Free Shipping Day 2016 is Friday, Dec 16 and nearly 1,000 retailers will offer free shipping on almost everything on their website.
It is a great time to make those last minute holiday gift purchases, because in most cases you can still receive the item by Christmas, assuming it is in stock and ready to ship.
By Monday, you will have to pay more -- in many cases a lot more — because you will have to pay for expedited shipping. That could mean paying $25 to ship a small electronic item or even clothing.
You can see all the retailers participating at FreeShippingDay.com.
Don't expect Black Friday deals
However, don't expect Black Friday or even Cyber Monday-type deals on Free Shipping Day.
As I explained in this previous report, most stores cannot afford to give both free shipping and huge markdowns at the same time. So forget about a 60-inch 4K TV for $300 with free shipping.
In addition, Amazondoes not participate, because Prime members always get free shipping on many items. However, Amazon will offer special deals as part of its countdown to Christmas.
But that doesn't mean there won't be any good sales.
Our friends atFatWallet.com say if Free Shipping Day only offered free shipping on list prices, it would be a bust, and wouldn't have survived this long.
So it is a great day for those last minute online purchases without shipping fees.
All sales not created equal
FatWallet says free shipping offers are not all created equal. So after analyzing hundreds of offers, it has put together theFatWallet Free Shipping Deals guide.
Note that while many deals have no minimum purchase, some do require you to spend $25 or $50 to qualify.
Among the best deals FatWallet found:
Top 25 with Free Shipping No Minimum (plus other discounts):
- Target +$10 off $50 and $25 off $100
- Best Buy + free gift cards with hundreds of purchases
- Microsoft Store + $100 gift card with purchase of HTC Vive or Oculus Rift
- HP + up to 50% off
- Under Armour + up to 25% off
- Office Depot/Office Max + up to 60% off
- JBL by Harmon + up to 75% off speakers and headphones
- Eddie Bauer + up to 50% off
- Blue Nile + up to 25% off
- Nordstrom + free returns
- Overstock +up to 70% off
- Crutchfield +up to $1700 off 4K TVs
- Buydig +free returns for 45 days
- Neiman Marcus +free returns
- Samsung +up to 40% off
- Toys R Us +30% off Hasbro
- Bass Pro Shops +$10 promo card on orders of $75 or more
- Ralph Lauren + up to 40% off
- Puma + extra 20% off
- Saks Fifth Avenue + up to 60% off
- American Eagle +40% off Holiday Collection items
- UGG +up to 50% off
- Petco +up to 60% off
- Famous Footwear +15% off
- ASUS +up to 40% off
Top 25 with Free Shipping plus Minimum Purchase (plus other discounts):
- eBay - thousands of items ship for free
- PetSmart - free shipping on most orders +$20 off $100
- Lenovo - free shipping on most orders + 50% off select laptops
- Walmart - free shipping on orders $50 or more
- Macy’s - free shipping on orders $49 or more + extra 20% off
- Kohl’s - free shipping on orders $50 or more + 30% off
- JCPenney - free shipping on orders $49 or more +$10 off $25
- Lands End - free shipping on orders $50 or more +50% off one item
- Lowe’s - free shipping on orders $49 or more + up to 40% off selected tools
- Amazon - free shipping on orders $49 or more for non-Prime shoppers
- Staples - free shipping on orders $49.99 or more
- Sears - free shipping on orders $49 or more +up to 20% off
- jet.com free shipping on orders $35 or more +15% off first order
- Groupon - free shipping on most orders +10% off
- Cabala's - free shipping on orders $49 or more +up to 75% off
- ThinkGeek free shipping on orders $25 or more
- Adorama - free shipping on orders $50 or more
- Rakuten - free shipping on orders thousands of items
- Old Navy - free shipping on orders $50 or more +up to 60% off
- Nike - free shipping on orders $150 or more, $8 shipping under $150
- Banana Republic - free shipping on orders $50 or more +40% off
- GameStop - free shipping on orders $35 or more +up to 75% off
- Bed Bath & Beyond - free shipping on orders $29 or more
- Disney Store - free shipping on orders $75 or more + up to 50% off
- Levi’s - free shipping on orders $100 or more +30% off
- GAP - free shipping on orders $50 or more +40% off
For more daily markdowns between now and Christmas, visit our Don't Waste Your Money 12 Days of Deals page.
That way you don't waste your money.
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“Don't Waste Your Money” is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. (“Scripps”). The information included in this article was obtained independently by Scripps reporters. While purchases from links inserted in this article may result in a commission for Scripps, no Scripps reporter benefited from that commission.
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More than 1,000 companies participating in Free Shipping Day