Amazon opens pickup, return service location at Cal State Long Beach

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A new amazon service called "Amazon at the Beach" is now in Southern California. The physical store, used mostly as a pickup location, can be found at the California State University Long Beach campus.

Internet giant Amazon opened its first brick-and-mortar store on Tuesday.

"Students or any customer in the area can place any order from Amazon and have it shipped here for safe and convenient secure pickup," said John Alexander, the store manager.

Once you activate the store address in your online order, you'll receive a barcode, which you'll then scan at the store. A locker will then pop open with your items.

Students said it's a convenient way to get their online purchases.

"I think I'm going to be able to order more stuff if I know it's going to be here on campus," said CSULB student Jika Marisagen.

Meantime, other customers who live nearby think it's the safest way to keep the Amazon packages out of the hands of mailbox thieves.

"It's scary enough that I'm thinking of putting in a camera system just to keep track of such things, but this will be much better, especially if we're going to be on a trip someplace and we don't know if we're going to be home when the package arrives," said Amazon customer Fred Sparrevohn.

Customers will also get to use the new location for return services for free, according to Alexander.

Amazon Prime customers who order before noon can pick on the same day.

The store will be open seven days a week, and school officials were working to put a store parking lot in place. Meantime, customers will have to walk to the location.