Survey: 80% of retailers to end standard shipping deadlines before Dec. 20

Washington, D.C. -- Over 80% (84.2%) of retailers say their standard shipping deadline for guaranteed Christmas delivery will expire prior to Friday, Dec. 20, according to Shop.org’s eHoliday survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. Free standard shipping offers will follow suit, as nearly three-quarters (74.2%) of retailers who already have or will offer a free standard shipping promotion say their promotion will expire on or before Dec. 20. (Shop.org is a division of the National Retail Federation.)



“With Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, we expect to see numerous offers from retailers for expedited and express shipping as we head into the final stretch and potentially biggest weekend of the year,” said Shop.org executive director Vicki Cantrell. “Companies know how important shipping offers are to their customers, many of whom will keep an eye out in the coming days as their favorite retailers are likely to up the shipping ante.”



For those waiting until the last minute, one-third (33.3%) of companies that will offer a free or upgraded expedited shipping promotion say their customers will have until Saturday, Dec. 21 to take advantage of the offer. Nearly two-in-five (19.4%) retailers will let their customers take advantage of that offer through Sunday, Dec. 22, and 16.7% will go as late as Monday, Dec. 23.