D.C. Amazon.com Customers Can Now Get Same-Day Delivery

Online retail giant Amazon.com today launched same-day delivery in select cities, and Washington, D.C. is one of them. The service, dubbed "Local Express Delivery," has also been extended to customers in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Las Vegas, and Seattle, and will be launched in Chicago, Indianapolis and Phoenix in a few months.

Before you rush off to place an urgent order for that Slanket you've finally conceded you want, here's how it works: First, D.C. customers have to get their same-day orders in by 10:30 a.m. (the times vary by city). Then, you have to pay for it. If you're already an Amazon Prime* member, the Local Express Delivery costs just $5.99 per item. If you're not a Prime* member, it costs considerably more: upwards of $14-$20, with the rates broken down by shipment and item charges (and yes, they charge for both) on this chart. Not cheap without a Prime* account, but still nice to have as an option in emergency situations.