Amazon Shoppers Gain Extra Christmas Shopping Day
In order to keep a competitive edge, Amazon, the global Internet shopping company and one of the most visited Internet retail destinations worldwide, has announced it will offer customers an extra day of free shipping.
A survey by Big Research for the National Retail Federation reveals that 87 percent of retailers have a standard shipping deadline of Dec. 20. Amazon customers will now be able to order through Dec. 19 and still receive free shipping.
Despite the development of Internet specific shopping days, retailers are still struggling to compete. Cyber Monday was developed in 2005 to mark the Monday after Black Friday, which was intended to persuade shoppers to go online.
The term Green Monday was later developed by E-Bay, which marks the best sales day in December. According to comScore shoppers spent $954 million dollars online in December 2010.
Amazon’s free shipping offer extends to any order over $25. Amazon prime members will get free shipping until Dec. 21.
Many other retailers have also extended their shipping deadlines. According to Shop.org 86 percent of retailers offering free overnight or two-day shipping have extended those offers to Dec. 22.
Best Buy offers free shipping on everything and guarantees orders placed before Dec. 20 will make it by Christmas. Target will also be offering free shipping online with in store returns.
So far, shoppers have spent $24.6 billion in online sales this holiday season, marking a 15 percent increase versus the corresponding days last year, according to comScore.
