Savvy Holiday Shopping

Christmas stockings and dresser drawers might start to feel a little lonely. Those plastic gift cards we buy as presents could finally be headed to the land of the lost.

Digital gift cards have been bubbling under the chart for a while, but things are now starting to take off. The global digital gift card market is forecast to rake in $724.3 billion by 2028, growing 14.2% a year – pinning much of its hopes on the younger generation who’s all-in on digital.

One of the newest players in the game is Hallmark. Its angle comes in a partnership with Venmo. As such, it isn’t a “gift” in the sense that the recipient will get a gift card from a specific retailer, but rather a way of sending money through a scannable Venmo barcode printed inside a physical Hallmark card.

Hallmark mails that card to an address or the buyer can pick it up at a Hallmark store. With Venmo’s legion of younger consumers, this could give Hallmark an opportunity to gain a new demographic of shoppers it might not have otherwise.

Prezzee – another e-digital card player – has well over 100 brands in its partnership portfolio. Its angle is that it gives consumers a choice of purchasing a “Prezzee Plus” card with a “suggested” retailer – say, Applebees – but the Plus card allows the recipient to change that suggestion to another company like Delta Airlines.

The pluses of digital gift cards

As ConsumerAffairs found out in speaking to retail experts, digital gift cards are a good thing in one way – but could be fraught with problems in another. 

On the good side of the ledger, nearly 50% of all Americans leave about $21 billion a year on unused or lost gift cards. 

“Electronic gift cards offer convenience—they're instantly delivered and easy to send, and there's minimal risk of physical loss or damage,” retail expert Linda Johansen-James, publisher and founder at International Retail Group, told ConsumerAffairs.

“What's more, they're highly accessible, being mobile-friendly. For retailers, they provide a streamlined way to track redemptions, gathering valuable data for marketing, inventory management, and understanding customer behavior."

But, oh, the scams that await

The wait-and-see and possibly bad side is that we could see a spike in phishing scams -- a problem plastic gift cards already carry. 

Dawson Gant, vice president of Store Partnerships at Ecom Authority, gave this example: “If a predator knows a certain demographic is receiving digital gift cards, they could potentially exploit that with fake gift card redemption emails, etc.,” another impersonation trick that Johansen-James said scammers are likely to add to their toolbox.

In those cases, she advises anyone who gets an email from “someone” who says they’re a “friend,” to triple-check the sender's email address before you click on anything. “If you're familiar with the sender, you might even consider giving them a call to confirm their identity.”

Ally Armeson at the Cybercrime Support Network -- the company that recently alerted ConsumerAffairs to the large in-store gift card scam rings -- told us that another angle digital gift card scammers will try is creating fake gift card balance checking websites in hopes that you will land on these fraudulent sites instead of a real site.

"When you enter the gift card number and PIN into the fake website, the scammer takes that information and drains the value of the gift cards," she said.

Want another? "Scammers can also sell unsuspecting consumers completely fake physical or digital gift cards that have no value -- so it's important to make sure you purchase gift cards from official sellers and official websites," she added.

We might miss the touchy, feely aspect

This physical-to-digital conversion may be hard for some to give in to, however. 

Ray Sheehan, founder at Old City Media, who drops a ton of money in gift cards for his clients, thinks that “digital” sort of takes the “gift” out of “gift card.”

“Why? When you think about the gift card. You need to boil it down to its core purpose,” he said. “You are giving them a gift. The gift card is a much more tangible item.” 

If you’re hoping for a good Labor Day holiday, you can uncross your fingers when it comes to shopping deals because those will be in full swing.

ConsumerAffairs has checked in at the online and in-store retail level and at grocery stores looking for bargains and here’s what we found. Spoiler alert: One shopping expert says the better deals may happen before the weekend ever makes landfall.

Labor Day bargains

The good folks at RetailMeNot say that there are some heavy hitters already lined up for shopping deals this weekend. In their way of thinking, the best ONLINE sales and deals include:

Wayfair: Up to 70% Off Labor Day Clearance Sale

Amazon: Up to 60% off of Amazon's top deals of the day 

Cabela's: Up to 40% off each order. 

LEGO: Online cash back

Macy's: Up to 65% off furniture, mattresses, rugs 

Rack Room Shoes: $15 Off $99 with promo code “DEAL15”

Columbia Sportswear: 25% off sitewide

Walmart: Up to 50% off

As far as in-store deals, it likes what it sees fromForever 21, Office Depot, and J. Crew Factory. 

BlackFriday.com’s researchers have uncovered some deals of their own, including:

• Mattress sales
• Home decor and furniture sales from Ashley, IKEA, Crate & Barrel, and others
• Tech deals like Dell’s up to 50% off your purchase of a laptop or desktop computer. Samsung is focusing on big ticket items like appliances and TVs, but shoppers can also take advantage of trade-in credit deals on Samsung electronics (smartphones, smartwatches, earbuds). Example: up to $750 instant credit when you purchase the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Insider tips

Vipin Porwal, CEO and consumer savings expert at Smarty, a popular cash back portal, says that the smartest shoppers will actually hit the stores before the actual Labor Day weekend with add-on savings courtesy of promo codes and cashback rewards.

 “Those in the market to upgrade their sports and outdoor items will want to hit pre-Labor Day sales early as the most popular brands and options hitting summer clearance will sell out quickly, including summer active apparel, swimwear and outdoor sporting gear and equipment,” he told ConsumerAffairs.

He cautions that there are things you should resist buying this weekend. “Those looking for colder weather clothing should hold off for just a bit when the fall fashion sales kick in in late September and October, especially when shopping for jeans, jackets, boots and denim when bigger savings and selection are promoted more heavily.”

Your kid buggin’ you about a phone?

Before we move on from the sales deals, one last one: phone plans. If you have bought everything on your student’s must-have list for back to school but are holding out on a phone plan, you’re not alone.

After fielding a study about tech “musts” and how parents are dealing with the situation, Cricket Wireless found a hole it could fill and save budget-minded parents some money.

The company is launching three new online-only, multi-month unlimited plans that it says will save customers up to $300 a year or $30/per month on a single line when – and this is important – they pay in advance.

Here’s quick snapshot of what Cricket is offering:

• Three months of unlimited voice and data when customers pay $120 in advance, giving them a total of $45 in savings.

• Six months of unlimited voice and data when customers pay $210 in advance, giving them a total of $120 in savings.

