One of the reasons for such stress is the mad rush to get presents bought and wrapped in time - I am still not finished and it's giving me a headache... Every year I say I won't do it again, but I always leave gift buying (apart from the kids presents) to the last minute and am left in a flustered, panic-buying mess!
These days the internet is a big help when it comes to gift buying, but it can be a minefield too as there are no guarantees you'll actually receive your gift in time for the big day - unless you've ordered well in advance of course (which I never do...)
Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t beat the rush even if it seems all hope is lost. Here are the tricks of the trade to keep in mind.
Hire A Separate Courier
Most shoppers think they have to pay for delivery but that isn’t the case. As it happens, you can arrange for a separate company like Shiply to pick up and deliver your package, and it’s a really useful option at this time of year when retailers are at breaking point.
What’s the difference? Why can couriers handle the demand when some well known stores can’t? Well, there are plenty of reasons, but the main one is that they are professionals. Retailers only have a limited knowledge of the industry and that is why they don’t deliver on their promises at Christmas - no pun intended!
Use Next Day Delivery
It sounds like the most obvious tip in the world, but it’s amazing how many people opt for standard delivery instead of getting their purchase to them quicker. Let’s face it, everyone wants to save the pennies where possible, plus, a week before Christmas Day seems like plenty of time to receive a parcel.
However, standard delivery shoppers get pushed to the back of the queue and that puts the delivery timetable in jeopardy. At least with next day delivery, it is certain that shops will try to get your package out as soon as possible and thankfully, in most cases, it's usually only a small bit extra than standard.
Deliver To Store
Just because the retailer won’t deliver to your home doesn’t mean that is the end of the line. Usually, they will be happy to move it from one store to another so that it is easier for you to collect. After all, they want the sale and it hardly costs much considering they have the infrastructure in place already.
If the option isn’t available online don’t be afraid to give them a call and speak to the store directly. The cost may be a bit more, but it’s worth it for the perfect gift.
Hit The High Street
The final and the often overlooked option is to head to the store and buy it over the counter. In this digital age, people tend to go online first rather than jump in the car and drive to the shops. However, that is dangerous at this time of year because anything can go wrong with the delivery.
Sure, shopping in the likes of Primark at Christmas time is like going into a war zone (I should know, I'm in there enough!) and no one likes trying to shop in throngs of people, but it'll (hopefully!) just be a one-off visit for you before Christmas, so it should be bearable enough.. At least then you’ll have the present in your hand and nothing can go wrong.
Hopefully these tips will come in handy if you still have some last-minute Christmas shopping to do.
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