For last-minute shoppers, it's all about shipping

ByABC News
December 17, 2007, 7:04 AM

— -- Folks still fret over how many shopping days are left until Christmas. But Net-savvy shoppers worry about something else: How many shipping days?

After Monday, there are seven shopping days until Christmas, but the number of shipping days varies depending on who's doing the shipping and how much consumers are willing to spend.

"Consumers continue to buy online later and later," says Lauren Freedman, president of The E-tailing Group, an online retail consultancy. "So merchants keep extending their deadlines to get as much of the pie as possible."

A holiday shipping update:

UPS. The company's busiest day will be Wednesday, when it expects to ship 22 million packages, says Rosenberg. Its 2007 ground fuel surcharge is 3.5% and air fuel surcharge is 11.5%.

USPS. Monday is the last day to send domestic mail for arrival before Christmas, says Veto. Express Mail sent by Saturday comes with a guarantee for arrival by Christmas. Express Mail is delivered on Christmas Day, she notes.

ToysRUs.com. The site on Monday extends free shipping through Tuesday for purchases over $49, says spokeswoman Kathleen Waugh.