The Best Same-Day Delivery Services in NYC and Their Impact on Local Business
New Yorkers have it made: we have amazing restaurants, tons of culture, more things to do than you can wrap your head around, and access to anything you might need, from a rare spice to a particular cuisine or an in-demand fashion item. The problem? Sometimes it’s such an ordeal to get around the city. Planning an outing, going to the store or even doing takeout at a local restaurant can wear you down. The solution? We can also get pretty much anything delivered at any time. When you don’t feel like going out or realize at the last minute that you forgot something you really need, here’s where you can get same day delivery in NYC.
Top Same-Day Delivery Options
When you need last-minute flowers, groceries, cheese or other essentials, these services offer same day delivery in NYC. If going to the store stresses you out, not to worry. You can outfit a whole party utilizing NYC grocery delivery, cheese delivery, bread delivery and wine delivery. Flower delivery is the way to go if you forgot someone’s birthday or anniversary (or just want to brighten someone’s day). Among all these amazing delivery services, most offer same-day delivery, but some require advance ordering. If you need something right now — an ingredient, dinner, flowers, a bottle of wine — we’ve rounded up some of the best individual spots that offer same-day delivery.
- Instacart: Instacart sends out personal shoppers to get exactly what you need, important if you're looking for a specific brand. When something is out of stock, you get an actual person rather than an algorithm suggesting substitutions. It can be a bit pricey, but if you have to have just the right brand of peanut butter or olive oil or what have you, it's worth it to avoid crowds and lines in the store.
- Mercato: For a delivery service more focused on specialty items, Mercato is the way to go. From Kalustyan’s to Zabar’s to Essex Market, you can get that farm fresh produce, special spice or perfect pesto within a half hour. Delivery fees are a little higher than most, but schedule a time and you can save, or sign up for Green, Mercato’s membership program, for free delivery.
- Postmates: When you need items from several different places, Postmates has you covered. You'll get the products and brands that you want, wherever they may be around the city. You can even get your items delivered within 30 minutes.
- Premier DayTime: This popular website, which offers women's designer clothes at outlet prices, has a "Premier DayTime" option offering same-day delivery for a $25 fee in New York City. Order by 2pm for delivery between 4pm–9pm, Monday–Friday.
Service Comparison
| Service | Specialization | Delivery Speed/Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Instacart | Branded Groceries | Personal shoppers; same-day |
| Mercato | Specialty Items | Within a half hour |
| Postmates | Multi-store shopping | Within 30 minutes |
| Premier DayTime | Designer Clothes | Same-day ($25 fee) |
The Rise of Quick-Commerce and Dark Stores
Quick-commerce grocery delivery services like JOKR, Gorillas and Fridge No More have flooded New York City’s market this year, promising quick delivery and relatively low prices for everything from a full week of groceries to a forgotten dinner ingredient or evening ice cream purchase. Where traditional grocery stores shell out for big pieces of the city’s pricey real estate to stock thousands of items and keep the store orderly and well staffed, the apps operate out of “dark stores,” small warehouses carrying about 2,000 items. The companies say spending less money on rent and dealing with food waste allows them to keep their prices low, about on par with local grocery stores for most items, and delivery is free or low-cost, unlike more established apps like InstaCart or Fresh Direct.
Challenges for Local Bodegas and Small Groceries
Bodegas and Small Groceries Fear Business Impact of Increasing Delivery Apps. For many of the city’s nine million residents, the local corner store is the go-to for a quick purchase. Stocked with the essentials, more than 10,000 bodegas serve their customers faithfully at all hours. In some parts of the city, bodegas are more than a quick stop — they’re the only food store nearby.
While it’s all still new, some grocery store and bodega owners, still recovering from months of lockdowns, are concerned about the disruption. Muhammad Esa, who has owned Farm Shop Deli in Park Slope for twenty years, said the apps aren’t the first threat to business. Long before the grocery delivery apps, the business changed when wholesale operators like Costco and BJ’s became open to the public. Small businesses don’t stand a chance against corporations like Costco or Whole Foods, he feels, because corporations have too much influence over politicians, which has chipped away on regulations that protected small business owners in the past. “The American Way is done,” Esa said. “It’s just a thing of the past.”
