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