Last Order Dates For Online Retailers

MSE_Martin · 8 December 2006 at 6:58PM

There’s still time to beat the rush!

Christmas will soon be upon us, yet there’s still time to pick up bargains online and avoid a reckless High Street dash on Christmas Eve.

Most online retailers will still deliver in time for Christmas as long as you order about a week in advance, though dates vary. To help, I’ve compiled a list of the last online order dates for pre-Xmas delivery for the major online retailers. If you know of any more last order dates, please post them below.

But remember you must be in.

Sounds obvious, but bear in mind you have to be in when your stuff’s delivered. If it turns up on Saturday 23 when you’ve nipped out to get some more brussel sprouts, little Johnny will have to wait for his prezzie.

Use shopbots to get the cheapest online deals.

Regular MoneySavers know never to go straight to one online retailer for books, games, CDs or anything. In the same amount of time it takes to go to an individual site, a shopbot (shopping robot) will scour the web and tell you where to find the cheapest. The three big ones to try are Kelkoo*, Pricerunner* and Shopping.com* For a full how to read Shopbots and Best Cashback Sites

Last order dates.

Apple Store. 17 Dec.
Amazon*. First class 20 Dec, Express 22 Dec.
Ann Summers*. 21 Dec 2pm.
Argos*. 20 Dec standard; 21 Dec next day
Asda*. 18 Dec (in-stock only).
Avon. 17 Dec.
Boots*. 18 Dec standard; 19 Dec named delivery; 21 Dec saturday & next day delivery.
Currys*. 19 Dec.
CD Wow. 17 Dec.
Comet*. 19 Dec.
Dixons. 12pm 18th Dec.
Debenhams. 18 Dec midday
Empiredirect*. 21 Dec midday
Ebuyer*. 15 Dec supersaver, up to 22 Dec next day.
Fragrance Direct*. 18 Dec; Next day delivery 21 Dec.
Firebox. 20 Dec 3pm standard; 21 Dec 3pm express.
Figleaves*. 12pm 22 Dec.
Foxy.co.uk. 15 Dec.
Game*. 19 Dec standard; 21 Dec express
Gamestation. 18 Dec.
HMV. 12pm 20 Dec.
Iwantoneofthose.com*. 21 Dec.
Play*. 18 Dec.
John Lewis*. 20 Dec.
Knickerbox. 21 Dec 2pm.
La Senza. 12pm 19 Dec.
Majestic*. 13 Dec.
M and M Direct. 12pm 20 Dec.
M&S. 17 Dec 11pm
Next. 18 Dec.
Oddbins*. 15 Dec.
PC World*. 18 Dec; In store pick up 3pm. Christmas eve
Pixmania. 20 Dec.
Robert Dyas. 17 Dec.
Tesco Direct*. Small items 20 Dec; Large electricals (washing machines, large screen TVs ect) 19 Dec; Furniture 12 Dec.
Topshop. 20 Dec.
Thorntons. 21 Dec.
Virgin Wines. 19 Dec.
Warehouse. 18 Dec.
WHSmith. 18 Dec.
Woolworths. Midnight 16 Dec.

Late Xmas deliveries: your rights.

If goods bought for Xmas don't arrive in time, you've some protection. If you specified that an item must be delivered pre-Christmas when you bought it, then the retailer has breached its contract so you’ve a right to your money back and could even take them to the small claims court.

Yet for this to work, you would have to ‘specify’ that the item was for pre-Christmas delivery as part of the contract. Obviously when you buy online, you usually just fill out a form so this rule isn’t much help.

However, you can still get your money back. Under the Distance Selling Regulations you’ve seven working days to cancel after receiving the goods, whatever time of year you buy. Unlike buying in a shop this means you can return them even if there's no if there’s no fault. As long as you send them back within seven days of receipt you can get a refund. There’s a full explanation in the Consumer Rights article.

Related articles:
Internet Shopping: Cutting Edge Time & Money Saving Techniques
Consumer rights: how to make 'em play fair

* Using these links helps the site stay ad-free and free to use, as they’re ‘affiliated links’ which invisibly take you via commercial price comparison services like Moneysupermarket or Find, which then pay this site per click

You shouldn’t notice any difference, the links don’t impact the product at all and the editorial line (the things I write) is NEVER impacted by the revenue. If it isn’t possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, it is still recommended and still included. Click on the following link for more details on how this site’s financed.

southernscouser · 12 December 2006 at 9:52PM

Martin, I didn't realise Ann Summers was one of your more popular shopping establishments?

I wonder if you bought my present there! :eek:

johnydeath · 13 December 2006 at 9:27PM

Just spent 2 hours doing an M&S order, paid extra for the el rapido delivery, it took 2 hours to get the confirmation through, to find that the order was 50% out of stock, and they couldn't deliver before Xmas.

Just whats going on M&S?

Browntoa · 14 December 2006 at 3:31PM

I've a list here in this thread

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=324700

some the same but some others on there if the Mods want to Merge ??

JDPower · 17 December 2006 at 7:57PM

Just giving this thread a bump, its been invaluable this weekend (for the links to retailers as much as the dates, useful for ideas)

Louisa_2 · 20 December 2006 at 4:24PM

back to the top

just spent ages looking for it so someone else might be too

lydia_dustbin · 22 December 2006 at 4:21PM

Just to let you know you can order right up to the very last minute on amazon if you buy an email gift certificate.

Last Order Dates For Online Retailers

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