It seems like in the cut throat world of retail; Amazon is killing it. I can't help but think it has almost everything to do with their free two-day shipping. If this is the case, why hasn't a giant like Walmart (or Jet), Target, or other company embraced free 1-day shipping?<p>I know the obvious answer would be 'it costs too much'. If that's the case why don't they try to Amazon it? (Amazon it - Have a great idea, lose a ton of cash, gain traction, figure out how to monetize it.)
Technically, it is not "free two-day shipping" at Amazon. First, you pay $100/yr to get it for <i>most</i> items if you are a Prime member. Otherwise, like many online retailers, you get free shipping (not sure if it's two-day) only if you reach a certain dollar threshold.<p>So, yes, "it costs too much" is the obvious answer, but it is true. Unless the recipient is in the same "zone" as the shipper, the cost of next-day air shipping is likely still anywhere between $20 and $50 (dependent on many factors), which is heavily discounted from retail rates. That would cut into margins quite a bit.