Amazon May Predict And Ship Your Order Before You Place It

This will allow a package to be delivered within minutes or hours, rather than the days and weeks it currently takes.

"One substantial disadvantage to the virtual storefront model is that in many instances, customers cannot receive their merchandise immediately upon purchase, but must instead wait for product to be shipped to them," according to the company's patent filing.

"The availability of expedited shipping methods from various common carriers may mitigate the delay in shipment, but often at substantial additional cost that may rival the price paid for the merchandise.

"Such delays may dissuade customers from buying items from online merchants, particularly if those items are more readily available locally," the patent document said.

Amazon has been working toward reducing delivery times. The company is experimenting with a fleet of flying drones to deliver packages through the air to a customer, within half an hour of an order being made.
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