With the holidays around the corner, Amazon.com yesterday announced the launch of a new shipping option that provides customers with same-day delivery in seven major US cities. 

The new service, called "Local Express Delivery," enables customers in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, Baltimore, Las Vegas and Seattle to receive same-day delivery for eligible items that are purchased before 10am or 1pm on weekdays, depending on the city.

The offering, which applies to thousands of items, will be added to Chicago, Indianapolis, and Phoenix in the coming months.

Amazon Prime members, who pay $79 annually for free, two-day shipping, will be charged $5.99 per item for delivery. All other customers will be charged much higher fees based on the individual item and weight. One CD disc, for example, could cost approximately $14 to ship.

"If a customer needs a last-minute present for a birthday or wants a copy of their book-club book before the weekend starts, they can order from Amazon instead of the hassle of a last-minute trip to the mall," said Girish Lakshman, VP of transportation at Amazon, in the company's statement.

Amazon will use the courier services Dynamex Inc and A1 for its same-day service, reported Reuters.