• 12 Months of unlimited voice and data when customers pay $360 in advance, giving them a total of $300 in savings.

Not wanting to be left behind, MintMobile has gone deal crazy, too. It has plans ranging from 25% off to 50% off with the capper being its unlimited Talk & Text plan -- nationwide coverage, 40GB of 5G and 4G LTE Data, free calls to Mexico and Canada, 10GB Mobile Hotspot, WiFi Calling & Text. But like Cricket, you have to buy the deal in advance – $45 for 3 months of service. After that, though, the prices go up depending on what length of service you can commit to and prepay for.

Grilling out? You’ll save some money there, too

Labor Day weekend is usually the last big grilling day of the year – something not lost on meat producers, for sure. The latest Urner Barry Retail Rundown says that grocery shoppers should be aware of what’s going on with these meat essentials:

Beef: Choice cutouts are currently down about 6.5% from their summer peak but are nearly 16% above a year ago. Ground beef has been averaging around $5.72 discounted, a 5.9% year-over-year increase. Tenderloin last checked in at $19.17 per pound, $1.80 higher than the same week in 2022. 

Pork: “Meanwhile, wholesale pork prices trended well below year-ago levels throughout 2023 so far and have also drifted lower since the year-to-date high hit in mid-July,” said Urner Barry’s Courtney Shum. Shum says grocers have gotten aggressive with pork prices, so brats and chops are looking like a better bank for the BBQ buck than beef products are. 

For example, center-cut pork loin averaged 10 cents per pound lower than a year ago; shoulder roasts were at $2.08 per pound last week, slightly below Labor Day weekend in 2022; and fresh bacon averaged $5.91 discounted, down 11.9% from last year.

Chicken: What’s coming out of the hen house is a mixed bag, however. Because we’re headed into football season, wing prices are up because demand is up, but fresh chicken breasts are about 50 cents per pound lower than a year ago, and legs and thighs should be found for under $3 a pound.

Seafood: Shum didn’t offer any price points but did say that seafood continues to dominate ad space with 27.5% of total retail buying opportunities, so you should expect some good deals there, too.

Following in the most recent footsteps of Bed Bath & Beyond and David’s Bridal, Christmas Tree Shops is officially on the chopping block. 

The discount retailer announced it will liquidate all of its 72 brick-and-mortar retail stores after defaulting on its $45 million bankruptcy loan. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy back in May, and will now be forced to liquidate its inventory in the coming weeks if it doesn't get an investor fast. 

According to the company, the decision to file for bankruptcy was strictly a financial one, and executives had faith in their efforts to move forward and regain strength. 

“After careful consideration, we determined that availing ourselves of the Chapter 11 process was the best way to address our burdensome liabilities,” said Marc Salkovitz, chairman of Christmas Tree Shops, in the official bankruptcy filing. “This is strictly a financial restructuring. Our operations are sound. 

“By increasing our financial flexibility, we will be able to focus on continuing to delight our loyal customers with a wide selection of unique goods at affordable prices. We continue to believe that given its storied history and strong customer loyalty, Christmas Tree Shops has tremendous potential, and we remain committed to the long-term success of the business. 

Stores could be closing soon

Shoppers can expect to see liquidation sales at their local Christmas Tree Shops starting as soon as July 7. The goal for the company is to get as many stores emptied, with all goods sold, by the end of August. 

This timeline could mean that many stores could be closed within just a few weeks. The company is headquartered in Massachusetts, with the large majority of retail locations in the Northeast, and there is already an order of store closures throughout the state. 

Store closures have started in the last few months, with nearly a dozen stores closing across the country, including in Georgia, Florida, Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

The company’s plan was to close 10 of the stores that were underperforming the most at the time of filing for bankruptcy in an effort to gain some ground; however, that didn’t go as expected. 

For consumers in need of anything from linens to home goods, holiday decorations or bathroom essentials, the Christmas Tree Shops liquidation sales are expected to offer steep discounts. 

For years, consumers have had all the freedom they want to return items back to a retailer, but that’s changing quickly. And it’s a complete about-face, too.

Just a year ago, some retailers were all “nah, don’t worry” about returns, but by the 2022 holidays, things started to change direction. Now, the gloves are really coming off and more than 60% of retailers are dramatically changing their policies, some eliminating returns completely.

This week, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that nonreturnable items are becoming the standard. The report gave the example of Poshmark, the secondhand clothing seller, which has witnessed a  61% increase in items marked “new with tags” and featuring the words “final sale” in an item’s description.

That use of “final sale” is as definitive as it can get for a shopper, too. If an item doesn’t fit, sorry, but you bought it and you’ll keep it.

We did this to ourselves

It doesn’t matter whether consumers made bad buying decisions or abused the privilege, though. It’s the retailers who are in the driver’s seat and for the last two years, they’ve been beset with 16.5% of the items they sold being returned – double what it was in pre-pandemic 2019. 

Either way, PracticalAdvice’s Marcia Kaplan suggests that we – the consumers – did it to ourselves. 

“Larger companies track ‘serial returners’ and ban returns from them, but smaller merchants do not typically have the software or personnel,” she said.

One of the lines we crossed is the habit of “bracketing” – the play where a consumer buys multiple sizes or colors expecting to return what they don’t like. It may seem like a fair angle to work for the shopper, but it’s still a return and the returns are throwing up roadblocks there, too.

Who’s charging what for returns?

The next time you go shopping, you should take extra caution in asking what the store’s current returns policy is before you plop down your credit card for those five dresses – four of which you’ll probably return.

Returns specialist goTRG says that 60% of merchants across the U.S. have changed their returns policies. Some have done away with free returns and some are charging additional shipping or restocking fees.

ConsumerAffairs compiled a current list of how many major retailers are handling returns and here’s what we found. Note: There may be variations on what's purchased online vs. in-store so it would be wise to ask before making any purchase that you think you might return.

