Amazon to launch same-day shipping for the holidays

On Thursday, Amazon.com said it will be launching same-day delivery service in seven U.S. cities this upcoming holiday season.

Amazon.com is hoping to win last-minute shoppers who want instant delivery of their bought items. The cities awarded Amazon's "Local Express Delivery" are New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Seattle and Washington D.C. However, Amazon will be extending the service to Chicago, Indianapolis and Phoenix in the coming months. In addition to this new service, Amazon told Reuters that it will be expanding its Saturday delivery options. Any orders that are ordered before the cut-off time on Thursday using two-day shipping will be delivered on Saturday instead of Monday. Girish Lakshman, Amazon's vice president of transportation, said in a statement, "If a customer needs a last-minute present for a birthday or wants a copy of their book club book before the weekend starts, they can order from Amazon instead of the hassle of a last-minute trip to the mall."