| It's nearing the big day and shoppers are | | | | 3. Order now, deliver later. Fortunately, there are |
| scrambling for eleventh-hour gift ideas. To beat | | | | many gifts that can be ordered online and |
| the crowds and the holiday shopping traffic, more | | | | scheduled to arrive later. A magazine subscription |
| and more consumers are turning to the Internet. | | | | is a good idea - buy the current issue at the local |
| If you're careful to check expected arrival dates | | | | newsstand, wrap it, and enclose a note about the |
| posted on websites, are willing to pay more for | | | | gift subscription. Other ideas include scheduling a |
| fast delivery, and can be creative for truly | | | | massage, a vacation weekend for two or an |
| last-minute shopping (say, Christmas morning), | | | | experience such as a hot air balloon ride, tickets |
| your gifts should still arrive in time to be packed | | | | to a concert, or a week's rental of a snazzy |
| on Santa's sleigh. | | | | convertible. |
| Here's some advice for last-minute holiday | | | | 4. Use online tools to create a gift. For example, |
| shoppers. | | | | burn a customized music CD or download tunes |
| 1. Check holiday shipping schedules and make sure | | | | and videos straight to your kids' MP3 players while |
| the product is available for immediate shipment. | | | | they're sleeping. Try or (Not free, but legal. And |
| Online retailers usually post expected arrival dates | | | | still a good deal.) Or download software or an |
| and offer upgraded shipping options for an | | | | e-book (just make sure it's compatible with the |
| additional fee. Still, those are estimates, and | | | | loved one's computer.) |
| there's no guarantee that Mother Nature won't | | | | 5. Download (or send) an email gift certificate. |
| dump 16" of snow somewhere along the delivery | | | | Probably the most convenient option is to visit |
| route. The sooner you order, the better. | | | | one of the many web vendors who offer gift |
| 2. Consider in-store pickup. Rather than wait for | | | | certificates that can be emailed. You can email the |
| delivery, you can quickly browse a favorite shop | | | | certificate to yourself, print it out, and wrap it - |
| online, pick the gift you want, and have it ready | | | | it's a lot more fun to unwrap an actual, physical |
| and waiting for you at the local customer service | | | | gift. Or simply email it directly to the recipient. |
| counter. That neatly eliminates delivery time, but | | | | Usually, the email contains a special claim code |
| if you have to wrap the gift and re-send it | | | | with instructions how to log into the website and |
| elsewhere, it may still arrive too late. | | | | use it to shop up to your predetermined limit. |
| Faster yet is to order a gift online and have it | | | | Note that very few vendors allow you to redeem |
| picked up at the customer service desk of the | | | | email gift certificates in brick-and-mortar stores, |
| store near the recipient. Maybe, if you ask nice, | | | | so first make sure the recipient is comfortable |
| your Mom will pick up the gift, wrap it for you, | | | | with buying online. |
| and get it to Grandma in time. Just remember | | | | Order e-gift certificates directly from a favorite |
| that whoever picks up the gift needs to bring | | | | merchant, or try to order certificates from a |
| some form of ID and a copy of the email order | | | | huge selection of retailers. |
| confirmation. | | | | |