• Abercrombie: $7 deducted from refund
• American Eagle Outfitters: $5 deducted from refund
• Anthropologie: $5.95
• Big Lots: 20% of purchase price processing fee
• Dillard's: $9 deducted from refund
• DSW: $8.50 deducted from refund (free for Gold and Elite Rewards members)
• Eddie Bauer: $7 deducted from refund
• Foot Locker deducts $6.99 from refunds on all returns made by mail.
• J.C. Penney deducts $8 from all refunds on returned online purchases made by mail.
• J.Crew deducts $7.50 from the refund for shipped returns.
• Kohl’s requires customers to pay for all shipping for returns.
• L.L.Bean charges $6.50 for returns and exchanges through U.S. mail unless the customer used an L.L.Bean Mastercard for the purchase.
• Lands’ End deducts $6.95 from the refund credit.
• Neiman Marcus: $9.95 deducted from refund (free if you return within 15 days and it’s not clearance)
• Pacsun deducts $7 from the refund.
• REI deducts $5.99 from refunds for packages of standard size and weight.
• Saks Fifth Avenue: $9.95 deducted from refund
• Shoe Carnival deducts $6 from all refunds on online returns sent by mail.
• T.J.Maxx: $10.99 deducted from refund
• Urban Outfitters deducts $5 from all online orders returned by mail.
• Zara charges $3.95 in the U.S. for returns at drop-off point 

Grocers across the country are hopping down the bunny trail with specially-priced bundles just like they did for the 2022 holidays and St. Patrick’s Day this year.

If you’re planning some sort of Easter get-together, here’s what grocery chains are offering through this Sunday.

Hy-Vee: Hy-Vee actually has two family bundles – one, an Applewood Pit Ham Meal (serves 8) for $119.99 and a Brown Sugar Spiral Ham Meal (Serves 8) for $99.99. It also is offering a brunch deal for two.

The Fresh Market: The Fresh Market is trying to cover every possible Easter dining option. It has a Ham Meal (with pineapple, dinner rolls, cake mix, etc. Serves 8-10) for $99.99. It also has a ready-to-heat Ham Meal for 4 for  $59.99, as well as a Prime Rib Meal for two, and a Brunch Meal for 4.

Walmart: Walmart doesn’t have bundles, per se, but it has marked down prices on the typical things you might buy for Easter – hams, pies, veggies, etc. It also has candy, eggs, etc. for Easter baskets.

BJ’s Wholesale Club: Much like Walmart, BJ’s Wholesale Club is offering members additional savings on Easter essentials through Easter Day. Plus, every member who spends $140 online or in-store in a single qualifying transaction through Easter will receive a $15 digital coupon valid for shopping from April 13 to April 23.

Target’s saving its best deals for after Easter

Target isn’t avoiding Easter, but it’s decided that it would be better served by putting its eggs in a post-Easter clearance basket where consumers can save up to 90%.

“Starting the day after Easter, you can get deeply discounted crafts, home decor, Easter candy, cookware, and more at Target. I’m talking about items you can repurpose and use the rest of the year — or stuff you can save until next Easter,” the Krazy Coupon Lady said.

When ConsumerAffairs looked into what she was talking about, the clearance discounts break down like this:

One day after Easter: 30% off food and candy and 50% off everything else in the clearance section.

Three to four days after Easter: 50% off food and candy and 70% off everything else in the clearance section.

Six to seven days after Easter: 70% off food and candy and 90% off everything else in the clearance section.

However, there might be some extra deals that could pop up on Target’s text alerts. To subscribe to those, just text TARGET to 57299.

With Easter just a few weeks away, BJ’s Wholesale Club is releasing its special seasonal deals for store members. 

Through the Easter holiday on April 9, BJ’s members can expect sales on just about everything they’ll need for their celebration – Easter basket essentials, decorations, paper goods, food, candy, and more. Walmart announced a similar promotion last month.

“Our members know they can shop with us for everything they need and want to make their Easter gatherings a quality, memorable time with family and friends,” said Rachel Vegas, BJ’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. “Members can find their family favorites for Easter dinner and brunch, candy and toys to fill their Easter baskets, plus seasonal decor and dining essentials to make their celebrations festive.” 

What’s on sale?

BJ’s is offering sales in three primary areas: paper goods and decorations, Easter basket goodies, and meal essentials. 

The first category includes savings on everything from seasonal paper plates and napkins, to Easter and bunny wreaths, an inflatable Easter bunny, and Easter gnomes. All items are available in-store and online, and the sales run through April 9. 

For parents, grandparents, or other family members who may be filling Easter baskets, the selection of on-sale items is wide. BJ’s is discounting Easter baskets, PAAS egg decorating kits, Reese’s peanut butter eggs, American Kids character baskets, a set of toy race cars, Peep’s, and more. 

Lastly, cooking Easter dinner or brunch will come at a cheaper price. BJ’s members can expect savings on: trays of cupcakes, ciabatta rolls, half spiral hams, packs of bacon, gourmet carrots, and carrot cakes. Overall, these prices are expected to be discounted as much as 25%. All of the on-sale items are available to members in-store or with in-store pickup, curbside pickup, or same-day delivery. 

Even more savings

BJ’s seasonal sale items are available through Easter on April 9. For BJ’s members who shop between March 23 and April 9, even more savings are possible. When shoppers make purchases over $150, they’ll receive a $15 digital coupon that’s valid between April 13-23. 

Consumers are no strangers to the effects of inflation. Whether it’s at the grocery store or the after effects of holiday shopping, rising prices have been a common theme in recent months. 

Now, a new survey conducted by Wish found that inflation is affecting how the majority of Americans are spending money on online shopping. 

Discount codes and free shipping are important to shoppers

Experts surveyed 2,000 Americans over the age of 18 about their online shopping habits, including how often they shop, how inflation affects their spending, discount codes, shipping costs, and more. 

Overall, nearly 85% of respondents said that inflation is affecting how frequently they’re placing online shopping orders. Additionally, 40% said they’re cutting back on their online shopping because of consistently rising prices. 

Inflation is also affecting what shoppers are looking for when placing online orders. Discount codes and free shipping are becoming more important.

The survey found that 30% of Americans will only be shopping when there are sales going on, 34% actively look for discount codes when online shopping and 32% are going directly to online stores that offer flat-rate or free shipping. 

Shipping costs are a major factor

Shipping proved to be a major consideration for survey participants. Eighty percent of respondents said their online purchases are affected by shipping costs, while 70% said they’d spend enough to reach the minimum purchase threshold to get cheaper or free shipping, and 65% said they’d cancel their order if the shipping costs were too high. 

“Online shopping should be a journey of excitement and discovery, and too often this experience is soured when shoppers get stung by high shipping fees,” said Mauricio Monico, chief merchant officer at Wish. 

