Amazon Prime now includes free same-day shipping*

Amazon Prime subscribers may get access to streaming music, movies, and other perks. But Amazon’s $99-per year membership program started off as a way to get 2-day shipping on many items for an annual fee.

Over the past few years a number of other companies have started working on (or launching) programs that could compete with Amazon Prime by offering free shipping for lower prices than Amazon charges.

So maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise that Amazon is leveraging its infrastucture to up its game: in addition to free 2-day shipping on millions of items, the company is now offering free same-day shipping for more than a million items to Amazon Prime members in 14 major US markets.

You’ll need to place an order on an eligible item by noon to get it the same day, and Amazon will only offer free shipping for orders priced at $35 or more.

Amazon had already offered same-day shipping for some items in some markets, but up until recently Prime members had to pay $5.99 to have their packages delivered within hours of placing an order.

If your order is less than $35 or you’re not a Prime member you can still request same-day delivery on many items, but it’ll cost $5.99 for Prime members and $8.99 plus $0.99 per item for non-members.

*terms and conditions may apply

via CNET