E-commerce giant Amazon (AMZN) has opened its first fully-staffed pick up location at Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, IN.
Amazon@Purdue, the company’s first campus location, allows Purdue students to easily and safely pick up their packages from the store lockers that can be accessed by typing in a code. The store employees will help the students with returns and answer queries
Amazon plans to open more such stores and in this regard, has been inviting other educational institutions. Presently, a second Purdue campus outlet is being planned to be opened later this year.
Despite the enormous success enjoyed by Amazon globally, it is now facing stiff competition from other companies joining the e-commerce bandwagon. The company gained significantly from its ability to deliver to customers on time anywhere in the world. However, now, it needs to reinvent itself and find new solutions to maintain its lead while growing profits.
The Purdue University store is a major step in Amazon’s attempt to expand its presence in the educational textbook market. The move will further promote Amazon Student, which offers the Prime membership scheme — free shipping, streaming video and music at only $49 (£32) a year, half the usual price — to university students.
However, it is too soon to tell whether Amazon is moving in the right direction. The company enjoys a strong presence in the online retail space, and, in our view, it might be wise to channel its capital and resources into improving the online business and making it more profitable.
Currently, Amazon carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Other better-ranked stocks in the same space are PetMed Express, Inc. (PETS), sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and Autobytel Inc.(ABTL) and EVINE Live Inc. (EVLV), carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
(We are reissuing this article to correct a mistake. The original article, issued on Feb 5, 2015, should no longer be relied upon.)
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