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Same day delivery? How to get your purchases now

Same day delivery may seem as far off as Amazon drones, but in some cities this is already a reality. Check out these same day delivery services. 

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Paul Sakuma/AP/File
In this Oct. 18 photo, an Amazon.com package awaits delivery from UPS in Palo Alto, Calif. On Monday, the company announced that Amazon Black Friday 2010 was beginning, and it offered lots of deals, some of which were aggressive.
  • By Louis Ramirez Guest blogger

Can you imagine shopping from the comfort of your home and not having to wait two days to receive your purchases? Or how about shopping in-store ('cause sometimes that's fun, too!) and having someone else whisk your purchases home for you? For many consumers, same-day delivery is like a dream come true, but in fact, it's a reality in select cities across the country. And what many people don't realize is that same-day shipping doesn't always mean paying crazy shipping and handling fees. Check out these eight retailers that are proud to offer same-day delivery and see how they stack up against one another.

Amazon

Shipping Method: Local Express Delivery
Cost: $8.99 per shipment + $99 cents per item; Prime members pay $3.99 per item
Cutoff Time: Order as late as 12 pm (varies by city) for delivery by 8 pm

Details: Until Bezos launches Amazon drone delivery service, customers yearning for same-day delivery can fall back on Amazon's Local Express Delivery. (If applicable to your order, you'll see this option under the item's detail page.) Cities where Amazon provides this service include Chicago, New York, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., to name a few. Cut off times run as late as 12 pm local time. Click here for complete details.

Walmart

Shipping Method: Walmart to Go
Cost: $5 to $10
Cutoff Time: Order as late as 12 pm for delivery by 10 pm

Details: By using its extensive network of brick-and-mortar locations as warehouses, Walmart to Go offers same-day deliveries in select cities across the country. The service is available throughout parts of California as well as Virginia, Denver, and Philadelphia. It applies to any item that is carried at your local Walmart, including Walmart's produce.

eBay

Shipping Method: eBay Now
Cost: $5 per order ($15 minimum order)
Cutoff Time: Order as late as 9 pm (Monday - Saturday) or 6 pm (Sunday) for delivery within an hour

Details: eBay's same-day delivery service is like having a personal valet. Just start your shopping at eBay Now to see what local stores qualify for the service, complete your purchase with your PayPal or credit card, and within an hour a personal valet will deliver your items. There's even an iOS and Android app that lets you shop from your tablet or smartphone. The service is available in parts of Chicago, Dallas, New York, and San Francisco. Affiliated stores include The Home Depot, Bloomingdale's, Finish Line, Guitar Center, and more. Even better, a personal valet will come to your home to handle any returns for free.

Google

Shipping Method: Google Shopping Express
Cost: $4.99 per order; trial membership is free for 6 months
Cutoff Time: Order as late as 4:30 pm (varies by city) for delivery by 9 pm

Details: Google Shopping Express is a direct response to eBay Now. In fact, both services work in a similar fashion, though signing up for Google's service might be easier if you already have a Google account. Once signed up, you can shop from select local stores, and your purchases are then delivered straight to your door. Trial memberships are currently free for six months, after which you'll pay $4.99 per order. The service, which delivers products from Costco, REI, Walgreens, Target, and Whole Foods to name a few, is available in San Jose and the San Francisco Bay Area. Returns are free.

Nordstrom

Shipping Method: Nordstrom Same-Day Delivery
Cost: $15
Cutoff time: Order as late as 1 pm for delivery by 7 pm

Details: If it's in stock at your local Nordstrom, it can be delivered via same-day service according toNordstrom's instant delivery program. Unfortunately, eligible zip codes are limited to west coast cities and only include Seattle, and Bellevue, WA and La Jolla, CA.

Barnes & Noble

Shipping Method: Same-Day Delivery in Manhattan
Cost: From $5 for non-members; free for B&N Members ($25 order minimum order)
Cutoff Time: Order as late as 11 am for delivery by 7 pm (Monday - Friday)

Details: Barnes & Noble's same-day delivery service is the most limited service in our roundup as it currently only services Manhattan. Eligible products are marked as "Same-Day Delivery in Manhattan" throughout BarnesandNoble.com and the service is free for B&N members, though membership costs $25/year.

U.S. Postal Service

Shipping Method: Metro Post
Cost: Pricing varies by store policy
Cutoff Time: Order as late as 2 pm for delivery by 8 pm

Details: Although the USPS has been hemorrhaging money, the same-day delivery market could be a way for the ailing agency to grow its customer base. The service applies whether you're shopping online or in-store. It is currently offered in San Francisco and most recently expanded to New York City.

Verizon Wireless

Shipping Method: Same-Day Delivery
Cost: $19.99 per shipment
Cutoff Time: Order as late as 10 am for delivery by 7 pm

Details: Can't wait for your new smartphone to arrive? The big red network is the only mobile carrier to offer same-day delivery of its products for new and existing customers. The service is available in New York, Dallas, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. However, the option is only available for Verizon Wireless devices sold with contract, meaning prepaid phones or accessories don't qualify.

As the same-day delivery market continues to expand, competition will get tougher. Just last monthHome Depot announced it plans to offer same-day shipping in the future. Likewise, your local mall may soon same-day delivery.

In an attempt to compete with online retailers, four of the country's largest mall operators are partnering with Deliv Inc, a Silicon Valley startup, in the hopes of letting consumers shop without having to carry their purchases. Shoppers will drop their bags off at the mall's Deliv booth, which will then deliver the items straight to your home for $5 per delivery. Alternatively, some malls will hire "runners" to gather bags shoppers leave at stores, all in the hope that consumers will buy more and move away from online retailers like Amazon.

Louis Ramirez is a features writer for DealNews where this article first appeared: http://dealnews.com/features/8-Retailers-That-Offer-Same-Day-Delivery/958401.html

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