Shipping

Amazon.com's Quidsi subsidiary is jumping on the Prime bandwagon. The unit, which Amazon bought for about $500 million in 2010 and which operates Diapers.com and Soap.com, is offering its own version of the popular Prime shipping service that will allow users to get two-day shipping on many orders. For now, it's offering the service free to users for 90 days, though it will later introduce a paid annual membership.

The plight of the U.S. Postal Service has been well documented. The federal agency lost nearly $16 billion in its latest fiscal year, and things aren't getting any better this year. In addition to the rejection of legislative changes that the USPS says are critical to its future viability — namely no longer being required to pre-fund retiree health benefits as well as cutting the mail delivery week from six days to five days (Saturday would be the day cut) — the losses keep mounting.

"I'm interested in the idea of free shipping vs. offering lower prices but shipping surcharges at checkout. For industries like mine (online furniture), which require freight shipping, does offering free shipping have the same positive effect on sales as it does for small products using UPS, etc.? Does an online consumer of furniture expect (and willingly pay) shipping surcharges, so long as the product price is low enough? Basically, will I increase conversions by lowering prices and getting rid of free shipping? Thanks!" — Deborah Fester, owner, Painted Furniture Barn

Google is wading deeper into the growing pool of online shopping competitors, testing out its ability to provide customers with same-day delivery. This week the company launched a small pilot program in the Bay Area called Google Shopping Express. The service allows online shoppers to order from name-brand stores like Target and Toys"R"Us and have those goods delivered the same day. The service, for now, is free to consumers. Google will make money by taking a commission from the retailer.

As the calendar inches closer to a July 31 expiration of the collective bargaining agreement between the United Parcel Service (UPS) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the parcel industry is beginning to ask the question, will UPS go on strike?

Ann Taylor and LOFT now offer international shipping via their e-commerce websites, anntaylor.com and loft.com. "The introduction of international shipping marks another key step forward as we continue to grow our e-commerce business and expand the...

Sears joins retailers including OfficeMax, Macy's, Toys"R"Us and Best Buy with a new same-day pickup service that combines Sears-brand products with those from local Chicago merchants.

While buyers may not be forgiving of sellers whose packages were delayed due to last weekend's blizzard, eBay says it will absolve sellers of their slow-shipping sins. eBay allows buyers to rate sellers anonymously in four key areas, called Detailed...

As it faces a worsening financial situation and frustration with Congress mounts for failing to enact cost-cutting reform measures, the U.S. Postal Service announced on Wednesday that it will seek to phase out six-day delivery service later this year. However, of critical importance to online sellers, the agency said that it will continue to deliver packages on Saturdays, even as residential and business delivery of regular mail on that day would end in early August.

The hard fact is that we're now pretty far down the road to an online economy. More and more people realize that Amazon.com's prices are hard to beat. When they can couple Amazon's prices with same-day delivery, would you be willing to pay a little more for that same-day delivery and stay in the comfort of your home and, with just a few clicks, order merchandise to be delivered that very day?