Wal-Mart Expanding Delivery Options for Last-Minute Shoppers

With less than two weeks until Christmas, Wal-Mart is looking to be the go-to shopping destination for both in-store and online procrastinators. The big-box retailer is offering free in-store pickup of online orders placed by 6 p.m. local time on Dec. 23, and has launched a dedicated website for customers to view last-minute gift inventory available at their local store. For online orders, shipping cut-off dates are noon local time on Dec. 20 for standard and Dec. 22 for rush.

Total Retail's Take: Wal-Mart is just one example of retailers vying for those last-minute holiday purchases. Target has expanded its free shipping until Jan. 1, and other retailers like lululemon, Nordstrom, Apple and Under Armour are all offering free shipping with no minimum purchase, according to PwC. Furthermore, it's come to the point that retailers really have no choice but to offer free shipping — seven out of 10 consumers say they will take advantage of free shipping offers this holiday season, according to Deloitte's 2016 Holiday Survey results.