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Same-Day vs Next-Day Delivery — What's the Difference?

The Key Difference: The 11 AM Cutoff

At Weels, the difference between same-day and next-day delivery comes down to one simple rule:

Orders placed before 11:00 AM ET are picked up and delivered the same day.
Orders placed after 11:00 AM ET go out on the next available delivery day.

That's it. Same service, same pricing, same tracking — the only variable is when the order is placed relative to the cutoff.

How Same-Day Delivery Works

Here's the typical flow for a same-day delivery with Weels:

  • Before 11 AM — you create a shipment (via dashboard, API, or store integration)
  • By noon — a Weels driver picks up the package from your location
  • Afternoon — the package is delivered, with real-time GPS tracking the entire way
  • Delivery confirmation — photo proof, signature, or age verification at the door

Routes depart our Markham depot daily by 12:00 PM, 7 days a week — including weekends.

When Should You Offer Same-Day Delivery?

Same-day delivery is ideal for:

  • Perishable goods — food, flowers, prepared meals
  • Regulated products — alcohol, cannabis, tobacco (where freshness and compliance matter)
  • High-value items — electronics, jewelry, documents that customers want fast
  • Competitive advantage — offering same-day when your competitors offer 3-5 day shipping
  • Local ecommerce — GTA-based stores competing with Amazon's delivery speed

When Is Next-Day Fine?

Next-day delivery (placing orders after the 11 AM cutoff) works well for:

  • Non-urgent orders — items customers don't need immediately
  • Batch shipping — accumulating orders throughout the day and shipping them all the next morning
  • Evening orders — online orders placed in the evening that ship the following day

With Weels, next-day delivery is automatic — there's nothing extra to configure. Orders placed after cutoff are simply queued for the next delivery day.

Cost Comparison

At Weels, same-day and next-day delivery cost the same. There's no premium for same-day service. Pricing is based solely on the delivery zone:

  • Zone 1 (GTA Core): $16/package
  • Zone 2 (Surrounding): $18/package
  • Zone 3 (Extended): $20/package
  • Zone 4 (Outskirts): $25/package

No minimums, no contracts. Check your delivery zone.

What Do Customers Expect?

Customer expectations around delivery speed have shifted dramatically. A 2024 survey found that 61% of online shoppers are willing to pay more for same-day delivery, and 80% expect delivery within 2 days for local purchases.

Offering same-day delivery isn't just a nice-to-have anymore — it's becoming the standard for local commerce.

Get Started with Same-Day Delivery

Weels makes same-day delivery simple. Sign up for free, connect your store, and start delivering to your GTA customers the same day they order — 7 days a week.

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Same-day delivery across the GTA, 7 days a week. No contracts, no minimums.