How Much Does Amazon Fresh Cost and Is It Worth it?

The internet and its devices are supposed to make our lives easier. But, in this digital world, our lives are more hectic than ever. Finding time to do everything you need to seems likes an impossible task. To recoup some of your time, you may be tempted to shirk your responsibilities. But some things, like grocery shopping, need to get done. There’s no way around it unless you eat expensive takeout every day.

Let’s face it, grocery shopping is a pain. It takes a lot of time and can be expensive as well – especially if you’re trying to lead a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, exorbitant prices and lack of time usually translate to you loading your cart with convenient, cheap, and unhealthy meal options. This ends now. There are a ton of ways to save both money and time on your grocery shopping. One of the most intriguing is a little operation called AmazonFresh.

What is AmazonFresh?

Believe it or not, this online grocery store has been around for over a decade. But, it’s only in limited markets. As you can tell by its name, it’s owned by the world’s most popular online marketplace. Its objective is to provide you with fresh ingredients at a convenient time and price. As a matter of fact, Amazon owns Whole Foods, so its possible to get some of your items from this world-renowned healthy food grocery store.

How much does it cost?

In order to access AmazonFresh, you need an Amazon Prime membership. This costs $119 by itself. An AmazonFresh subscription will run you an additional $14. 99 every month. But, your first month is free. Still, you will have to dish out about $300 every year. On the upside, there are no delivery fees for orders totaling $40 or more. If you only want a couple of things, and the total is less than $40, you will be charged a $9.99 delivery fee. When compared to local grocery stores, prices were somewhat higher. But, this is also dependent on what you buy. Some products are cheaper online and some are not.

How does it work?

If you’re familiar with Amazon, you won’t have any problems using Fresh. Items in this online grocery store are divided by traditional store categories, like Produce, Deli, Bakery, etc. Plus, it’s possible to narrow your search results based on certain things like organic or gluten-free. After you’ve done your grocery shopping, it’s time to check out. The first thing you must do is reserve a delivery time. There are two options here:

• Attended Delivery: This option is for those who want their groceries delivered right away, usually within an hour, and will be home to pick it up.
• Doorstep Delivery: If you aren’t at home when placing your order, this one is best for you. But, it will take 3 hours for them to arrive.

Once you’ve chosen your preferred delivery option, simply check out like you normally would at any other online store.

How fresh is the food?

Each grocery bag comes with ice packets to keep your produce fresh until you can put it in the refrigerator. So, it’s safe to say the quality of foods from Fresh is actually quite good. However, it’s important to note, that the distance of your home from the Distribution Center might play a role in this.

Saving money on your groceries

As mentioned earlier, the cost of your groceries is dependent on what you buy. Furthermore, Amazon Fresh doesn’t accept traditional coupons like the ones you use at the grocery store. The good news is, a number of brands offer discounts and bulk deals through the service. Because of these partnerships, you may end up saving more than you would with traditional coupons.

The Amazon/Whole Foods connection

Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods means that Fresh subscribers can purchase hundreds of products from this grocery store. The Whole Foods section offers a decent amount of beverages, snacks, cooking and baking supplies, cereal, and frozen foods. But, at this moment, you can’t buy fresh produce or meat.

Is it worth it?

If you’re already using Amazon Prime, the Fresh fees probably won’t seem like a big deal. At just $15 a month and no delivery fees (assuming that your order is at least $40), this concept appeals to busy people looking to take back some of their time. If it is in your area, it’s certainly worth a try.