Column: eBay goes all out to compete with Amazon

EBay ratcheted up the competition for speedy delivery service with its acquisition this week of Shutl, a four-year-old venture capital-funded start-up based in London that offers “same-hour” delivery service, or as close to it as is humanly possible.

Its biggest rival could have told eBay that fast delivery is one tough business nut to crack, and it’s not cheap, either.

Ironically, eBay’s announcement came within hours of word from Amazon.com of its first-ever increase in the minimum purchase requirement for its Super Saver free shipping service.