Whether you believe tomorrow is the Online Holiday Shopping Deadline or today is the last free shipping day for online shopping, if you don’t want to pay hefty expedited shipping charges today is a great day to finish up your shopping.
Any business that counts on holiday sales would love to know how many are already done and whether they might still hope for more buyers. Here’s your chance to brag about being done already or tell us Bah, Humbug or let others suggest great deals you can still get. Just click one circle and you’re done.
Here’s to all the small family businesses and their extended family of employees and contractors who are working diligently to get all those last minute gifts shipped in time for Christmas.
Have you found the perfect gift and want to share what it is? Know of any great last minute deals? Need some gift ideas? We would love to know so leave a comment. Our commentator community will welcome you.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING POLLS:
- Consumer Reports Holiday Poll: Are you a Planner or a Procrastinator (Dec 17, 2009)
- PR NewsWire: Consumer Reports Poll: 40% of Adult Shoppers Have Yet to Begin Holiday Shopping (Dec 17, 2009)
Related articles by Zemanta
- The Perfect Gift May be the Most Practical One (bucks.blogs.nytimes.com)
- Free Shipping Day is December 17th This Year (shoppingblog.com)
- 7 Ways to Help Unemployed Friends and Family (bucks.blogs.nytimes.com)
- 3 Things You Need to Know about Free Shipping Day 2009 (blippitt.com)
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{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m no where near being done. Planning to go out on Monday EARLY to one of the 24 hour stores to get it done.
Last year I did it on Xmas eve really bad idea that I would not recommend to anyone.
.-= Dwippy@Dofollow Blog List´s last blog ..Blog Comments =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
LOL great advice to avoid shopping on Christmas Eve. My philosophy is to support small businesses. These 24 hour superstores are handy but they remind me of the company stores in coal mining towns. The more money people spend in them the less options we will all have.
When I lived in a very small town I shopped at the local grocery store even though I worked in the city thirty miles away. Many questioned that choice and my reply was if we don’t support our local businesses they will close and then they would have no choice but to drive that thirty miles for a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk.
Few heeded my recommendations and that wonderful store closed. One owner did keep it open longer by putting in a lunch buffet which was a great idea. Whenever I went there to eat I thought, “I may as well buy a few groceries while I’m here” and whenever I needed groceries I thought “I may as well have lunch first”.
Every decision we make changes the world. Few think about how their actions have created the current economic downturn. If we all supported our neighborhood and small online businesses we would create a more healthy economy.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..MEME: LinkLuv to My Fav Bloggers Favs =-.
I don’t think there is a small grocery near where I live. We’ve got a walmart, a meijer (mi, oh, in mainly) and a scotts which was bought by kroger and there’s a kroger across the street from the scotts. LOL
I could probably find something downtown but I’m not going to do that because of my misdirectional tendencies…
Although to be honest to avoid the christmas mob I’d throw my preferences to the wind in a heartbeat.
.-= Dwippy@Dofollow Blog List´s last blog ..U Comment I Follow =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Hi Dwippy,
Every purchase we make throughout the year makes a difference in what kind of world we live in, who can keep a roof over their head and who goes out of business. My regular readers know I strongly support small businesses.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..Better Live Chat Equals More Closed Sales =-.
yeah Im almost done with my holiday shopping. Prob finish up Online tomorrow so I can get the gifts mailed off. Theres something about doing things like shopping at the last minute. More exciting…
.-= mens skinny jeans´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Good for you. Those who finish their shopping by today or tomorrow at the latest will get the best deals with the least stress.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..Are You Playing Hide and Seek With Your Market? =-.
Twitter: @mark_tait34yahoo.in
This is a place for great inspiration, your blog is really interesting
.-= Royalty Free´s last blog ..Great Christmas Presents for Photography loving Guys =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Thank you. I hope you do more than get inspired and implement strategies you learn here. I have a couple of tips for you to make your commenting time more beneficial:
1) On the Internet, names including usernames, URLs and Twitter IDs can not have spaces in them so be sure you don’t put spaces in those fields. Your Twitter link is broken because your real Twitter ID is RoyaltyFree without the space.
2) You will get maximum benefit from KeywordLuv by matching the keywords you’re using to the site you send visitors. Use a different name and anchor text for your Royalty Free Music site than you use for your Photography site.