“How we shop online continues to evolve, but the experience should stay convenient and accessible without pricing out consumers. The results of the survey reiterates that the shopping journey doesn’t stop at checkout, and today’s shoppers want shipping to be as painless and affordable as possible,” Monaco said. 

If you lost out in your holiday gift exchange and wound up with an unwanted gift card, is there anything you can do?

Consumers have a tendency to set an unwanted gift card aside, chalking it up as an unlucky moment or thinking that they might be able to use it at some point or re-gift it to another person who likes the retailer the card is connected to.

Still, you’re leaving money on the table – a situation that Julie Ramhold at DealNews told ConsumerAffairs is salvageable if the gift card holder puts in just a little effort.

Trade ‘em in!

There are two options here: One that Ramhold suggests is to check with your favorite retailers to see if you can trade in unwanted gift cards for store credit. 

Another is to try to trade the cards you don't want for ones that you do. Ramhold said sites such as CardCash can make this process easy because you don't have to list the card and wait for someone to agree to a trade or sale.

When ConsumerAffairs looked at CardCash, it appeared to be a fairly straightforward deal. It has 1,000-plus retailers it does trade-ins for, and it pays out different amounts for different gift cards, likely depending on how many other people want those gift cards.

For example, a $25 Walmart gift card would get a trade-in value of $21.50 and an eBay gift card would bring $21.25. However, restaurants don’t seem to fare as well. A $25 Macaroni Grill gift card would only get a $13.75 trade-in and a Cheesecake Factory card would produce $16.50.

There are other gift card trading sites that ConsumerAffairs found, too -- ClipKard, GiftCash, and Raise. When we looked at values on similar cards, though, it was apparent that the consumer needs to do some price shopping because the trade-in values are not consistent from site to site.

“Depending on the type of gift card, you may be able to use it to buy other gift cards — ones you'll actually use,” Ramhold said.

“This method is only going to be valid if you have a gift card that's more like a debit or prepaid card, though. That said, this can be a good workaround when you have a prepaid card and must match the exact amount in your transaction in order to use it.”

Don’t sell gift cards on eBay, one expert warns

Even though eBay gift cards may have a good trade-in value, the PennyHoarder’s Adam Hardy says that the platform might be the worst way to sell gift cards.

“First, an eBay buyer isn’t likely to buy your gift card for more than 80% to 90% of its value. For a $100 gift card, you can count on a loss of between $10 and $20 right off the bat,” he warned. “On top of that, you may be responsible for eBay’s insertion fees, a final value fee and a performance fee if your eBay seller account isn’t in good shape. These fees eat further into your earnings.”

“Also with eBay, there’s no built-in way to verify your gift card’s code or balance — making the selling and shipment process much more of a hassle.”

If you found some extra cash in your stocking, major retailers are lining up with sales to encourage you to spend it. Like it always is, any store that has holiday items on its shelves wants to get rid of them.

DealNews shared research with ConsumerAffairs that holiday decorations and candy are the deals most consumers go for, and this year Kohl’s, Belk, Bloomingdale’s, and Target are leading the way with 70%, 75%, 65%, and 50% off, respectively, on holiday decor.

As for candy, the Krazy Coupon Lady found the perfect answer for those with a sweet tooth – the pound-size Snickers Slice n' Share Giant Candy Bar which was $10 on Amazon, is now just $3.99.

Clothing and more up to 85% off

Banking on 2022 mirroring 2021, DealNews said that about 24% of the deals it saw between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1 were for clothing and accessories of some kind. One of the most popular offers during that time was a sale at Uniqlo.

“It knocked up to 80% off men's clothing, with prices starting at $6 for shirts, $15 for hoodies, and $20 for pants,” DealNews’ Julie Ramhold said.

ConsumerAffairs also found an extra $10 coupon for people who sign up for Uniqlo’s e-blasts and spend $75 or more on their first order.

Ramhold added that the period between Christmas and New Year’s is also a great time to shop at off-price stores like Nordstrom Rack. When ConsumerAffairs checked the retailer’s site, it was offering up to 80% off, mostly on shoes, but all other categories were loaded with 60% off deals.

Other retailers that are in deal mode included:

Tractor Supply – up to 60% off

Crate & Barrel – up to 70% off

Gap Factory – up to 75% off

Home Depot – up to 70% off

Lenovo – up to 85% off

If you can wait until January…

Ramhold’s sales forecast for the first of the year holds great promise for consumers who are shopping in five categories: small appliances, bedding/white goods, fitness equipment, gym memberships and winter clothing.

“Chances are, the discounts are at least partially due to New Year's resolutions around eating healthier or dining more at home, rather than relying on takeout,” Ramhold said.

“Because of that, you can expect to see a variety of small kitchen appliances for $15 each, including panini presses, nonstick electric skillets and electric egg cookers.”

And for those of you who didn't get that big-screen TV you were kvetching about, all's not lost. With the Consumer Electronics Show coming in January, TV manufacturers are eager to unload whatever they can to make room. Last January, Best Buy knocked up to 30% off and Target 25% off on certain TVs. Those retailers are likely to do it again.

Many major retailers, like Walmart, Amazon, and Target, are offering consumers deals on last-minute gift ideas. 

With the holidays just days away, it’s still not too late. BJ’s Wholesale Club will host HoliDeals – discounts on toys, electronics, small appliances, and more – through Christmas Eve. 

“There’s an undeniable amount of excitement that is associated with holiday shopping,” said Rachel Vegas, chief merchandising officer at BJ’s. “It goes beyond just getting a great deal. People seem to really enjoy the process of selecting a special gift for everyone on their list. There’s a sense of accomplishment that our members have once they find the item they’ve been searching for, and we are happy to deliver that ‘treasure hunt’ experience, at an excellent value to our members.” 

A closer look at the deals

BJ’s is running sales on dozens of popular gift items. Currently, shoppers can expect to save up to $330 on tech deals, up to $95 on toy deals, and up to $60 on small appliance deals. 

Here’s a closer look at some of the items that are currently on sale through Christmas Eve: 

• Alpha Gaming Keyboard, Mouse, and Headset Bundle: $19.99 

• Marvel Avengers: Endgame Titan Hero Series, 4-Pack: $19.99

• Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch with Bonus Bands: $99.99

• XBox Series S Console with Wireless Controller Bundle: $234.99

• TCL 65-in 4K Roku Smart TV: $377.99

• Propel 15-foot Trampoline: $259.99

• HP 15.6-in Touchscreen Laptop: $349.99

• Pacman 5 Games in 1 Countercade: $99.99

• Berkley Jensen Riviera DollHouse: $74.99 

BJ’s Wholesale Club members can access the hundreds of items that are part of the HoliDeals sale here. Everything from last-minute gifts, last-minute decorations, and even ingredients for holiday dinner are available at low places. 

