Define "IMMEDIATE SHIPPING"

There's been a lot of dialogue the last several days about "immediate" shipping. PLEASE define for me what YOU mean by immediate shipping by posting in the comments section of my blog at http://bethssoapbox.blogspot.com/

Posts/comments on Facebook will not be included (the point of a blog is to build a blog following not to enrich facebook any more than they are already rich..ya know?)And then watch this blog later for a follow-up post on the so-called "Industry Standards"

Here's the question again - DeFINE Immediate shipping.

What does that mean to you (and please include info on whether you are a buyer only or a buyer/seller or a seller only)

Use quantifiable terms: is immediate within 4 hrs, 12 hrs, 2 days, 2 weeks or 3 mos?
If you buy today (SUNDAY) do you realize I can't ship most stuff today? So what do you expect in that situation?

If you buy at the start of last weekend's 3 day weekend, how does that change your perception of "immediate" shipping or does it.

During the run-up to a holiday like Christmas, Valentine's Day or Mother's Day are you willing to pay extra for expedited shipping to get the item faster?

Besides higher shipping are you willing to pay for Premium Processing time (mean I really will drop what I'm doing, wrap/pack the item and take it straight to the Post Office)

This is NOT a debate over whether we should be doing immediate shipping. It's a discussion of the definition of immediate shipping. All other remarks will be deleted so please don't do that.