You Can Now Pick Up Your Amazon Orders at Rite Aid

Amazon is adding a new way to get your packages: head over to another store's sales counter to pick it up. Starting Thursday, Amazon shoppers will be able to fetch their orders at more than 100 Rite Aid stores across the United States, the AP reports. It will expand to 1,500 Rite Aid locations by year-end. And Amazon said it's looking to bring the service to other stores, both big and small. It's the first time Amazon is bringing the service to the US, after it began offering it at stores in Italy and the United Kingdom last month. Amazon has installed lockers in supermarkets and banks where packages can be picked up, but said this option is for shops that don't have space for lockers. With Amazon's pickup service, called "Counter," packages will be ready for pick up depending on shipping times, which could be on the same day an order is placed, a day later, or longer.

Stores will receive Amazon packages daily. The packages will be scanned by store workers and an email will be sent to shoppers letting them know their order is ready. Shoppers have 14 days to pick it up, and Amazon said customers will show store workers an emailed barcode and no IDs are needed. Amazon hopes the service will fill one of its weaknesses: physical locations where customers can buy online and pick up in stores if they want. The option has been popular with shoppers at Walmart, Target, and other big retailers. For Rite Aid, the service could bring in Amazon shoppers who may buy something off its store shelves. Rite Aid could also try to get them to fill prescriptions at the chain's pharmacy. But Amazon has been pushing into health care itself, buying online pharmacy PillPack last year. Still, investors seemed to like the arrangement: Rite Aid Corp.'s stock soared 23% Thursday. (Amazon has a similar partnership with Kohl's, but for returns.)