To save time this holiday season, and make shopping more convenient, shoppers can place their orders online and opt to pick them up in-store. For last-minute shoppers, stores will be open on Christmas Eve until 6:00 p.m. local time. 

As consumers make their final turn into the holidays, new findings from Datasembly indicate that families will be spending nearly 17% more to feed their dinner guests this year – double the increase seen last year.

Datasembly analyzed 13 popular holiday dinner items including turkey, eggnog, ham, apple pie and green beans. This year’s shopping cart totaled $60.29 on average versus $51.79 for the 2021 holidays. 

Of all the basket items, the biggest year-over-year increase is for biscuits – almost 47.7% – followed by butter and russet potatoes at 38% and 32.6%, respectively. The basket items with the smallest increase are the frozen whole turkey at 6.3%, followed by the bone in spiral ham at 7.7%.

Big box retailers to the rescue!

But, the consumer’s grocery dilemma is not lost on Target and Walmart. GroceryDive reports that both are putting holiday meal deals out front through the weekend.

At Walmart, it’s busy placing discount stickers on many of the food items that are causing sticker shock. As an example, cooks can buy bone-in ham for $2.28 per pound, whole turkeys for less than $1 per pound, plus discounts on potatoes, stuffing, ready-to-heat mac and cheese, and made-in-store pumpkin pie.

At Target, the home chef can forget about cooking altogether and buy a complete holiday dinner for $25 and sides for under $5. Target’s adding a convenience feature, too, allowing customers to place orders for the items on December 24 and get their order the very same day using pickup, drive-up, or Shipt delivery.

Kroger decides it wants in on the action, too

Interestingly enough, Kroger responded to Walmart and Target’s deals by also offering affordable meals during winter break.

In an announcement made Monday, the grocery chain said it’s pulled together discounted options that can feed a family of four at an average cost of approximately $10 per meal, including everything from a traditional breakfast with eggs, sausage, fruit and toast to a “pizza night” combo that comes with a Mediterranean-style chopped salad kit.

With the holidays nearly a week away, some of the biggest retailers – like Amazon and Target – are gearing up for the final push of holiday shopping. 

Now, Walmart is announcing its plans to ensure shoppers are ready to wrap their gifts and put the finishing touches on their holiday plans. The company has launched a last-minute gift sale, announced shipping and pickup order deadlines, and shared its diverse gift card options. 

Check everyone off your gift list

Walmart has dedicated a section of its website to Last Minute Gifts. Here, shoppers can search through thousands of discounted items and see which items are specially priced for the holidays, which are best sellers, and which have rollback pricing. 

Some of the last-minute deals include: 

• Ionvac SmartClean 2000 Robovac: $79 (originally $179.88) 

• HART 215-piece Mechanics Tool Set: $98 (originally $159)

• Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee and Espresso Maker: $127 (originally $159) 

• Onn. 55’  Class 4K UHD Roku Smart TV: $268 (originally $379) 

• AncestryDNA Genetic Test: $59 (originally $99) 

• Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen: $49.98 (originally $99.98)

• Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller: $44 (originally $64.99)

• Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat: $230.99 (originally $329.77) 

• Cate & Chloe Ariel 18K Rose Gold Halo CZ Stud Earrings: $19.99 (originally $150) 

• Barbie 6-Doll Sports Career Collection, Related Clothes & Accessories: $25 (originally $35.67) 

For those on your gift list who may be harder to shop for, Walmart also offers a number of gift card options. These include Walmart-specific gift cards, as well as gift cards to local and national restaurants like Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A, and Dairy Queen, other stores like Apple or Disney, Visa or MasterCard gift cards, gift cards to streaming services like Netflix or Hulu, or experience gift cards, like movie theaters or airlines. 

While a gift card makes it easy for shoppers and offers flexibility to the recipient, Walmart also offers electronic gift cards. Customers can purchase them online and have them emailed directly to the recipient’s inbox, giving them even more freedom to spend their gift how – and when – they want. 

Delivery and Pickup Deadlines

In addition to last-minute gifts, Walmart has also announced its deadlines for receiving deliveries and pick-up orders in time for the holidays. 

To get your items by Christmas Day, orders must be placed with two-day shipping no later than 2:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, December 21. Walmart also offers express delivery in two hours or less, and those orders must be placed by 4:00 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve. 

Lastly, consumers can place orders online and do curbside pick-up at their local Walmart store. Shoppers who opt for this choice must choose a time slot for pick-up by 4:00 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve. 

It’s not too late to get deals on holiday gifts! 

To help shoppers check everyone off their lists – while also saving money this holiday season – Target has announced more last-minute deals. In addition to discounting items through Christmas Eve, Target is offering several same-day shopping options that can benefit anyone who may have waited until the last minute – or needs a gift on short notice. 

“As guests turn to Target to finish up their holiday shopping, our stores nationwide are well-stocked, staffed with the best team in retail, and ready with great deals on everything needed to host gatherings, give gifts, and celebrate the season,” said Mark Schindele, executive vice president and chief stores officer at Target. “Whether guests choose to shop our aisles or use our convenient same-day fulfillment services, Target will save the day with fast and easy ways to get all their favorite deals, right up to the last minute.” 

Shop the sales

For shoppers looking for discounts on holiday gifts, Target has announced new sales – many of which run through December 24. 

Here’s what’s on sale through December 17: 

• 30% off matching family pajamas

• 30% off clothing and accessories

• 30% off seasonal decor

• 30% off shoes

• 40% off kitchen appliances

Here’s what’s on sale through December 24: 

• 30% All in Motion fleeces

• 50% off small kitchen appliances

• 5% off all pre-paid gift cards bought with a Target RedCard

• 40% off men’s seasonal apparel 

• 50% off toys 

• Buy one get one 25% off beauty gift sets

• 30% off Wondershop pet apparel 

• 40% off select women’s sweaters

• 15% off Game Pass gift cards

• 50% off connected home security from Amazon, Google, Ring, and more

• 50% off seasonal decor and trees

Last-minute gift options

Target shoppers can actually wait until the last minute to finish checking everyone off their holiday gift lists – if they want to! The retailer is offering several same-day shopping options that customers can access straight through up to Christmas Eve. 

