Amazon Fresh Opens in Long Beach

Long Beach has its own Amazon Fresh grocery store.

In recent weeks, Amazon Fresh has opened its eighth location in California and the 12^th in the country. The establishment opened its doors to the public on Thursday, March 18, at the Lakewood Plaza Marketplace. This location offers in store shopping, curbside pickup, and delivery. This location also offers free in store pickup and returns on your amazon packages.

Amazon Fresh offers a “seamless grocery shopping experience.” The Amazon Dash Cart is a smart cart that helps make shopping for groceries a quicker process by skipping the checkout line.

The Amazon Dash Cart is activated by scanning a QR code. Computer algorithms and sensors identify the items in your cart. When you exit through the store’s Amazon Dash Cart lane, sensors identify the cart, and your payment is processed using the card on file.

Customers are quick to adjust to the process of shopping at amazon using the dash carts.

The cart includes a screen at the top where you can access your Alexa Shopping list. The amazon dash cart helps customers find items in the store instantly, allowing them to move quickly through the store and check off items as they shop.

“It takes a few tries to get the hang of, but once you get it down it’s an easy process. I feel like I’m in the future,” said a member of the Long Beach community Britianee Valasedes. “Every store that I go to I do self-checkout. The process here was pretty quick.”

The cart is also equipped with a coupon scanner which you can apply while shopping.

“I loved it,” stated Nadine Osorio. “Amazon fresh cut the time by half. The store was clean, the meat was fresh, and prices were reasonable. They had some great deals. I will definitely come back. I also got a $10 coupon for my next purchase.”

The Dash Cart reduces store traffic which is highly important now. It also lowers the amount of people shopping in the grocery and helps customers spend less time indoors with each other.

The Amazon Fresh store hours are daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. They have dedicated hours reserved for guests at high risk or with disabilities from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Fridays. The store also offers free same-day delivery and pick-up for Prime members.

Amazon Fresh stores have also implemented all of the same comprehensive Covid-19 safety measures as Whole Foods Market stores to protect the community and the associates.

By Kelly Ortega