TORONTO — With only a week to go before Christmas, online shopping is still an option for those procrastinators who want to avoid crowded shopping malls.
Online shoppers can often research, price match and purchase products and have them delivered to the destination of their choice within a week.
More and more Canadians are turning to their computers and tablets to help check off their holiday gift buying lists.
Last year, during the months of November and December, Canada Post delivered more than 36 million parcels to Canadians.
Canada Post expects this year to hit record levels, and is gearing up by hiring an additional 2,000 temporary employees to help with the holiday rush.
Many online retailers offer exclusive benefits to shopping online.
Best Buy, Hudson’s Bay, Toys “R” Us, Walmart and Amazon are offering online e-gift card options. This allows you to purchase a gift card online and have it emailed directly to someone’s inbox.
Best Buy offers the online reserve and pick up option. This allows you to reserve an item online and pick it up at your nearest Best Buy. You can check inventory by store on any item and within 20 minutes the item is ready for you at the reserve and pick up counter where you just have to pay for it.
Amazon Prime gives you several shipping options if you need to expedite your delivery. You can get same-day shipping on your item if you place your order before noon. It will be delivered by 8 p.m. that same day, with an additional cost of $11.99 per shipment.
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And if you don’t want to ruin a surprise, Canada post offers Flex Delivery service. This allows you to have your parcel delivered directly to a Canada Post office or your work office to avoid revealing a surprise to someone at home.
See the guide below for online shopping policies from some of Toronto’s most popular retailers. All information is based on EXPRESS shipping and Holiday cut off in Toronto.
HUDSON’S BAY
Shipping Time: One business day
Shipping Costs: If your order is less than $50, shipping is $19.95. If your order is between $50.01 to $75 shipping is $21.95. If your order is $75.01 to $98.99 shipping is $23.95, if your order is $100.01 to $150 shipping is $25.95, if your order is $150.01 to $250 shipping is $28.95, if your order is $250.01-$400 shipping is $32.95 and if your order is over $400 shipping is $37.95.
Return policy: During the holidays you have 90 days to return your item for full refund or exchange up until Jan. 16 via online or in store.
BEST BUY
Shipping Time: One business day
Shipping Costs: If your order is $25 or higher, shipping is free. Shipping fees do vary depending on the size and weight of an object, i.e. large appliances would require specialty delivery with an additional fee.
Return policy: During the holidays, any purchase made after Nov. 6 may be returned until Jan. 3 for refund or exchange. You may return your item to any Best Buy store, or you can ship it back to best buy with a small shipping fee. Regular return policy is between 14 to 30 days.
AMAZON
Shipping Time: Seller ships item within two business days. Domestic shipments are expected to arrive within 4 to 10 business days after shipping. However, if you order before Dec. 18, your item will arrive before Christmas.
Shipping Costs: Shipping rates are based on shipping a single item and per product. For domestic shipping of Books, shipping is $7.49, for Music shipping is $6.49, for DVD’s shipping is $6.49 and for video games shipping is $6.49. Shipping rates for all other items are determined by the seller.
Return policy: During the holidays, items shipped by Amazon.ca between Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 may be returned for a full refund or exchange (subject to other return guidelines listed on http://www.amazon.ca) until Jan. 31. Items shipped from other sellers are subject to this same holiday return policy unless otherwise stated in the sellers return policy.
WALMART
Shipping Time: One to three business days plus processing days which could be another 48 hours.
Shipping Costs: To get your item shipped express, the fee is an additional $6.97 on top of the original shipping costs. If your order is under $50, shipping is $11.94. If your order is over $50, shipping is $6.97. If you select to ship your products to a Canada post or Walmart store for pick up, shipping is also $6.97.
Return policy: Returns vary per product. Generally, refunds and returns take place within 14 to 30 days of purchase. You can return your online order back to Walmart.ca for free with a shipping label that Walmart Sends out to customers or you may return your product to any Walmart store.
TOYS “R” US
Shipping Time Frame: One to two business days. However, given the volume of orders during the end of December, visit the website to find out your cut off date in order to ensure your purchase arrives before Dec. 24.
Shipping Costs: If your order is less than $49, shipping is between $9 to $10. If your order is over $49 shipping is free.
Return policy: Your online order may be returned within 45 days of purchase for a refund or exchange. You can return your online order back ToysRUs.ca for free with a shipping label that Toys R Us Sends out to customers, or you may return your product to any Toys R Us.
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