Why You Should Get Your Online Christmas Orders in Today
Life and Leisure

Why You Should Get Your Online Christmas Orders in Today

REUTERS/Sergio Perez

If you’ve been postponing your online Christmas gift orders, it’s time to stop procrastinating. More than 1,200 retailers are dropping their minimum order requirements and offering free shipping, along with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve.

Check out a list of participating retailers, many of whom are also offering additional discounts today, at FreeShippingDay.com. The promotion, which has been in place since 2007, features some big-name retailers, such as Target, Toys R Us, and PetCo. The deals expire at midnight tonight, Eastern Standard Time.

Related: The 20 Hottest Toys for the 2016 Holiday Season

High shipping costs can wipe out savings found on online deals, but as competition has heated up online it’s gotten easier for savvy shoppers to avoid them. More than 70 percent of shoppers said they planned to take advantage of free shipping when ordering items online this year, according to a Deloitte study.

Many retailers waive shipping during the holiday season, but keep in place a minimum order (Target’s is $25), and usually charge extra for rush delivery. Be sure to check the fees for return shipping as well, if you or the gift recipient may need to send the item back.

There are a few retailers who will offer free shipping even through next week. Amazon Prime members get free two-day shipping on orders placed through December 22, and Best Buy is offering free two-day shipping on orders placed by 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 21. Many retailers also offer free in-store pickup for items purchased online. 

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