Amazon Wine sellers received an announcement from the retailer on Monday that sucks for the businesses using the five-year-old service.
In an email, Amazon told the sellers that the wine delivery service would end by the end of this year, according to Tech Crunch. Existing laws surrounding alcohol sales, and the company's own growth, have gotten in the way of the program.
SEE ALSO:How to drink more wine without draining your bank accountIn an FAQ sent to wine sellers, the last day for customers to place Amazon Wine orders is December 31, 2017, according to Tech Crunch. According to Amazon's website, "each wine seller operates under its own set of permits and determines which states it will ship to."
Amazon Wine operated as a third-party marketplace for wine sellers, which paid a fee to Amazon. Amazon had been lobbying to change laws that prevent retailers from being paid to advertise goods, according to Recode, but failed. While this branch of Amazon's wine business is closing, the tech giant isn't leaving the grapes behind. The online retail company will still sell alcohol through its AmazonFresh and Prime Now services.
Looks like Amazon Wine is shuttering to focus on Whole Foods wine . . . I expect to see this come back again. #zombiewineprogram
— Paul Mabray (@pmabray) October 23, 2017
Prime Now offers delivery in select U.S. cities for subscribers. Users must request items from their Alexa to receive them within two hours. Beer, wine, and spirits are available for delivery in some cities.
AmazonFresh is the retailer's online grocery business, that allows for quick delivery of fresh products. Now that Amazon has acquired Whole Foods, the grocery retail possibilities (including the sale of alcohol) are more expansive than ever.
Amazon Wine fans can place their final orders now before it's too late, but have no fear, the retailer's alcohol delivery services will continue to flow.
TopicsAmazonAmazon Alexa