CHRISTMAS is just two weeks away, so last minute shoppers will be looking for gifts to stash under the tree, and stocking up the fridge for the big day.
For those doing the hard bit online though, you may be relying on click and collect services – but they have a cut off, and it’s important to get clued up on final order dates.
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Getting a delivery around Christmas time can be a struggle, as many as 300,000 queued for online slots back in November this year, just to get their turkeys delivered to the house in time.
It’s been made even harder this year with the threats of strike action due to happen at supermarkets around the busiest time too.
Click and collect can often be an easier and cheaper alternative though.
To make sure you don’t miss out, find out exactly what retailers offer the service and when your last chance to place an order is, and still get it in time for Christmas.
In the past stores have ended up cancelling the cut off dates early due to record demand, so it’s worth keeping in mind the decided dates can totally be up to te discretion of the store too.
For now though, here are the key dates for your diary:
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Tesco
Delivery slot demand at Tesco this year was through the roof – one customer found himself 182,200 in line to book his slot.
They’ve all been snapped up now of course, but Tesco says some click and collect slots are still available until December 19 .
But Festive Food to order ends after December 14 so if it’s Christmas grub you’re after you’ll need to be quick.
Asda
At Asda, you can get next day click and collect, which is the cheapest option at only 50p charge, all the way up until December 22.
On Asda’s site it appears that all the slots on December 23 to 26 are “sold out”, but the reality is you just can’t pick up your orders on the dates.
Morrisons
At Morrisons slots begin to dwindle on December 22.
It means from the Thursday before Christmas you won’t be able to click and collect your shopping anymore.
The good news is that the supermarket’s service is completely free of charge, so you won’t have to spend a penny to pick up your groceries.
Sainsburys
Sainsbury’s shoppers can book click and collect slots up to December 20 this year.
That’s the Monday before Christmas.
With Christmas day being on a Saturday this year, it means you’d have to pick up your food shop almost a week before the big day itself.
Waitrose
You can book times to collect the turkey at Waitrose all the way up to December 22.
A number of slots were available on December 23 too, but because of demand these have sold out.
A lucky few were even able to nab slots on Christmas eve, but beyond 1pm the collection slots became unavailable.
John Lewis
At John Lewis you should be able to order all the way up until December 23, so long as it’s before 8pm.
It means the last day you’ll be able to collect any orders would be on Christmas eve, but this will be subject to availability in your local store.
Depending on what it is that you order though, you get the option of picking up your last dash Christmas bits from your closest Waitrose or Co-op instead, if the closest John Lewis store is a further trek.
Marks and Spencer
The last chance you’ll get to click and collect orders from the supermarket that sells posh nosh is Christmas eve.
If it’s clothes you’re buying then you’ve got until 6pm on December 23 to place an order, to pick up for the next day.
Food, including personalised cakes, can be collected all the way up to December 24 too, but you have to get orders in before the December 17 cut off.
Next
To guarantee your Next order arrives in time for Christmas you need place your order before midnight on December 22.
It will then be ready for collection in store on December 23. Orders made after that will have to wait until the shops are open again on Boxing Day.
Argos
At Argos, when something is in stock at an outlet near you, you can order before 1pm and pick it up on the same day after 4pm.
As far as we know that doesn’t change in the lead up to Christmas, but it is stock dependent.
You can’t do this on Christmas Day of course, otherwise you might find you rock up to a closed store while all the staff are at home eating Christmas dinner.
But it means that Christmas eve, or December 24, is the cut off for collections.
Amazon
Amazon is advertising its last minute Christmas deals all the way up to December 23.
That means with next day delivery, which most Prime members will have, you’ll be able to pick up orders at the latest on Christmas eve.
It depends on where you pick up from though.
While Amazon has begun to branch out into its own physical stores, most shoppers will be collecting their orders from affiliate high street providers like the Post Office or Morrisons – so you have to stick to their opening and collection times too.
Mum-of-22 Sue Radford splashes the cash in a toy shop as she prepares to spoil her bumper brood over Christmas
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