It’s time to wrap up that online shopping if you’re hoping your purchases arrive in time for Christmas.
Deadlines set by many online retailers are expiring this week and a sizable chunk have set Friday as your last shot, according to a survey of retailers for Shop.org.
Online holiday shopping this season got a nice bump from free shipping offers that extended almost industrywide, according to Shop.org.
At least one-third of holiday shoppers say they will spend more online this season because of the free shipping offers, the survey said.
Convenience is the biggest reason that shoppers turn to online. Being able to shop online at work was a plus to only 3 percent of shoppers, according to the survey.
Online sales, excluding travel, are expected to jump from $141 billion last year to $156 billion this year, which is 5 percent of all retail sales, according to Shop.org.
There’s time for procrastinating online, however.
If you just haven’t found, say, the right fruitcake to bestow on someone special, don’t panic. Half of online retailers will still get your gift there overnight – for a price.