Every year, couriers like FedEx and the UPS are already burdened with the task of ferrying millions of packages to the doors of online shoppers ahead of the Christmas holiday. The coronavirus pandemic, which has confined many Americans to their homes, has only intensified this demand.
As such, a number of retailers are expanding their services to more quickly transport purchases to consumers. Here, FN rounds up some of the companies that are offering same-day delivery to ensure last-minute shoppers get their gifts just in time.
Amazon
Prime members are able to take advantage of free same-day delivery and one-day shipping on orders over $35 on qualifying products. Customers should place their orders before noon to get their items delivered by 10 p.m. on the same day. (An Amazon Prime subscription costs $119 a year and $12.99 a month.)
Belk
Shoppers who place orders through Belk.com before 2 p.m. can have their purchases delivered directly to their doorsteps by 9 p.m. that same day. Orders placed after 2 p.m. will be delivered the following day. Same-day delivery is available for select merchandise, costing customers $9.95 on orders more than $49 and $14.95 on orders under that threshold.
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Dick’s Sporting Goods
Through a partnership with Instacart, Dick’s is providing same-day delivery from more than 150 stores across Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C. To use the service, customers can place an order through www.Instacart.com/Dicks-Sporting-Goods or the Instacart app. An Instacart shopper will pick up and deliver the item within the shopper’s specified timeframe, whether it’s in an hour or scheduled in advance.
Macy’s
The department store has joined forces with DoorDash to offer the service. Through Dec. 23, any purchase of $25 or more qualifies for $5 same-day and next-day delivery. Most of these orders are delivered between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Gift wrap and messaging, however, is not included in these shipping options.
Meijer
The supercenter — which also sells footwear from brands like Adidas, Dearfoams and Keds — has launched same-day delivery through Instacart at nearly all of its 256 stores across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Customers must visit Instacart.com/Meijer to place their orders, which they can receive in as soon as an hour.
Target
Shoppers can place their orders up to 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 to ensure free pickup at their local store. Through Shipt, the big-box retailer is also offering same-day delivery as late as 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, with delivery times varying by location and the availability of professional shoppers who are tasked with transporting orders to customers.
Walmart
A Walmart+ membership gives shoppers free same-day delivery for $10 on orders with a $35 minimum. However, time-slot availability may be limited, so customers are advised to reserve a time slot as early as possible. (A Walmart+ subscription costs $98 and a monthly membership is $12.95.)
