Sellers Beware as Holiday Shipping Deadlines Approach

[iwiw60]

Sellers Beware as Holiday Shipping Deadlines Approach
By David A. Utter
EcommerceBytes.com
December 12, 2013



Many ecommerce pros have turned to free shipping as an enticement to customers to shop online. That perk has become popular with shoppers and at this point in time it's practically expected by them.

For online sellers, taking best advantage of offering free shipping means sending items in the most economical fashion that will still allow them to meet deadlines and customer expectations. During the holiday shopping season such deadlines are critically important.

Fortunately major package shippers understand this and make available holiday schedules listing the cutoff dates for delivery by Christmas, depending on the service level of the shipment. As we enter the second week of December, deadlines for the most cost effective shipping methods are coming up fast.

The US Postal Service noted its domestic mail cutoff date for Standard Post will be December 14, and the cutoff for First Class Mail service is December 20th. Holiday shipments by Priority Mail should be sent by December 21, while Priority Mail Express has a cutoff of Monday, December 23rd.

FedEx has some flexibility for shippers using Ground or Home Delivery. Both of those services have a cutoff date of December 17. Express Saver shipments should be sent by Dec. 19th to make it on time, while Express 2Day has a cutoff of Dec. 21. All of FedEx's overnight services will need shipments by Dec. 23rd while SameDay delivery service will be available on December 25th.

[darklisruthven]

Very good point.