Retailers push the limit in shipping cut-off dates, says BizRate survey

Retailers are pushing online shopping almost to the limit when it comes to deadlines for standard shipping, says a poll of e-retailers by BizRate Research, conducted for the trade group Shop.org.

39% of 76 polled online retailers report they will guarantee standard shipping orders placed by Dec. 18 or 19 will be delivered by Christmas Day. That proportion is double the 19% who last year promised delivery by Christmas for orders placed on those dates. 32% of retailers’ standard shipping deadlines are Dec. 15, 16, or 17 and 23% are Dec. 14. Only 6% are really pushing it and promising standard delivery for orders Dec. 20 or later.

BizRate points out that the cut-off dates are even more aggressive than appears because with Christmas on a Monday, there is one less business day for delivery day than there was last year.