A Christmas Present for Procrastinators: Bargains

Dec. 22, 2009— -- 'Twas the third-to-last shopping day before Christmas and all through the country – last minute shoppers were scrambling.

So too were major retailers, rolling out discounts as the holiday shopping season enters the home stretch.

And while bargains were not being parceled out as aggressively as they were last season, when the economic downturn was approaching its low point, there's still plenty of marked down merchandise to be found, if you know where to look.

"As of last week, surveys showed the average shopper had only completed less than half of their shopping," said Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman for the Washington, D.C.-based National Retail Federation. "Combine that with bad weather in the Northeast this weekend, and you do get the sense that a real push is on to let people know about all of the great deals still to be had out there."

E-mail alerts and media releases were flying Monday like reindeers named Comet. Stores tried to let procrastinators know that while time may not be on their side, special offers were.

Some examples:

"Membership has its privileges," said the busy-but-cheerful manager of a bustling Manhattan Barnes & Noble (who asked that her name not be used). "I just had a customer who used the 15 percent off coupon on a cookbook that was already marked down 50 percent. So what would have been $30 she got for almost $10."

Eric Levine, a consumer retail analyst for New Haven, Connecticut-based ResearchEdge, said many retailers are extending offers for free or nominally-priced two-day shipping at least another day or so, in some cases to make up for business lost over the weekend because of wintry weather. "Whether it's the weather, slower than anticipated demand, or just part of the online strategy, online-only and traditional retailers are upping the ante on free overnight and two day shipping in an effort to maximize the final day before the holiday shipping window is finally closed," he said.

Retailers that have extended free shipping for online purchases include Bloomingdales and Barnes & Noble.