Shipping

Amazon.com is using independent contractors for its Flex delivery program to ferry packages to customers, adopting a staffing method that's already attracted controversy and lawsuits. Amazon Flex, which the company describes as its newest delivery innovation, allows individuals to be their own bosses while earning up to $25 per hour or more delivering Prime Now orders,…

As part of its continuing digital push, Kohl's Corp. is piloting same-day delivery service in two big-city markets, the company said Tuesday. Although Milwaukee is often one of the Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based company's early test markets, Kohl's latest bid to bind online shopping with brick-and-mortar will target Chicago and San Francisco to start, a spokesperson said. As…

On the heels of a fuel surcharge adjustment just this past February, FedEx is once again adjusting its fuel surcharge index nine months later. Effective Nov. 2, 2015, fuel surcharges for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground will change resulting in Express/International increases of 1.5 percent to 1.75 percent, and Ground increases of .5 percent to…

eBay confessed to screwing up shipping estimates on sellers’ listings for a two-week period in September. eBay informed sellers in an email in case they receive defects from shoppers disappointed with delivery time. The issue is important since buyers make purchasing decisions based on how quickly they think they can receive the item, and is particularly…

A higher power could disrupt the pickup and delivery of e-commerce packages, but this week it's not Mother Nature online buyers and sellers must worry about — it's the Pope. This week, security measures will be in place in areas of Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia as Pope Francis visits the United States…

The US Postal Service will help get Alibaba merchandise into the hands of US consumers more quickly. The agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Alibaba's logistics firm Cainiao to work together to develop new international shipping solutions and enhance the logistics-service experience for sellers and buyers. Alibaba said the global B2C cross-border e-commerce market…

FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight, subsidiaries of FedEx Corp., will increase shipping rates effective Jan. 4, 2016 as follows: FedEx Express will increase shipping rates by an average of 4.9 percent for U.S. domestic, U.S. export and U.S. import services. FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery will increase shipping rates by an average…

Walgreens just announced an official partnership with on-demand startup Postmates to offer same-day delivery for, initially, a flat delivery fee of $4.99. The on-demand delivery service via Postmates will be available at 600 Walgreens (known as Duane Reade in some parts of the U.S.) stores throughout the country. Postmates has always offered on-demand deliveries of items…

Toys"R"Us said on Wednesday it's lowered its free shipping minimum for online orders, as retailers continue to outdo each other with delivery deals before the holiday shopping season. The world's largest dedicated toy retailer said it will lower the minimum purchase required for free shipping of online orders from $49 to $19. In May, Wal-Mart said it…

After years of running its Google Express service — which offers same-day delivery on merchandise and packaged foods from a variety of retailers to customers in a handful of markets around the country — the internet giant is now reportedly confident enough to try its hand at bringing fresh food and groceries to consumers’ doors. Google’s…