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RAPAPORT... With less than one week before Christmas Day, 84.2 percent of U.S. retailers will expire their standard shipping deadline for guaranteed Christmas delivery prior to December 20 and 74.2 percent expect free standard shipping promotions to end on or before that date as well, according to Shop.org’s eHoliday survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. Earlier this week, the National Retail Federation (NRF) found that nearly half of those consumers who haven't completed their gift buying, expect to do so online due to special product discounts and free shipping promotions. “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 holiday season," said Shop.org's 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.” About one-third of retailers will offer a free or upgraded expedited shipping promotion up until December 21, according to the survey, with 19.4 percent expiring the offer on December 22 and 16.7 percent ending it on December 23. However, the survey noted that 47.2 percent of retailers were comfortable offering express one-day or overnight shipping as late as December 23. Pam Goodfellow, Prosper’s Consumer Insights director, said, “As a favorite promotion among holiday shoppers, free shipping deals always help get last minute shoppers in gear. Those looking for convenience and efficiency will use their smartphones, tablets and computers wherever they are to scour the Internet for gifts and shipping options to finish their Christmas shopping, for their loved ones and even themselves.”
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