RELATED: Great last minute gift ideas
"Since I have a baby, I'm just leaving everything for the last minute."
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"I'm always a last minute shopper."
"I know I want to go Christmas shopping. I just don't know when."
If you are like the three people we just spoke to, the key to last-minute online shopping, is to pay attention to the delivery deadlines.
"Many retailers offer two-day delivery for addresses within the United States, and sometimes it's even free. But this year with Christmas falling on a Monday, you may need to give yourself a little additional time," said Octavio Blanco, Consumer Reports Money Editor.
Walmart offers free two-day shipping for orders over $35 year round. But order by 2 p.m., December 20th, to get it by Christmas.
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Amazon Prime members also get free two-day shipping for eligible merchandise. The deadline is December 22nd.
L.L. Bean offers free delivery year round, but get that order in by Tuesday, December 19th to be sure to get your purchases in time.
"Another wrinkle? Some delivery services may have limited delivery on Sunday, Christmas Eve," Blanco noted.
UPS is not planning on any non-critical deliveries on December 24th.
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FedEx will have limited service.
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The trusty United States Postal Service, however, says it will deliver on the day before Christmas.
Another last-minute option? Order online and pick-up at a local store.
Depending on the availability of the product, Walmart will take in-store pickup orders every day including through December 25th.
If you're really stuck, you may be able to get orders over $35 on the same day from Amazon Prime, depending on the item and the zip code it's being delivered to.
And for the very, very last minute present, electronic gift cards are the answer. They can even be ordered on the holiday itself. But if you put some thought into it, and choose one that fits the person's interests or needs, it will no doubt be appreciated.
All Consumer Reports material Copyright 2017 Consumer Reports, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Consumer Reports is a not-for-profit organization which accepts no advertising. It has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site. For more information visit consumer.org.
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