Amazon brings same-day delivery to 7 more cities

Online retail giant Amazon is expanding its same-day delivery service to seven new markets, the company announced today.

Amazon offers lower shipping rates to those that sign up for its $100 annual Prime membership, which grants members free two-day delivery on anything Amazon or one of its affiliated partners sells. The company also offers a same-day shipping service (as in you get it the same day you order it) to Prime members for $6 on a single item, and $1 for every additional item.

Previously, the company limited same-day shipping to a handful of cities, but today it will begin offering it on select items for Amazon Prime customers in Baltimore, Dallas, Indianapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington DC.

The move should help Amazon on a few fronts. First, the company is trying to figure out a way to replace the average person’s dependence on everyday items usually bought at grocery stores or “everything” stores like Walmart and Target. If you can order a handful of items online and get them the same day, you don’t have to make a trip to the store. Amazon even points out in its news release that some of the items eligible for same-day delivery include those in categories like school/office supplies, electronic accessories, and home improvement.

But the expansion of same-day shipping should also help Amazon keep its Prime members happy by adding yet another perk on top of its other free Prime services (Prime Music, Prime Instant Video, library lending program, etc.).