Retailers Extend Hours, Enable Last-Minute Christmas Shopping

(Andrew Speers)

If you celebrate Christmas, yet aren’t done with your shopping yet, don’t feel bad: the nation’s retailers are here to help you spend your money as the business days count down to the holiday. Some department and big-box stores are open around the clock, and online retailers will help you avoid human interaction while using express shipping to order gifts.

Yes, Amazon is enabling procrastinators by promising delivery before Christmas for items ordered with one-day shipping up until tomorrow, and same-day delivery on December 24th for orders placed before 10 A.M. in the select markets where they offer that service. If you prefer in-person shopping while you’re supposed to be asleep, big-box retailers including Walmart, Toys ‘R’ Us, and Kohl’s plan to stay open 24 hours a day until they close down on December 24th.

Many retailers will also be offering fabulous deals to attract last-minute holiday shoppers, which can be useful if there’s something that you have an eye on for yourself. One familiar-looking expert stopped by Good Morning America to chat about last-minute shopping and the sales that will probably be available to attract frantic last-minute gift buyers as they run through the mall. (Warning: auto-play video) If you fear the pre-Christmas crowds, many of those deals will be available online, too: just don’t bother with the express shipping.

Of course, this is exactly what UPS asked retailers not to do again this year, fearing that another last-minute shopping frenzy could lead to a last-minute delivery disaster like what happened last year in much of the country.

Tick-tock: Tips for last-minute shoppers [Associated Press]

by Laura Northrup via Consumerist