Don't miss these 2012 shipping deadlines

Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, is Free Shipping Day, the date when more than 1,3000 online retailers will ship your holiday gifts for free.

It's also the last day, at some stores, that you can order knowing that your gift will arrive by Christmas Eve.

So you may want to know about an important list of the last safe days to order a gift, according to the website Free Shipping Day.com.

After This Date, You Pay More

These are deadlines for free or standard shipping.  After this, you will have to pay extra, and sometimes a lot extra, for expedited shipping to get it there by Christmas.

Last dates for free or discount standard shipping:

    Target: Friday, Dec. 15

    LL Bean:  Saturday, Dec. 16.

    Amazon: Tuesday, Dec. 18.

    Toys R Us:  Wednesday, Dec. 19.

    Pottery Barn:  Wednesday, Dec. 19.

    Apple: Thursday, Dec. 20.

    Best Buy: Thursday, Dec. 20.

UPS also sets Dec. 19 as the last date for low-priced ground shipping. 

At the Post Office, the deadline Thursday Dec. 20 for its cheapest Priority Mail service.

After those dates, you will need to choose pricier two to three day or, ultimately, overnight shipping.

So as a good rule of thumb, ship your gifts before Dec. 20, 2012, so you don't waste your money.
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