For starters, all Target stores will be open on Christmas Eve, and most stay open until 8 p.m. local time. Shoppers can head to their local stores for the majority of Christmas Eve to pick up any last-minute essentials. 

There’s also the option to utilize Target’s order pick-up or drive-up options. Any order placed before 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve will be ready to be picked up before stores close that day. This also comes with no additional charge or membership required. 

Lastly, Target shoppers can utilize Shipt’s same-day delivery option. With this option, customers need to spend at least $35 to receive their delivery within one to two hours, and for non-Shipt members, delivery will run $9.99. 

While these options are always available for Target shoppers, it can be especially helpful to know the last-minute options during this hectic time of year. 

Though the holidays are now right around the corner, retailers have been preparing consumers to shop the sales for months. But what about a gift that you can’t necessarily find packaged in a store or shipped straight to your doorstep? 

A new survey conducted by OnePoll for Forbes Advisor analyzed how travel will come into play as a gift this holiday season. 

Ultimately, the survey revealed that over 50% of Americans with rewards credit cards would give those rewards as a gift this holiday season.  

A closer look at gifting travel

OnePoll surveyed over 1,000 adults across the United States between November 22-28 to better understand trends related to gifting travel this holiday season, and also how consumers’ credit card rewards come into play. 

The survey found that the younger demographic – those between the ages of 18 and 25 (64%) – were the most likely to give their credit card points or rewards as a gift this holiday season. Comparatively, the next youngest age bracket – those between the ages of 26 and 41 – were among the least likely to gift their credit card rewards (26%). 

Overall, 56% of respondents said they’d consider giving a travel-related gift this holiday season. However, not just anyone would be on the receiving end of such a gift. The majority of survey participants said they’d mainly consider those gifts for the people closest to them – 25% would give it to their kids, 23% to a spouse or significant other, and 22% to parents. 

What would a travel-related gift look like? Plane tickets, hotel stays, and cash were the top three choices from the respondents. These also correspond with the rewards that are most likely to come from travel credit cards. 

Making the most of travel-related gifts

While travel is certainly a memorable gift to give, it’s also important that consumers are getting the most for their money – or their rewards points. Caroline Lupini, a Forbes Advisor Travel Analyst, shared her top five tips with ConsumerAffairs for anyone considering giving the gift of travel this holiday season: 

1. With an increase in travel costs due to inflation, consumers should look to book flights or hotel stays they plan to gift well in advance (at least 30 days out) to save money. If booking a highly sought-after destination, booking during the off-peak season will also help keep costs in check. Flight and hotel bookings may be refundable (either for cash or a credit) if prices decrease, so know the policies for your booking and monitor for price decreases if applicable.

2. If consumers plan to use their travel credit card to give the gift of travel, they should be aware of the benefits their travel credit card offers, how points/rewards can be redeemed, and whether the card has travel insurance. The gift may be for someone else, but a statement credit could offset costs when it’s time to pay the credit card bill. 

3. When making travel gift purchases, consumers should keep in mind that plans could change. Purchasing tickets, stays, or other travel experiences that can be returned, exchanged, or modified at no additional cost will provide more flexibility for the recipient of the gift. It might also be worth looking into travel insurance just in case. 

4. If someone plans to redeem points or rewards for a flight, hotel stay, or another travel experience that will be given as a gift, understanding the redemption value of the points is key. Be sure to run the numbers – if the purchase doesn’t provide good value with points, it may make sense to save the points for another day and book with cash instead. 

5. When purchasing travel experiences, read the fine print to ensure that the gift recipient doesn’t end up covering unexpected costs. For instance, budget airline tickets might seem more affordable until the person who receives the tickets has to pay more money out of pocket for seat selection, a carry-on bag, and a bag of peanuts onboard.

Amazon has hosted a number of sales in recent months to prepare consumers for the holiday season – the Prime Early Access Sale, Black Friday sales, and Cyber Monday deals.  

Now, with under two weeks left to finalize gifts, Amazon is holding another discount shopping event for consumers – Very Merry Deals. 

Now through December 21, Amazon will continue to discount many of the biggest items this holiday season. Additionally, new items will be discounted every day, making it imperative for consumers to check back regularly if they’re looking for specific items. 

The sales are designed for consumers who need to wrap up last-minute shopping and will feature exclusive deals in several major categories: electronics, toys, beauty, home goods, fashion, and kitchen. 

What’s on sale? 

While these deals are expected to be updated on a daily basis, below is a list of some of the items available now at discounted rates: 

Amazon Devices: 

• 60% off Ring Video doorbells and bundles

• 46% off Fire TV devices

• 30% off Eero mesh WiFi systems

• 24% off Kindles

• 50% off Echo devices

• 45% off Fire tablets

Toys:

• 51% off Bakugan, Paw Patrol, and more

• 32% off National Geographic kits

• 47% off Melissa & Doug toys

Home Goods:

• 20% off Casper mattresses and accessories

• 69% off items from TempurPedic, Shark, Levoit, and more

• 63% off National Tree Christmas trees and holiday decorations

Electronics: 

• 29% off Bose home audio products 

• 54% off Logitech G gaming products

• 33% off LG OLED and QNED TVs

Kitchen: 

• 40% off SodaStream makers and bundles

• 25% off Nespresso coffee and espresso machines

• 46% off Instant Brands air fryers, mixers, and more 

Other deals include: 

• 50% off Crest White Strips and Oral-B electric toothbrushes

• 43% off Anker Charging Accessories

• 48% off Teeter FitSpine X3 Inversion Table

• 66% off Anne Klein watches

• 47% off Hiboy Electric Scooters

Consumers can shop all of Amazon’s last-minute holiday shopping deals here. 

Green Monday is only days away and if you’re running behind on holiday gifts, it is – most definitely – the last big sale of the season. 

On top of the best categories to shop and the biggest deals to be had, BlackFriday.com also let ConsumerAffairs in on some new insights about what specials the big retailers have to offer on Green Monday.

Top Green Monday 2022 sales

Here’s the A to Z (well, actually W) on what retailers are putting on sale for their own version of Green Monday:

Amazon: As usual, techy things – especially Alexa-driven ones – lead the way at Amazon on Green Monday, but BlackFriday.com says there are also good prices on home goods and toys. Keep this link handy for Green Monday to find out what Amazon has specifically for that day.