I would also suggest you use Royalty Free Music instead of Royalty Free because the first is self-explanatory and the second could refer to many other things. Anchor text is really important. Read more about that in the post I’ve featured in CommentLuv for this comment.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..Are You Playing Hide and Seek With Your Market? =-.
We already bought each other our Xmas presents….my present (to her), was to paint the entire home interior (4 different colors) before Thanksgiving. Her gift (to me) was that she “let” me buy 1080p 37″ Toshiba LCD flat screen for the bedroom, and a Panasonic Blu-Ray/DVD player for the media room. Why wait until Xmas to unwrap the presents? LOL (I’ll still probably get her something nice at one of the after-xmas blowout sales, at 80% off retail…for our 20th anniversary on 1-13-10).
Twitter: @GrowMap
Hi Matt,
I love your Christmas gifts and wish I had so much more time to have written posts about gift ideas including the kind you and your wife decided on. I saw Blu-Ray in a store once and it did seem much clearer and brighter than standard DVDs.
If you are planning any other home improvements make sure you check out Good Millwork. They sell over 10,000 styles of architectural moldings in 200+ wood profiles (and other materials).
crown moldings are one of their top sellers because they are considered a great way to upgrade a room and enhance home value. I just saw another post on How to Spruce Up Property So It Sells at Lightening Speed recommending adding crown molding to the entryway to improve first impressions.
Good Millwork is having a huge half price sale on Exterior Shutters too. That could make a great family “gift”.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..MEME: LinkLuv to My Fav Bloggers Favs =-.
Twitter: @extremejohn
I voted and am one of 17% that has not even stepped foot into a store yet.
.-= Extreme John´s last blog ..Weekly Link Dump #3 =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
LOL. With the Internet we don’t really need to set foot anywhere. Why not shop online? Save the hassles, avoid the traffic and cost of travel, and stay away from the crowds.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Use TipTop for Real Time Market Research =-.
Twitter: @123bargains
I am about 1/2 way done. I tried to finish before December 18 as most of the places have shipping deadline on that date. There are still a lot of great deals for those who are still looking for them and some of them still offer free or cheap shipping with guaranteed delivery on certain items.
.-= Prim @ 123bargains´s last blog ..Gift baskets at Walmart.com – $ 17.00 at (Walmart) =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
I hope everyone realizes that the deadlines are to allow time for shipping and not because the merchants are trying to be difficult. While some ecommerce stores are willing to cover the additional cost for expedited shipping to generate additional sales during the holidays, it is very expensive and seriously cuts into their profitability.
While challenging it really is best for all to shop early – and support small online and brick and mortar businesses everywhere. Every dollar you spend in a superstore could be a dollar that saved a local or online small business!
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..MEME: Share What Makes You Feel Thankful =-.
Twitter: @tanmay2346
Thanks for such an informative post. I really enjoyed reading it.I always love looking at your blog.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Thank you Tanmay. I hope you learn a lot from our posts. Have you checked out Best of GrowMap yet?
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..Are You Playing Hide and Seek With Your Market? =-.
Twitter: @DennisEdell
Oh crap. I should do some shopping, huh.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..UPDATED – Pick My New Domain Names With A chance To Win $10! =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
LOL You, Brian and Extreme John are so entertaining to have as commentators.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..Are You Playing Hide and Seek With Your Market? =-.
Oh, I’m completely useless and haven’t even done any Xmas shopping as yet! Will no doubt be leaving everything till the last minute lol. Have a great holiday.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Hi Ryan,
I hope you got done just in time. Maybe next year you’ll shop early online. Do check out @ExecGifts Gift Affiliate Program if you offer affiliate products in your blog. We assist affiliates in getting more traffic and can provide custom lists of the most popular products throughout the year including Groomsman Gifts.
Demographic studies indicate that the wedding niche is expected to really take off in the next two years and stay strong for twenty more.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..FTC Disclosure Rules: What You Need to Do =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Hi Ryan,
I hope you got done before Christmas Day!
I noticed your blog offers affiliate products in the UK. Be sure to check out the Gift Affiliate Program @ExecGifts offers. They ship to the UK.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Use TipTop for Real Time Market Research =-.
Twitter: @indblog
I am feeling very smug because I finished my Christmas shopping at the beginning of November.
