Ways to cut the cost of shipping

Americans are expected to spend almost $475 billion this holiday season. And that doesn’t include the costs of sending gifts to relatives or paying a premium so they arrive in time for your own family. Here are four suggestions to trim shipping expenses.

Get ahead of the rush. Nearly a quarter of shoppers surveyed in 2006 said they waited until the last minute. But you’ll save big on shipping if you mail early. For the biggest savings at the post office, mail by Dec. 15—the deadline for items sent by Parcel Post to be delivered in time for Christmas. The deadline extends to Dec. 20 for First Class, Dec. 20 for Priority, and Dec. 22 for Express Mail. But those extra days come at a cost. A 10-pound package sent from New York to California runs about $45 if mailed Express vs. $16 for Parcel Post. A Priority Mail Flat Rate Box is a great value: For $8.95 you can send a package anywhere in the U.S. as long as it fits within one of two designated boxes and weighs no more than 70 pounds. FedEx Ground will deliver packages by Dec. 25 if shipped by Dec. 17, and the deadline for FedEx Express is Dec. 19. But those extra two days will add $25 to the cost of shipping a 10-pound package. 

Consider in-store pickup. Shoppers can avoid shipping costs with retailers who offer local in-store pickup for online orders. Wal-Mart says its Site to Store program has saved customers $10 million in shipping costs since the program was launched this spring. Site-to-store orders arrive 7 to 10 days after order processing, which can take 48 hours by itself. Other retailers that offer in-store pickup include Best Buy, Circuit City, and Sears. Merchandise is often available the same day, but you may have to travel to a particular store to get it.

Look online for coupons. Free shipping may be just an Internet search away. We entered "shipping coupon" into Google and found offers for free shipping at Target, JCPenney, Timberland, and the Gap. Popular coupon Web sites are Judy’s Book and Shopping Bargains.

Watch for promotions. L.L.Bean is offering free shipping on all holiday orders this year. And some online retailers will ship orders of a certain size for free. Amazon.com, for instance, ships qualifying orders of more than $25 for free, though delivery takes an additional 3 to 5 business days. —Gregory Brown