ByKELLI B. GRANT
SANTA CLAUS MAY
be able to deliver presents all over the world on Christmas Eve without charging a dime in shipping costs, but you shouldn't expect the same from your favorite online retailer.
Yes, many web sites are offering free shipping this holiday season but you're going to have to place your order well before the 24th.
| Also See |
| SmartMoney.com's Holiday Survival Guide |
As a helpful reminder, we've gathered together the drop-dead Christmas-delivery deadlines of some major online retailers currently offering free shipping. Miss these, and you could be paying a bundle to get your items shipped on time.
Where to Find Free Shipping
Free shipping offers abound throughout the first half of December, says Anne Fognano, founder of CleverMoms.com, a coupon web site. Retailers usually display their holiday shipping offers prominently on their sites. Be sure to look for details including the carrier and shipping method, as well as any caveats such as extra processing time and shipping deadlines. Some retailers require that purchases be made by as early as Dec. 10.
You can also check for free shipping offers on coupon web sites. These sites collect information on sales, and may have exclusive offers and coupon codes. For our favorites, see "Click Here to Save Big".
Here's a selection of current free-shipping offers:
|
Retailer |
Free Shipping Offer |
Deadline |
| Amazon.com | Free "Super Saver" shipping with orders of $25 or more. | Order by Dec. 16 for holiday delivery. |
| Barnes & Noble | Free standard shipping for orders of $25 or more. | Order by Dec. 15 for holiday delivery. |
| Buy.com | Free budget shipping on all orders totaling $10 or more. (Eligible items will have a yellow and green truck icon next to them.) | Order by Dec. 14 for holiday delivery. |
| eBags | 10% off you order, and free shipping. | Offer ends Dec. 10. |
| Eddie Bauer | Free standard shipping with purchases of $100 of more. | Order by Dec. 20 for holiday delivery. |
| J.C. Penney | Free holiday shipping with orders of $50 or more. | Offer good through Dec. 12. |
| L.L. Bean | Shipping charges waived for all holiday orders. | Order by Dec. 22 for holiday delivery for U.S. addresses. |
| Tower Records | Get free shipping via USPS for orders of $20 or more. Get free shipping via FedEx 2Day on orders of $100 or more. | There is no guaranteed delivery date for orders shipped via USPS. Order by 9 a.m. on Dec. 21 for FedEx 2Day delivery by Dec. 23. |
| Waterford | You'll get free standard shipping guaranteed to arrive by Dec. 23 with the coupon code DECSHIP. | You must order by Dec. 19 for the free shipping order. (All orders placed before 11 a.m. on Dec. 22 and sent via the site's standard, express or overnight shipping options are guaranteed to arrive by Dec. 23.) |
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