If you want to be an early bird, ConsumerAffairs found a way you might be able to get an advance peek at what Amazon will offer on Monday. At this link, you'll know how long before certain items will go on sale. If you go in on Sunday and start clicking forward on the page list at the bottom until you find out what deals go live 12-24-hours from then, you might be able to find out. Might…

Best Buy: DealNews' Shannon Flynn says that tech will rule the roost at Best Buy, too, and expects deals on everything from Roombas to tablets and 4K TVs.

eBay: Since eBay is the company that came up with Green Monday in the first place, it, too, will have lots of things on sale. Exactly what though hasn’t been divulged, but DealNews says shoppers should expect everything from apparel to electronics. Keep this link handy to find out exactly what on Monday.

Kohl's: More apparel, more accessories, more home goods, and more smart home devices are what’s expected from Kohl’s on Green Monday. Here’s the link that’ll get you to those deals on December 12. The company is also offering free shipping with a minimum purchase and an extra 15% off when someone signs up for e-mail newsletters.

Macy's: Macy’s is already letting the Green Mondays cat out of the bag and has posted its sale items beforehand. When ConsumerAffairs reviewed what Macy’s was offering, it was pretty much everything in the store – men’s apparel, women’s apparel, shoes, home goods, jewelry, handbags, and beauty items (perfume, for example). Many of the prices we saw were slashed by at least 50% and some up to 70%.

Rakuten: Rakuten isn’t a retailer, per se, but it does aggregate deals so consumers can find options from a variety of major retailers and brands all in one place. On its special Green Monday site, ConsumerAffairs found lots of “cash back” offers like 8% back from Nike, not to mention a way to score an iPhone 14 Pro, Apple watch SE, iPad, & Beats Fit Pro free (of course, for a limited time, some exclusions apply, see store for details caveats).

Target: Much like Macy’s, Target is expected to feature tons of deals and discounts on products from just about every department of the store on Green Monday. BlackFriday deal watchers suggest keeping a special eye on the retailer’s special “Deal of the Day” to enjoy even more savings.

Walmart: Walmart is keeping its Green Monday deal cards close to its chest, but BlackFriday’s sales analysts predict that the big winners will be those shopping for toys, tech, and home items. 

Don’t forget about price matching!

When ConsumerAffairs went looking for anything we may have missed, the KrazyCouponLady brought up a nuance that shoppers might be able to use to leverage even more deals -- price matching!

“Use price matching to your advantage during the second Monday in December. If one retailer isn’t running a deal but another is, consider a price match,” she said.

“Many retailers don’t offer a Black Friday price match, but since Green Monday is so far past Black Friday, you might luck out and be able to request a competitor’s price.”

Walmart has been busy this holiday season – new features on its mobile app and website, extended returns and easier deliveries, and sales both before and during Black Friday. 

Now, the retailer has released a new way for shoppers to find discounted items available at Walmart – TrendGetter. For those looking for holiday gifts – home goods, clothes, a pair of shoes, home decor, etc. – you can upload an image to TrendGetter and then receive similar, ready-to-buy items from Walmart. 

“This holiday season, we know our customers are searching for what they love at can’t-miss prices,” said Casey Schlaybaugh, vice president of brand strategy and marketing at Walmart. “Now, whenever you find a product you love, you can easily search for a similar item at Walmart’s everyday low prices and purchase as soon as inspiration strikes.” 

How it works

The goal of TrendGetter is to make it easier for shoppers to find gifts they’re looking for – at low prices. Whether you’re scrolling through Instagram and see a sweater for your niece, or a YouTube video has the latest game for your son, TrendGetter was designed to help bridge the gap between a social media post and a gift under the tree. 

To use it, shoppers either take or upload a photo to the TrendGetter platform. Based on the image, Walmart utilizes Google Vision technology to generate a similar – or identical – item available for purchase at a low price. Then, shoppers can quickly order it, secure a pick-up, or see if it’s available for in-store purchase in their local Walmart store. 

Walmart recommends that shoppers keep their images as simple as possible when uploading them to TrendGetter. Make the item the primary focus of the image – without any background distractions. Avoid dark lighting and steer clear of shadows -- that can ensure that you get your best product match. 

Shoppers should also feel confident using TrendGetter from a privacy perspective. Images are used strictly to search through product catalogs, and after the item is either purchased or the user closes out of TrendGetter, Walmart says the image will be deleted. 

TrendGetter is available here. 

With holiday shopping going on for a few months now, the affordability of holiday gifts has been on a lot of consumers’ minds. Inflation has changed the way many people are shopping this holiday season, and now, having alternative payment methods have made it easier for consumers to get the gifts they’re most looking for and paying for them down the road. 

‘Buy now pay later’ (BNPL) has become an increasingly popular option – especially this holiday season – as it allows shoppers to make purchases on the spot with a small down payment, and then break up the rest of the cost into smaller monthly installments. The payments are also interest-free if you complete them in the allotted time. 

Having the option to make bigger purchases without the worry of being able to pay for it all upfront may have been helpful to consumers. However, some experts worry about the financial implications involved with choosing BNPL. 

Holiday shopping trends

Cardify shared results from a recent study it conducted that polled over 2,000 BNPL users about their plans for the holiday season. 

While BNPL wasn’t the top choice for buying holiday gifts, it did come in at number three, with over 45% saying they’d choose this payment method this season. Debit cards were the top choice (65.7%), followed by credit cards (54.6%). Just 31.5% of survey respondents said that they’d use cash to pay for gifts this holiday season. 

About 40% of people said they’d use BNPL for 50%-99% of their holiday shopping, while just under 9% said they’d use it for all of their holiday shopping. The majority – over 51% – said they’d use the service for more of their holiday shopping this year than they did last year; just 10.1% said they’d be using BNPL less this year than they did last year. 

The survey also found that BNPL shoppers were more likely to report spending more money this holiday season in general. Regardless of payment method, nearly 20% of frequent BNPL users said they’d spend more than $1,000 during the holidays; comparatively, 16.1% of non-BNPL users said they’d be spending that much this holiday season. 

Shopping smart this holiday season 

Business Insider offered tips for consumers interested in shopping with BNPL to ensure smart shopping practices and reduce the likelihood of accruing burdensome debt. 

