Free Shipping

How does Christmas creep up so quickly? It seems like just yesterday our shopping concerns were stocking up on stuffing and turkey for a Thanksgiving feast. Now parking lots are full and checkout lines stretch around the store. Many online merchants have already ceased their holiday shipping, leaving shoppers to fight through the last-minute masses.

Luckily, there are still a few stores that can help alleviate your stress. FreeShipping.org has compiled a comprehensive list of holiday delivery deadlines for over 100 stores, and the following merchants offer expedited shipping for free or with a minimum order.

1. Apple Store
Place your order by Dec. 21 to receive free Next Day Shipping on most items, excluding custom or engraved products.

2. Roxy
Any orders received by 10 pm EST on Dec. 21 will include free 2-Day Shipping.

3. Neiman Marcus
To get free rush delivery on orders of any amount, use code NMQUICK and choose "promotional shipping" as your shipping method. This offer is valid until 11:59 am CST on Dec. 22.

4. Under Armour
Enjoy free two-day shipping on any order using promo code FREESHIP.Read more

Clearly shopping "click" instead of "brick" has taken over this year. Online shopping went through the roof from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, and it looks like only holiday shopping deadlines will slow things down.

Naturally, consumers can always depend on Free Shipping Day, the one-day event on Dec. 16 when they can shop from more than 2,000 merchants with delivery by Christmas Eve. Other stores offer extended deadlines, however. FreeShipping.org put together a comprehensive list of 170 merchant holiday deadlines, including dates for standard and express shipping as well as the date offering the fastest shipping with delivery by Christmas.

Best Buy
Standard: Dec. 20, 11 a.m. EST
Express: Dec. 21, 11 a.m. EST
Fastest: Dec. 22, 11 a.m. EST

Cabela's
Standard: Dec. 16
Express: Dec. 20, 9 p.m. CST
Fastest: Dec. 22, 11:30 a.m. CST

Lands' End
Standard: Dec. 14
Express: Dec. 19
Fastest: Dec. 21 Read more

No wonder the U.S. Post Office is having trouble -- FedEx is stealing all their thunder.

The global-shipping behemoth said recently they expect Dec. 12 will be the busiest day in company history, as more than 17 million packages make their way through the system. That's just a small portion of the 250 million shipments they anticipate handling between Thanksgiving and Christmas, for a total increase of 12 percent from 2010.

FedEx's good fortune may have something to do with consumers' increasing trust of e-retailers as more individuals turn to the Internet for their shopping needs, according to a recent article by Marketing Pilgrim. And, with holiday free shipping deals being announced by such stores as Sears, Kmart and Best Buy, shoppers have even more incentive to buy online. But that's just one interesting shopping trend popping up this holiday season. Here are 11 more for your consideration.

1. Less Time Spent Per Site
The same IBM Coremetrics study featured in the Marketing Pilgrim article found consumers aren't willing to dig deeper into a site unless they see the info they need on the homepage. In fact, many shoppers won't go any further if they don't see an ad with a free shipping offer. Read more

If pumpkin carving and paper mache is becoming too old-fashioned for your tech-savvy tykes, fear not. Dressing up like an iPhone 4 might be a bit much (that's a real touchscreen, folks!), but there's still plenty of ways to plan a Halloween that's cool for the kids, fun for the family, provides parents some piece of mind and most of all won't break the bank. Here's six great options - all treats, no tricks!

FUN

Make a Zombie App
Sure, the "undead" are all the rage these days, but what if your kids are too young for such flesh-eating fare? These cuter, animated versions should provide some more age-appropriate frights. Customize your creature's body, background, clothes and more, then share them via email, post to Facebook or save to a disk.

Hallowindow
If you're planning a haunted house, this website can help you increase the fear factor with a digital twist. Download images and animations that can be projected on windows or displayed on TVs, or spooky sound effects for creeping out oncoming candy-seekers. And if this all seems a bit complicated, the good folks at Geek Squad (www.GeekSquad.com or via any Best Buy store) are available to help you set up.

FRUGAL Read more

More than 450 merchants have signed up to participate in the second annual Free Shipping Day, which is set for December 17.

December 7, 2009 – Now that Black Friday and Cyber Monday have passed for another year, retailers are searching for a way to extend the holiday shopping season, and procrastinating consumers are looking for options to find that last-minute gift. It's a perfect time for Free Shipping Day.

Set for December 17, Free Shipping Day is a one day shopping event when participating merchants offer free shipping to their customers with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. More than 450 retailers have already signed up to participate, eclipsing last year’s final tally of 250. Free Shipping Day creator Luke Knowles expects the number to surpass 500. Participating merchants include Toys R Us, JCPenney, Apple Store, Nike, Sears, Babies R Us, Eddie Bauer, PacSun, PetSmart, and Ralph Lauren.Read more

December 9, 2008 – Holiday shopping procrastinators now have a day designed especially for them. The inaugural Free Shipping Day (www.freeshippingday.com) - which is set for December 18, 2008, and will be an annual event - is a reward for people who wait until the last minute to cross those final gifts off their list.

On Free Shipping Day participating merchants give free shipping to online shoppers with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve.

Retailers have embraced the idea, which was hatched by Luke Knowles, founder of FreeShipping.org (www.freeshipping.org), a one-stop destination for consumers to find online retailers that offer free shipping deals. Participating merchants include brands like Amazon.com, Bloomingdale's, Brookstone, Circuit City, Coldwater Creek, Crate & Barrel, Endless.com, Nordstrom, Sur La Table, Target and Zappos. Read more