More stores offering same-day delivery this holiday season
You have a big interview, a stain on your suit coat and little time to spare. It’s your husband’s birthday, you forgot a gift, haven't showered in days and don't want to wake the baby. The cat is starving, the kibble bin in empty and he's moments away from using the new sofa as a scratching post to spite you.
Familiar scenarios and while you wish you could just click “buy” online and go about your business, the convenience of online shopping is eclipsed by the sudden urgency to obtain the coat, card or cat food, so e-purchasing isn’t an option. Or is it? To beat the competition and meet the ever-increasing expectations of shoppers looking for convenience, more stores are stepping up to offer same-day delivery.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people are shopping and retailers are competing to win online shoppers,” says Kristin Mcgrath, editor and shopping expert at Blackfriday.com. “Sameday delivery is another great option for shoppers who want to avoid going inside stores, but who also want their stuff fast.”
Unlike same-day shipping, same-day delivery means you place an order and within hours - not days - your purchase is plopped on your doorstep. Amazon, Walmart and select grocery stores have been offering same-day shipping for some time. Target and Best Buy began offering same-day delivery several years ago, but only recently have expanded the service in most markets, including the Capital Region. Now, more big box retailers and department store chains are evolving their distribution services to include the instantly gratifying option.
Since the start of the pandemic, an increasing number of stores, including Bed, Bath & Beyond, Petsmart, Walgreens and Macy’s, have announced they are partnering with third-party personal shopping and on-demand delivery companies like Doordash, Shipt and Instacart to drop off orders within hours. Shoppers are required to pay any fees associated with the service. Other retailers, like Kohl’s, Big Lots and Staples, are rolling out same-day delivery in select markets.
Soon, it will be the norm, says Mcgrath. “What we expect to see this year is retailers plugging this option as a way to get gifts delivered at the last minute, especially as consumers start to come to terms with shipping delays later in the season,” she says. “Same-day deliv
ery is going to be a huge part of retailers' holiday marketing in 2020.”
Blackfriday.com rounded up some of the most popular retailers that offer same-day delivery and fees associated with the expedited service.
Amazon offers free same-day delivery to Prime Members who spend over $35 on qualifying products (membership costs $119 annually). You’ll know something is a “qualifying product” if it’s marked with “Prime FREE SameDay Delivery.” If you want to get your items by 9 p.m. on the same day, you should strive to place your order before noon.
Bed Bath & Beyond has also gotten in on same-day delivery. Thanks to its partnership with Shipt and Instacart, Bed Bath & Beyond is offering same-day delivery to customers for a flat fee of $4.99 on orders over $39. This offer also applies to items you snag from buybuy Baby.
Best Buy allows you to get same-day delivery seven days a week if you order eligible products by 1 p.m. local time.
Costco (potentially coming to the Capital Region soon) allows you to get same-day delivery through Instacart when you spend at least $35 on groceries and household supplies.macy’s has joined forces with Doordash to provide same-day delivery for the holidays. Best of all, there’s no minimum order requirement.
Michael's is offering same-day delivery for certain items at select locations. Orders are charged a flat delivery fee based on the order value - $6.99 to $7.99 - and are delivered same day if ordered by 1 p.m. Petsmart also recently partnered with Doordash to offer same-day delivery services from 1,400 of its store locations around the United States.
Sephora is making it easier to get its beauty, skin care and wellness products with same-day delivery through its partnership with Instacart.
Target brings you unlimited same-day delivery on your favorite products and brands when you join Shipt ($99 for unlimited orders of $35 or more). In fact, you can get your order as soon as one hour after placing it.
Walmart has two ways it offers sameday delivery. If you’re a member of Walmart+, the retailer offers free unlimited delivery on everything from groceries to gadgets ($98 annually). Not a member? You can pay a fee to get same-day delivery on orders of at least $35.