EBay Now: Online Market Rolls Out Same-Day Delivery Program

Do you want your eBay and do you want it now? The online auction recently started testing a same-day delivery program called eBay Now.

According to CNet, the company started sending out invitations to eBay users in San Francisco this morning. The program will allow people in select cities (just San Francisco at the moment) to order goods from local merchants and receive those goods on the same day. eBay Now works with an iPhone or iPad app so eBay users can order their products on the go.

The invitation reads:

“We know you love shopping on eBay. But sometimes you just can’t wait for shipping. Sound familiar? If so, we’ve created an exciting new way to shop. Starting today, for purchases of $25 or more, San Francisco shoppers can order products from local stores and have them delivered to their door — at home, at work, or anywhere else in San Francisco. The new service is called eBay Now, and you can download it here for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch…. Each delivery during the beta period is only $5. Your orders arrive fast — usually within an hour! Pretty convenient, huh?

If eBay can successfully pull off same-day deliveries the online market could start taking away even more business from brick-and-mortar stores.

Colin Sebastian, analyst with Baird Equity Research, said:

“In terms of speed of delivery, Amazon can’t compete now with your local merchant, whether it’s Walmart or a mom-and-pop store. But once they have the facility in your backyard and trucks operating in your area, they become more competitive.”

Amazon hasn’t started it’s same-day delivery service yet but according to a report in the SF Gate, the online giant could soon join eBay with same-day deliveries.

Do you think eBay Now will be successful?