FedEx Helps Retailers Compete with Online Merchants

FedEx is helping retailers compete with online merchants through a new service called “FedEx Extra Hours.” It gives retailers like AutoZone and Best Buy the ability to offer next-day local delivery on orders that are made in the evening. Pickup is made by FedEx Express, and no mention was made of costs.

Retailers can extend evening order cutoff times by 5-8 hours, with some as late as midnight, depending on their current order fulfillment process.

Retailers can also offer two-day shipping nationwide on those late evening orders.

FedEx said the majority of online orders are placed after 4 pm, and 64 percent of online shoppers expect orders placed by 5 pm to qualify for next-day shipping.

“FedEx Extra Hours aligns with the needs of online shoppers, while offering retailers a way to balance inventory and reduce transportation costs,” FedEx executive Brie Carere said.

See the full details in this press release on the FedEx website.

Ina Steiner

Ina Steiner is co-founder and Editor of EcommerceBytes and has been reporting on ecommerce since 1999. She's a widely cited authority on marketplace selling and is author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). Her blog was featured in the book, "Blogging Heroes" (Wiley 2008). She is a member of the Online News Association (Sep 2005 - present) and Investigative Reporters and Editors (Mar 2006 - present). Follow her on Twitter at @ecommercebytes and send news tips to ina@ecommercebytes.com. See disclosure at EcommerceBytes.com/disclosure/.