Amazon is dipping its toes in the brick and mortar and ivy world. On Tuesday, the e-tail giant announced the grand opening of Amazon@Purdue, its first staffed customer order, pickup and drop-off location on the campus of the Big Ten school in Indiana.
Students at the school now have a convenient location to receive textbooks and other essentials for college life as well as a nearby means to return items. Amazon Student and Amazon Prime members on campus are eligible for free one-day pickup from a selection of over one million items.
"Our goal in working with Amazon has been to make books and other needed supplies more affordable for our students, as we have with tuition and room and board," said Mitch Daniels, president of Purdue, in a statement. "The opening of the Amazon@Purdue location adds convenience to the mix."
"Whether students are ordering textbooks, laptops, or mac and cheese, Amazon and Purdue are now providing a convenient and secure spot for them to pick up their stuff at hours that work with their schedules," said Paul Ryder, vice president of media and student programs at Amazon.
Amazon plans to open a second location on the Purdue campus this spring. The company is also working with the University of California, Davis and the University of Massachusetts Amherst on similar programs.
