Amazon may copy Uber for deliveries

If you’re a consumer, it won’t look different than what Amazon Prime Now already offers, but instead of a full-time shipping worker passing off your packages, it’s an independent contractor taking out a couple hours of their day to do that.

Online retail giant Amazon today unveiled its new on-demand delivery service to the world.

Amazon said in a statement that Flex will soon arrive to other Prime Now markets, including New York, Baltimore, Miami, Dallas, Austin, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Portland. The service delivers a wide range of items including paper towels, wine and beer (in Seattle only), chilled and frozen items like milk and ice cream and televisions and Kindle device in one or two hours.

However, all is not gravy and smiling deliveries with Amazon Flex. To help deliver its Amazon Prime Now packages, it has started a program named “Amazon Flex”.

Amazon have their heads screwed on right though as not just any Tom, Dick, and Harry will be able to turn up with a auto and collect a boot full of packages, those interested will need their own cars, have valid drivers’ licenses, be over the age of 21, pass a background check, and own an Android smartphone.

Seeking Alpha news editor Eric Jhonsa sees the move as a setback to Uber, which launched its own food delivery program and is eager to expand into other logistics services.