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Update Wednesday, Aug. 26, 11 am: Amazon Prime Now started offering its service to Portland Aug. 26. There is no beer or wine delivery.
Original Post, Aug. 25:
Seattle just got itself some same-hour home booze delivery through Amazon, which is debuting its new Prime Now one-hour delivery service there. You can technically also get urgent things like books and phone chargers in the same time frame.
Portland looks to be the next stop for Prime Now, Geekwire pointed out last week. Amazon is posting for warehouse fulfillment jobs in the Portland area, noting that this is a "startup operation so we're looking for people who are comfortable working in a fast-paced warehouse environment as well as engaging with customers."
Much more telling is a job posting from Amazon courier Act Fast, which Geekwire cites as identical to postings by the courier in Seattle before the Prime Now launch.
"Coming to Portland, Oregon," says Act Fast's posting, "We are FINALLY ready to launch the newest most exciting delivery service yet! Working with one of the largest retailers world wide this is a great opportunity to start with something from the ground up.
There won't be liquor home delivery via Internet orders anytime soon, if ever—state law prohibits it. The OLCC has, however, been very amenable to beer and wine delivery, with growlers delivered from pizzeria breweries and flower shops offering same-day $24.99 four-packs of Fort George 1811, leaving the door open for Amazon to offer the service at some point in the future. (No liquor licenses have been filed.)
Amazon has not disclosed which states will receive alcohol delivery; Seattle is the first city in the United States to do so with Prime Now. In Seattle, one-hour delivery includes a $7.99 surcharge. If you can wait two whole hours, the additional delivery charge is waived if you order more than $20 of crisp, refreshing beer. Or pencils. Or, like, notebook paper or whatever.
Calls and e-mails to Amazon meant to ensure that we receive crisp, refreshing beer in less than one hour were not returned.
WWeek 2015