal Service sought to staunch some of its financial bleeding by eliminating letter delivery on Saturday. That didn't end up happening, and now, the USPS is talking about adding delivery services on Sundays — but only in select markets, and only for packages from Amazon.

The deal was announced in a press release today on Amazon's site, reprinted below. CNBC notes that neither competitors FedEx or UPS offer Sunday deliveries.

SEATTLE--Nov. 11, 2013-- Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) is working with the U.S. Postal Service to deliver packages on Sunday, starting in the Los Angeles and New York metropolitan areas. Amazon Prime members, who receive unlimited, free two-day shipping on millions of items, can now receive their packages on Sunday in these areas. Amazon and the U.S. Postal Service plan to roll out this service to a large portion of the U.S. population in 2014 including Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and Phoenix, to name a few.

If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can order a backpack for your child on Friday and be packing it for them Sunday night," said Dave Clark, Amazon's vice president of worldwide operations and customer service. "We're excited that now every day is an Amazon delivery day and we know our Prime members, who voraciously shop on Amazon, will love the additional convenience they will experience as part of this new service.

As online shopping continues to increase, the Postal Service is very happy to offer shippers like Amazon the option of having packages delivered on Sunday," said Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer. "With this new service, the Postal Service is now delivering packages seven days a week in select cities. Customers can expect the same reliable and valued service that the Postal Service currently provides.

To participate, Amazon customers can simply add millions of eligible items to their cart and will see the Sunday delivery promise at checkout when available in their region.

What do you think? Is this a win-win for the two companies, as it appears to be on the surface? Talk about it in the comments.