With Christmas only a few days away, it’s getting a bit late to buy presents and send cards, and you’re nearly out of time to order gifts online. Wal-Mart says it can get your presents delivered by December 24th if you order before 11:30 p.m. Pacific time today (Thursday) and pay extra for one-day shipping. Target will let you order as late as Friday but, again, it will cost you. Amazon’s one-day shipping will work as late as 1:00 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.
But be careful. A company’s promise to deliver on-time is no iron-clad guarantee. There are variables they can’t control and there are some items that simply can’t be shipped that soon.
Sears will let you order online up until the 24th but you’ll have to pick up the merchandise at a Sears store. I’ve done this a few times and it is still a lot faster than having to actually shop at the store. If you don’t get your item within five minutes, you get compensated with a $5 coupon.