.-= Steven Richardson´s last blog ..Be Careful Of Unsolicited Link Requests Through Email =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Hi Steven,
You can be our role model this year as one of the few organized enough and affluent enough to shop early. Congratulations.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..MEME: Share What Makes You Feel Thankful =-.
Twitter: @ExtremeEzine
I think we are finished with all the Christmas shopping this year. Michigan is in big trouble economically and my wife has tried her best to single handedly bring Michigan out of the recession. It’s her bailout strategy for the State distributed by daily shopping trips and online purchases.
Oops, my stupid auto-complete inserted my email where my website goes.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Oh my Brian. I hope income is strong this year to pay for her bailout plan.
I was able to fix your link and add anchor text for you in the admin edit function. I know you don’t usually use anchor text and want to encourage you to start. It can make a real difference in your traffic if done wisely.
Check out the post I’ll featured in this reply for more details on that and watch for a new post on KeywordLuv and how best to use it.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..Are You Playing Hide and Seek With Your Market? =-.
i almost done with my holiday shopping, i bought some santa cloth, watch, toys and for my kids. just spend few hundreds bucks for this Christmas.
.-= tommy@business guide´s last blog ..If You Can’t Pay the Taxes You Owe =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Santa cloth?
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..MEME: LinkLuv to My Fav Bloggers Favs =-.
i am the one who left with my holiday shopping.but soon i will go for it.
Going shopping is greatbut if there’s something even better is to do it with friends.
.-= Buenos Aires real estate´s last blog ..Punta del Este – Seaside Luxury Property =-.
Twitter: @SellYourMobile
Interesting I was in the 9% that said they were 3/4 done. I guess it depends on your style of Christmas shopping. Whether you are a last minute person or not. And I guess it depends on the type of person you and who you have to get Christmas presents for etc. I’m glad I don’t have to get stuck in all them traffic jams and queues lol
Mkcoy
.-= Sell Your Mobile Phone for Cash´s last blog ..Envirofone Get Cashback Recycling Mobiles =-.
Twitter: @sparshtech
yet I haven’t done any Xmas shopping! I have not got time to do that. I hope i will do it before Christmas. Have a great holiday.
Twitter: @DennisEdell
I remember a couple years in a row, making my dad take me to Tower Records after dinner on Christmas eve.
I was not his favorite son those years…
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..The $10 Winner And More Good News….. =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Why that day?
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..MEME: Share What Makes You Feel Thankful =-.
Twitter: @imstrategies
HA HA, this year I got done early and thank god for that! Now I’m broke again
.-= JR @ Internet Marketing´s last blog ..Search Hot Keywords with Comprehensive Info with Free Toolbar =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Hi JR,
Congratulations on getting done early. With your popularity online and all the ways we’re finding to increase income I’m sure you won’t stay broke long. I’ve got to make time to check out that Cash Keywords toolbar you wrote about.
I think I mentioned that your links are not going directly to your blog so feedburner is getting the benefit instead of you; however, as many times as FireFox has locked up on me today I could have lost that comment.
There is a setting in your feedburner account to change that. If it isn’t obvious we can compare settings and figure it out again.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..MEME: Share What Makes You Feel Thankful =-.
Twitter: @AussieSire
I don’t do any shopping, I delegate it to the wife. I figure seeing as how women like shopping so much it’s the right thing to do.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Has Your Blog Content Been Stolen? =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Hi Sire,
I’m still trying to figure out if you’re as big a MCP as you like to come off or you’re just yanking our chains. Not all women are into shopping. I’m not – except for books.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..Thankful MEME: Who Murray Newlands Thanks =-.
Twitter: @AussieSire
MCP? Oh, a Male Chauvinist Pig!!! LOL
Nah I just love to throw out the line and real women in with it. It get’s me into all sorts of trouble sometimes, but I love having a bit of fun all the freaking time
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Merry Christmas To All =-.
Twitter: @SpotCoolStuff
Maybe it is a sign that I’m getting more responsible (”It’s about time,” my friends would say) but this is the first year I’ve ever finished my holiday shopping before Dec 20th.
.-= Spot@tech blog´s last blog ..Reviews of the Best Travel Cameras =-.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Congratulations Spot. Maybe you’re just getting more organized or better financed? Or maybe you remember earlier that you don’t like crowds?
