Tips for Last-Minute E-Shopping

Liane Cassavoy, PC World

It's three days until Christmas and you still haven't gotten a gift for your Aunt Edna. She lives in New York, while you're sitting in San Diego. Is there any chance you can get a gift to her on time? According to most of the leading online retailers, the answer is yes.

This year, online stores are pushing back holiday shopping deadlines, allowing customers to order products later than ever while still guaranteeing delivery by December 24. Most sites will let you order right up until December 22 for delivery by Christmas Eve.

But this last-minute convenience won't come cheap--and if you're expecting free shipping, forget it. And the later you are, better chance something could go wrong. Still, if you're a procrastinator at heart, it's not too late to avoid the malls and do your holiday shopping online.

Last-Minute Options

Amazon.com is among the sites that will let you shop right up until December 22 for items delivered on the 24th. This year, the company extended its deadline on free super-saver shipping by four days, but it ended on December 16. The company also added an extra day to each of its other shipping options.

That last-minute delivery has some restrictions: First, you'll pay the one-day shipping fee, which starts at $8.99. You also must order products that have a 24-hour availability window.

Amazon.com has improved its delivery estimates this year, says Chris Bruzzo, the company's director of strategic communications. "We have real-time updating on the site," he says. "When you select a product on the site, it will tell you as you're looking at it if it usually ships within 24 hours, or if it takes three days for that item to ship."

Telling the Truth

Online retailers, in general, have become much better at honestly assessing whether they can deliver products by a certain date, says Patti Freeman-Evans, a retail analyst with Jupiter Research.

In 1999, the Federal Trade Commission sued seven sites for violating the Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise rule. This requires retailers to have a reasonable basis for any shipping promise they make, and to promptly notify customers of any delay. The FTC continues to monitor online retailers each year, reminding sites that promise fast shipping that they are required to deliver. But since 1999, the industry has seen vast improvement, says Joel Brewer, an FTC attorney.

Customers have noticed that improvement, Freeman-Evans says, making them more comfortable with shopping online, even for last-minute purchases.

"They've been online longer. They've shopped online in the past. They've used these sites and gotten their merchandise delivered when they expected it to be delivered. They trust these retailers," she says. "Last year, consumers were very happy with the performance of online retailers and their ability to ship on time."

So this year, consumers are willing to shop later than ever, taking advantage of later shipping deadlines--deadlines that could be risky for retailers.

"This is a high risk, high-reward experience for retailers," Freeman-Evans says. "They could lose a customer for life, but they could also win over a customer for life."

Last-minute holiday shopping may not be the best time to try out a new site, she says, advising consumers to stick with sites they trust that have delivered in the past.

Read the Fine Print

Most retailers clearly spell out their delivery deadlines on their sites. For example, BestBuy.com offers a Holiday Shopping Guide that clearly explains its shipping deadlines.

BarnesandNoble.com offers a day-by-day chart that you can check to see when your order can be delivered, based on its destination. Barnes & Noble will accept holiday orders through 11:59 p.m. on December 22 for standard delivery, but only to certain areas on the East Coast. For delivery within the 48 contiguous states, you can still place an order on December 22, but you'll have to pay for next-day air delivery.

Walmart.com is one of the few sites this year offering a relatively early last-minute deadline of December 21. The site will accept orders up until 11:30 p.m. that day for delivery by Christmas using Express shipping.

Most major e-commerce sites provide similar information. If you don't see a guarantee, don't assume your order will be shipped in time for the holidays. And keep in mind that buying built-to-order products, such a PC, can be trickier.

Dell, for example, does not offer a holiday shipping chart with guaranteed delivery. Instead, the vendor suggests you check the estimated ship dates next to each item. The company also offers a "priority build" option on its Dimension PCs, which moves your order to the front of the manufacturing line for $49. Together with the company's expedited shipping, this service can allow consumers to get their PCs shipped in time for the holidays.

But if December 22 comes to a close and you still haven't found that perfect gift, you can always join the crowds at the mall on December 23... and later.