Target Expands Same-Day Delivery

As of this month (April), Target customers in Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington D.C. will find it easier to get the goods they want that much faster. According to reports, the retailer announced that about 60 new stores will be adding same-day delivery capacity — meaning that, instead of dragging large and heavy items out of the store with them, customers will be able to order an item and get it delivered to their home within two hours.

The delivery isn’t free. Shoppers can expect to pay $7 unless they are buying something large like furniture, in which case the delivery fee climbs to $25.

Buttressing the expanded same-day delivery efforts are two acquisitions Target made in 2017: Grand Junction and Shipt. Both firms specialize in shipping and were added to the family so as to help Target raise the level of its same-day delivery game.

When Target bought Shipt in the closing days of last year, the retailer concurrently announced plans to add same-day delivery to its roster of services at the bulk of its stores during the upcoming 2018 holiday season. Target has also been expanding its offering list, including its own version of Amazon‘s Prime Pantry, Target Restock.

Target, of course, has competitors other than Amazon on its mind as it ups the level of its delivery and digital game. They also get to race with a high digitally-invested Walmart as well.

In order to use Target’s same-day delivery service, the customer may simply inform the sales clerk during checkout that they would like their goods delivered. Target plans to launch the new same-day delivery option at its new stores by the end of this month, and it also plans to offer same-day delivery through Shipt by the end of this year.