Last-Minute Holiday Gifts + Shipping Deadlines

December 14th, 2009

Have you run out of ideas and time to complete your holiday shopping? December 17, 2009 is designated as the 2nd Annual Free Shipping Day, when more than 500 merchants are expected to offer free shipping with delivery by Christmas Eve. Most retailers have published their deadlines for placing orders, and there’s a list for your convenience below.

If the need for a gift pops up past that date, I’ve found some last minute solutions with quick delivery options. This time of year, gift cards become the ultimate back-up plan for procrastinating shoppers. In looking at the plethora of available cards, it is striking how much they vary, with some having hidden fees or restrictions. As time runs out, food gifts become more attractive, because they are always appreciated and the companies supplying these perishable items usually ship them overnight.

Gift Card Choices

American Express gift cards have no fees or lost value, and can be ordered online with a complimentary upgrade to second day shipping.  Visa cards can be ordered online or locally at participating banks and merchants.  Both can be redeemed online and in any stores where credit cards are accepted. Discover, on the other hand, charges a $3.95 processing fee and $2.50 per month after a year of inactivity. Even worse, Discover gift cards cannot be used for in-store purchases.

Specific  stores that offer gift cards or e-gift cards also have restrictions that vary. While Target e-gift cards have no fee or expiration date, they can only be used to shop online. Retailers like Macy’s, Kohl’s, RadioShack, Bass Pro Shop and Sears/Kmart offer their gift cards online for both in-store and online shopping.  Sears/Kmart and Walmart offer the additional feature of allowing their cards to be reloaded. Amazon has mail, print, or email options for delivering their no-fee no-expiration gift cards, which can be redeemed at Amazon and their companion website, endless.com. If your recipient is in another city, you’ll want to have these e-gift cards sent by email or the gift cards delivered to them. But if you want to give a gift in person, you can choose to print an e-card. Prepaid phone cards are also a great gift idea to help stay in touch long distance.

Overnight Food Delivery

If your choice is to give a tangible gift at the last moment, an important consideration is whether the retailer you choose has a delivery partner located near the recipient.  Cherry Moon Farms offers same day delivery for fruit and gourmet baskets or flowers through their network of local florists. Edible Arrangements also offers quick delivery of fruit and flower bouquets and chocolates through their localized network. Reputable companies like Harry and David, who normally ship wine baskets and gourmet fruit from a single location in 4-5 days, do offer expedited shipping for additional fees, as does Godiva Chocolates. So your desperation level can be lessened if you’re willing to pay the cost. You can order soups, cheeses and sweet treats from Figi’s. For gourmet eaters there is Omaha Steaks, and for more dining decadence, you can order New England lobster and shellfish from LobsterAnywhere.com, or choose from a full menu of gourmet meals delivered by SendaMeal.com.

A few more universal gifts that don’t require a known size or allergy tolerance are movie passes or subscriptions, and gift cards for books, CDs & DVDs. Amusement park passes, music cards and downloads are always welcome gifts too. Or consider a GoDaddy gift card for someone who wants to put up a web page, and some software tools to design it.

Shipping Deadlines

Below are shipping deadlines from some popular stores to help lower your shopping stress level. You can be thankful that in spite of your procrastination, there are so many late-working delivery elves out there making possible a wonderful holiday for you and yours.

Merchant	Free	Standard	Express	Fastest
Amazon	12/17	12/20	12/21, 22	12/23 5:30 EST
BestBuy		12/21 11am EST	12/22 11am EST	12/23 11am EST
Borders	12/14	12/16	12/20	12/22
Buy.com	12/13 (books, games) 12/15 (electronics)	12/16	12/21	12/22
Circuit City		12/19	12/22	12/23
Dell		12/16	12/17	12/21
JCPenney		12/18	12/22 2pm CT	12/23 2pm CT
JR.com		12/16	12/ 21	12/23
Kohls		12/17 noon EST	12/19 3pm EST	12/21 11pm EST
Macy’s		12/21	12/22	12/22
Meritline		12/18	12/22 2pm CT	12/23 2pm CT
Newegg		12/16	12/21	12/22
Office Depot		12/23 5pm local	12/23 5pm local	12/23 5pm local
Office Max		12/17 6pm EST	12/23 5pm local	12/23 5pm local
Overstock		12/17 9:59pm EST	12/21 9:59pm EST	12/23 8:00am EST
Sears		12/18	12/23 9am EST	12/23 9am EST
Staples		12/11	12/18	12/20
Target		12/18	12/22	12/22
TigerDirect		12/17 7pm ET	12/21 5pm ET 17	12/22 5pm ET 18
Toys R Us		12/18 12pm ET	12/22 12pm ET	12/22 12pm ET
Victoria’s Secret		12/18 3pm ET	12/22 3pm ET	12/23 3pm ET
Walmart		12/20	12/21	12/22
ZipZoomFly
	FedEX:	12/17	12/21	12/23
	UPS:	12/16		12/23

Entry Filed under: Shopping