Amazon.ca offers same-day free delivery in Toronto, Vancouver to premium service

A United Parcel Service driver delivers packages from Amazon.com in Palo Alto, Calif. on June 30, 2011. (AP / Paul Sakuma)

TORONTO - Online retailer Amazon says customers in Toronto and Vancouver that are signed up for its Prime service are now eligible for same-day deliveries as part of their premium plan.

The offer is good for eligible orders over $25.

The Seattle-based company says eligible purchases placed in the morning through Amazon.ca will be delivered by 9 p.m. the same day in areas with Vancouver and Toronto postal codes.

Orders placed later in the day will be delivered to eligible areas by 9 p.m. the next day, including weekends.

Amazon Prime is a premium service that costs $79 per year but eligible for a 30-day free trial. It includes free delivery within two days of orders placed through Amazon.ca.

Same-day orders to locations in Vancouver and Toronto are also available to customers without a Prime membership for a fee -- $11.99 per order plus an additional fee based on weight.

Amazon rival Indigo offers free shipping within Canada for orders over $25 for delivery in one to nine business days. It will also deliver items to its retail stores for free, with no minimum purchase required.