Time is running out for online shoppers

Holiday procrastinators, it's not too late to shop online and receive gifts by Christmas, but there's not much time left.

Nearly two-thirds of retailers' shipping deadlines for Christmas delivery will fall on or before this Friday, Dec. 18, with the majority of holiday shipping deadlines occurring on Dec. 18 itself, according to Shop.org's eHoliday study.

Many of the busiest online shopping days of the year are expected to occur this week in an effort to hit the shipping deadlines, experts say.

More and more shoppers are finding hassle-free shopping online to be convenient. Add in free shipping and it's a no brainer for many holiday shoppers.

"Online shoppers don't need to deal with long lines, store hours or winter weather, but they do need to plan ahead," said Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org. "To entice online shoppers on a budget, many retailers will offer special sales and promotions as shipping deadlines near."

Shoppers looking to save money should also keep Dec. 18 in mind, as 18 percent of retailers said that would be the last day their companies would offer a free-shipping promotion for the holidays.

According to the first part of the survey released in October, four out of five online retailers will offer free shipping with conditions at some point during the holiday season, while more than half also plan to offer free shipping without conditions.

This popular promotion is one factor driving shoppers on the Internet, with 33 percent of shoppers planning to do more online shopping this season because of the free shipping, according to the survey.

Those who miss the standard shipping deadlines may still be able to take advantage of expedited shipping offers from some retailers, but at an added cost. According to the survey, about 54 percent of online retailers will offer overnight shipping options for Christmas delivery through Dec. 23.