The news: Amazon is expanding its Key In-Garage Grocery Delivery service to more than 5,000 U.S. cities and towns. It launched in November in five cities.
How it works: The service allows Amazon Prime members to get groceries from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods delivered inside their garage. Customers are required to have a $30 myQ connected smart garage door opener or compatible device, and link to it when they check out online. They also need to use the Key by Amazon app. Drivers get temporary, one-time access using their handheld Amazon scanner, which is also used to close the garage once the delivery is complete.
Creepy or convenient? Giving a delivery attendant access to the inside of your home might make some people uncomfortable. Amazon says drivers are vetted with comprehensive background checks and are instructed to go no more than five feet inside your garage.
Experiment taking shape: The company first began testing Amazon Key for normal deliveries in 2017 and later expanded that service, which is now called Key by Amazon. The grocery expansion comes as online grocery has accelerated due to the pandemic.