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..FTC Disclosure Rules: What You Need to Do =-.
Twitter: @emematson
I’m always never done with Christmas Shopping; there’s always someone popping up that wants a Christmas gift and I have to get them one. Even if it is the day before Christmas.
Twitter: @GrowMap
Lol. Careful what you say. They’ll be people queing up with their hands out.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..Tools Wanted for Power Bloggers, Social Networkers =-.
ahh … i never finish it on time and then keep running here and there even on christmas eve…:D
Setup hosting and get ssl certificates
Twitter: @GrowMap
Welcome Rahul.
We have KeywordLuv to make it easy for you to include a link with whatever anchor text you most desire. Next time instead of creating a link the way you did you can just put the URL in the Website field and put the words you want linked after your name in the Name field like this:
Rahul @ Setup hosting and get ssl certificates
Unless you have researched and know that real humans actually search for that phrase you would be better off using two different phrases and alternating where you put them like this:
Rahul @ Setup Hosting
Rahul @ get ssl certificates
If you hope that people will read what you do the way you have them together is fine. If you hope to get ranked better in the search engines then it is best to target one phrase covering one subject at a time.
.-= GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Use TipTop for Real Time Market Research =-.
hey thats really a cool topic ya every one has done i think me too ya and now ready to enjoy in the holidays. i am new to this site just joined it liked it a lot good topics going all around. i hope i will carry on in the future! thanks.
Well, I’m perhaps the worst of all. We have now entered into the first full week of the new year, and I’m STILL not finished with Christmas shopping! It’s okay though, because I see it as a money saving opportunity. There are a ton of after Christmas and New Year’s sales going on, so I can save a bunch of money on gifts for people, I won’t see until this week anyway…
.-= Darvin @ Discount Comforter Set´s last blog ..Clearance Bed in a Bag =-.
I was just finished off my shopping before 10 dec. I think when you start early shopping slowly you can get the idea which things you require because at the end of the day can’t fell like something is less.
planning is a must before shopping. there are people who shop just for showing their luxury….
Well i think holiday is the most important thing every year because it gives you a freshness so that after a fresh holiday you can do your work quickly. Anyways keep it up and keep continue.
when holidays comes the thing which comes to everybody’s mind is shopping only….
.-= Triangle electricians´s last blog ..Want a Hot Tub? You’ll need the Power! =-.
Great to see other peoples responses on here since my last comment. I hope you all had a good Christmas and wish you a prosperous new year!
Mike
.-= Sharon@Mobile Recycling´s last blog ..Top Mobile Phone Recycling Sites =-.
i always hate to shop at last time since at that time we don’t get the things to which we are looking for and its just because that we are in hurry so we try to satisfied our self with less satisfied things. nice post keep it up
Hi,
Holiday shopping is a great and most exciting thing and we also enjoyed it. I think shopping depends on the need and the budget so if you are having the both the things then it can be a great thing. Now a days online shopping is getting very popular. Anyways keep continue with your valuable thoughts.
.-= Stela@louis vuitton replica handbags´s last blog ..A birthday isn’t a birthday without happy e-cards =-.
I don’t really into shop for holiday. By the way, last minute shopping is not my ‘thang’. Hope I contribute something here
.-= Aaron@Small Business Ideas´s last blog ..The Effects of Collaboration on Home Based Business =-.
Hey, I stumbled on this website a few weeks ago and must say that Im very impressed with the information you’re providing. I read all the articles on this website. Keep up the good work and good luck!
I have no more time for shopping this year upcoming time will be very busy for me. I have already planned my schedule for this year.
Christmas can get a little stressful in the lead up with all the shopping to be done, sometimes it almost takes the fun out of the season! Well, almost, but not quite. I guess only if you leave it last minute like me.
And now we have the next big gift season on our doorstep -Valentines Day! Not quite so bad as you’re only preparing for one person, but you have to get everything so right
Great post! You should do some similar analysis of the other holidays, it would be very interesting.
.-= Rachael@Valentine Gifts For Him´s last blog ..About =-.
It’s a very interesting sites about Holiday shopping. I have no more for shopping.
nice blog,I like it.thank you admin.
Hi, thank for this informative blog. I find this very useful. But when it comes to shopping i let my wife do the job. Thanks for sharing this post.
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