Very last-minute Christmas shipping deadlines for tech shoppers; Apple offers free next-day shipping

Apple is one of the only online retailers left to offer free next-day shipping during the holiday season.

Still haven’t finished shopping this holiday season? Well, luckily for you, most online retailers are catering to slackers looking to spend an extra buck on gifts.

Those who are down to the wire can still get their gadgets delivered before Dec. 25, and 9to5Mac has put together a list of popular places to order these tech toys before it is too late.

First, and foremost, is Apple. The 2 to 3 day shipping option passed yesterday, but the technology giant is now offering free next-day shipping on all products across the board. The cutoff date is Dec. 21, but iPods and iPads can no longer be engraved, nor can a Mac be customized. The Apple TV is also available for complimentary next-day shipping.

Best Buy is second on the list. Standard shopping ended today at 11 a.m. However, expedited delivery is available until tomorrow at 11 a.m. Express delivery is guaranteed until Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. Both services cost additional, but after that, customers will need to rely on free store pickup.  You can always buy online then pick up in store…

Target’s seasonal shipping ends tonight at 8:59 p.m., but it  is offering free shipping when customers spend $50 combined on eligible items across all categories. Walmart’s standard shipping also ends tonight; however, it allows rush shipping until Dec. 21. Store pickup is available at Walmart on Dec. 23.

Barnes and Noble ended their free member express shipping last night, but customers have until tonight to order with expedited shipping at an additional cost. The only product available for guaranteed Christmas delivery after Dec. 20 is the Nook, as long as it purchased online by Dec. 22.

Amazon is offering two-day shipping today and tomorrow at an extra cost, otherwise customers will have to do one-day shipping Dec. 22 at an even higher price. However, the online retailer is allowing last-minute Christmas Delivery on Dec. 23 and Dec. 24 for Amazon Prime members with a $9.99 fee.

MacMall offers a selection of discounted items under its Get it Overnight Sale. In addition, orders over $299 qualify for free overnight shipping. That’s one the largest sales seen from MacMall in recent months, but many of their items are available for lower prices elsewhere. MacMall’s shipping deals end Dec. 22 at 9 p.m.

In other words, free and guaranteed shipping -without restrictions- for last minute shopping is only offered through Apple. Target and MacMall offer a complimentary shipping service under a few hefty spending conditions. Thus, at this point, most shoppers can only purchase their tech gifts online at an inflated express cost.

Apple may be a stickler at discounting their products, but the company sure knows how to find the silver lining when it comes to customer satisfaction during the holiday season.