Amazon is building off of its wildly successful Prime subscription with the introduction of the Amazon Key service. Available only to Prime members, the new service allows for packages to be delivered inside your home.
With a Smart Lock, a customer places an order selecting the "in-home" delivery option. When the delivery person arrives, they scan the item, which unlocks your door, and the delivery person places the package inside the door, (ideally) not entering the home.
Amazon intends to capitalize on the convenience that drives their success. Amazon Key further simplifies the lives of Prime customers, as shown in a company video announcement, where a customer lets a cleaning service into her home to clean her apartment before her parents arrive for the weekend.
A Prime member could activate the service by purchasing the Amazon Key In-Home Kit, which includes the Smart Lock and Cloud Cam security camera.
The Key service could potentially increase the convenience of home deliveries. Some customers may prefer that their packages not be out on display, as this could lead to package theft. The service also provides an easy way to let in a friend, family or pet-sitting service. Potential customers voiced their assent with the service on Twitter.
Here’s my take: Amazon Key is actually Good. Think about how many people complain about UPS packages being damaged/stolen outside!
— Katie Notopoulos (@katienotopoulos) October 25, 2017
The in-home kit, which currently goes for $250, appears too expensive to some customers, who see the potential danger of letting a stranger into their home as something they shouldn't be paying for.
You now have the privilege of paying Amazon $250 so that the company has a key to your home. https://t.co/eV39wjvxj2
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) October 25, 2017
I would rather risk my package get stolen than to risk some sketchy delivery person have their way with my house. #AmazonKey
— Sherome Allen-Wells (@Sherome_) October 25, 2017
In an effort to assuage customer fears, Amazon included the ability to record those who enter a customer's home or watch the interactions live 24/7.
The Amazon Key service becomes available to Prime members on Nov. 8 in 37 select cities across the United States.