Amazon is expanding its delivery network to offer same-day and next-day delivery to what it says are tens of millions of customers in more than 4,000 smaller communities across the U.S. by the end of the year.
The delivery expansion will especially help rural customers, who Amazon said typically live farther from brick-and-mortar retailers, have less product and brand choices, and face limited delivery when shopping online.
"Our Prime members tell us that one of their favorite benefits is their unlimited fast shipping," Jamil Ghani, Amazon's global vice president of Amazon Prime told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview. "It is the way they access Amazon's vast selection and we believe that shouldn't depend on the zip code that our members live in."
"Folks that have traditionally had some slower speeds now can get access to our fastest speeds," he said.
One of the biggest benefits of the expansion, Ghani said, is access to Amazon's everyday essentials, the online retailer's grocery and household goods.
