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Technically, it is not "free two-day shipping" at Amazon. First, you pay $100/yr to get it for most items if you are a Prime member. Otherwise, like many online

Technically, it is not "free two-day shipping" at Amazon. First, you pay $100/yr to get it for most items if you are a Prime member. Otherwise, like many online retailers, you get free shipping (not sure if it's two-day) only if you reach a certain dollar threshold. So, yes, "it costs too much" is the obvious answer, but it is true. Unless the recipient is in the same "zone" as the shipper, the cost of next-day air shipping is likely still anywhere between $20 and $50 (dependent on many factors), which is heavily discounted from retail rates. That would cut into margins quite a bit.

pgeorgep 9y ago
I get what you're saying, but here's my mindset. Walmart has a subscription service with free 2-day shipping (I get it's not free, but stay with me). They also have Jet which does the same thing. They aren't going to beat Amazon by playing the same game, so why don't they take the next step forward? It wasn't logistically possible when Amazon started doing it, but they figured it out.
- shanecleveland 9y ago
  And it wouldn't be logistically possible for most others starting out, either. Amazon has built out the capability over time, and I believe it now includes its own planes, trucks, warehouses and delivery staff. I agree that promising and delivering on universal 1-day shipping may be one of the last ways to differentiate an online offering, but it either requires loosing a lot of money on individual sales or significant capital to build out the logistics/infrastructure yourself and hope the customers follow.
- sjg007 9y ago
  They will do same day shipping within a regional walmart / target. It'll probably end up an instacart like service.
- usaphp 9y ago
  Amazon has free same day delivery on a huge selection of items in my area. They also have free One day shipping on almost everything here in San Diego once you order $35 worth of items

pgeorgep 9y ago

I get what you're saying, but here's my mindset. Walmart has a subscription service with free 2-day shipping (I get it's not free, but stay with me). They also have Jet which does the same thing. They aren't going to beat Amazon by playing the same game, so why don't they take the next step forward? It wasn't logistically possible when Amazon started doing it, but they figured it out.

shanecleveland 9y ago
And it wouldn't be logistically possible for most others starting out, either. Amazon has built out the capability over time, and I believe it now includes its own planes, trucks, warehouses and delivery staff. I agree that promising and delivering on universal 1-day shipping may be one of the last ways to differentiate an online offering, but it either requires loosing a lot of money on individual sales or significant capital to build out the logistics/infrastructure yourself and hope the customers follow.
sjg007 9y ago
They will do same day shipping within a regional walmart / target. It'll probably end up an instacart like service.
usaphp 9y ago
Amazon has free same day delivery on a huge selection of items in my area. They also have free One day shipping on almost everything here in San Diego once you order $35 worth of items