--- description: Amazon's Prime Now same-day delivery workers were spotted using public transportation in New York City. title: Amazon's Unlikely Secret to Delivering So Fast image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt79db530c8f217ba8/69884d01e53aba66284dd5c5/469309038.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Business](/section/business/) ## Business Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Companies](/tag/companies/) ## Companies Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Amazon's Unlikely Secret to Delivering So Fast ## Video: See The Unique Way Amazon Ships This Teddy Bear [Watch (HLS stream): See The Unique Way Amazon Ships This Teddy Bear](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/IY8KG0y3.m3u8) (2:54)  _Published 2014-12-01. Go Behind the Scenes at Amazon to see how the products you buy make it to the shipping truck_ by [John Kell / Fortune](/author/fortune/) ## John Kell / Fortune Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 18, 2015 1:32 PM CUT  An employee of the Amazon electronic commerce company works on April 11, 2015 in Lauwin-Planque, northern France. An employee of the Amazon electronic commerce company works on April 11, 2015 in Lauwin-Planque, northern France.Philippe Huguen—AFP/Getty Images by [John Kell / Fortune](/author/fortune/) ## John Kell / Fortune Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 18, 2015 1:32 PM CUT Amazon.com’s New York City delivery route at times takes an underground detour. The online retail behemoth has [begun to utilize](http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0337ab2c-fb34-11e4-9fe6-00144feab7de.html?siteedition=intl#axzz3aUlSAsnf "undefined") New York City’s subway system for the company’s ultra-fast service, known as Prime Now. Prime Now promises to deliver popular items in as little as an hour for $7.99, or within two hours for free. Two Amazon delivery workers were observed pushing large trolleys of Amazon boxes on the subway, and they told the _Financial Times_ that they had been using the subway trains for most Prime Now deliveries because traffic in Manhattan made it “impossible to honor a 60-minute guarantee. Amazon later confirmed the strategy, telling FT: “In Manhattan, our folks bike, walk or use public transportation. They only drive if the item is large like a flat screen TV.” Amazon’s speedy service [debuted](http://fortune.com/2014/12/18/amazon-launches-one-hour-deliveries-with-prime-now/ "undefined") in parts of New York; it’s part of a growing trend by major retailers to improve their delivery times in a battle for online market share. 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