BNPL shoppers should be mindful of interest rates, know the late fees, and know if they’ll be able to make payments down the road. While completing payments in the scheduled time usually eliminates interest rates, pushing payments beyond the four or six-week pay period can be costly.

Similarly, many BNPL services don’t charge late fees, but missing payments can be detrimental to your credit score. 

GO Banking Rates offered some alternatives to BNPL for shoppers this holiday season: 

• Apply for a credit card with 0% APR

• Use cashback to help fund holiday shopping

• Keep a schedule of some of the biggest sales of the season to make sure you’re buying at the lowest possible price 

The holiday season is costly, and BNPL can be an effective way to make bigger purchases, so long as consumers also understand the potential financial risks and don't get over-extended. 

While Amazon has been prepping shoppers for the holiday season for months now, its Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales were expected to be the main events of the big holiday shopping weekend. 

Now, with five days of sales in the rearview mirror, Amazon is reporting that hundreds of millions of products were purchased over Thanksgiving weekend. 

“This was a record-breaking holiday shopping weekend for Amazon,” said Doug Herrington, CEO, WW, Amazon Stores. “Customers shopped millions of deals this weekend and we have many more amazing deals to come.” 

Holiday shopping – and savings – aren’t over

Despite the big shopping days having come and gone, it’s not too late for consumers to cross everyone off their gift lists – and save money while doing so. 

Amazon said it will release new deals on potential gifts every day for the remainder of the holiday season. Everything from air fryers, clothing, and wireless headphones will continue to be discounted over the coming weeks. 

If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift, Amazon has curated several gift guides to make shopping easier. There are lists for fashion, popular internet items, home goods, most-loved gifts, stocking stuffers, and electronics. 

Amazon’s Holiday Gift Guide has also been ongoing throughout the holiday season. Shoppers can sort gift ideas by age or gender, and also get gifting tips from social media influencers.

Additionally, consumers can search through Amazon’s gift card inventory, which includes Amazon gift cards, as well as options from other leading retailers, such as DoorDash, Apple, Google Play, Bath & Body Works, and more.  

Easy returns, faster deliveries

While there’s still plenty of time to order gifts and receive them in time for the holidays, Amazon has rolled out new delivery – and return – options for customers this holiday season. 

In terms of shipping, shoppers can now choose items to be delivered either same-day or one-day shipping. Currently, there are hundreds of thousands of items that can be delivered to consumers’ homes in just a few hours, while over 20 million items can be shipped in just one day. 

Same-day shipping is currently available in more than 90 metro areas across the country, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Seattle, Miami, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Washington D.C., as well as other major cities. 

The return process has also been updated, making the process easier – and valid for much longer. Now, any items bought between October 11, 2022, and December 25, 2022, will be eligible for return through January 31, 2023. 

Returns are free to process, and shoppers can now drop off any items for return – with no label or package – in person. Local Kohl’s, UPS Stores, and Whole Foods are currently accepting Amazon returns. 

The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and for those mailing gifts across the country or overseas, it’s time to start thinking about the best time to do that. 

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has released its official deadline list for shipping gifts to ensure they make it to their intended recipients by Christmas Day. It also shared helpful information designed to make the shipping process easier for consumers, as well as projections for the busiest times of the season. 

For those who don’t want to trek to their local post office during the holiday season rush, there are now options to ship packages from home. The USPS website features the new Click-N-Ship app, that allows consumers to print shipping labels and ship boxes directly to their homes, and then schedule a free at-home package pickup. 

Holiday shipping deadlines

As the busiest time of year for the USPS kicks off, it’s important for consumers to know when to get their packages to the post office. Below is a list of suggested deadlines to ship packages to ensure they’re delivered in time for Christmas: 

• Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office (APO/FPO/DPO) (all ZIP codes) Priority and First-Class Mail: December 9 

• APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express Military Service: December 16 

• USPS Retail Ground Service: December 17 

• First-Class Mail Service (including greeting cards): December 17 

• First-Class Package Service (up to 15.99 ounces): December 17 

• Priority Mail Service: December 19 

• Priority Mail Express Service: December 22 

Alaska: 

• Alaska to/from Continental U.S. – USPS Retail Ground: December 2

• Alaska to/from Continental U.S. – First-Class Mail and Priority Mail: December 18 

• Alaska to/from Continental U.S. – Priority Mail Express: December 21

Hawaii: 

• Hawaii to/from mainland – First-Class and Priority Mail: December 17 

• Hawaii to/from mainland – Priority Mail Express: December 21

In some areas, there will also be the opportunity to pay for packages to be delivered via Priority Mail Express on Christmas Day. 

Shipping tips

Another important part of shipping packages at the post office is ensuring that your gift is properly packaged, labeled, and addressed – and doesn’t include any prohibited items. 

The USPS has broken down the whole process for consumers in how-to videos that cover everything from changing your address, labeling a package, and packing things safely.

Shipping costs and busiest season

In effect now through January 22, 2023, shipping materials are going to be more expensive than they usually are. However, consumers sending gifts overseas to military or diplomatic posts are eligible for discounts on shipping, including a $20.95 large Priority Mail Flat Rate Box. 

Based on traffic in years past, the USPS anticipates that crowds in post offices across the country are likely to start picking up starting as early as December 5. While the final two weeks before Christmas are likely to be hectic, the week of December 12 tends to be the busiest. 

The USPS has also increased its number of Sunday deliveries during the holiday season to help packages get to their final destination in time for the holidays. 

In most years, shopping for the most popular toys might present a challenge. But in spite of all the early sales, shoppers may find some of the most sought-after items may still on store shelves.

Just before Black Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that stores were overflowing with Barbies and Lego sets, the holiday season's perennial favorites.

New research from Premium Joy shows that Squishmallows, plush toys that were released in 2017, have apparently surpassed the popularity of several other more established toys like Hot Wheels and Nerf for this holiday season.

Data, based on Google search volumes and Google Trends for the past six months, show that Squishmallows are the most popular holiday toy in 21 states. Hot Wheels and Nerf are the favorite toys in only 10 and six states respectively.

"Each Squishmallow model comes with a unique personality, including a name and a background story, which makes these plush toys distinct and highly collectible," said Hassan Alnassir, founder and owner of Premium Joy. "Knowing that, I wouldn't be much surprised to hear that Squishmallows have become such a hit during the holiday season."

The Toy Insider breaks down the most popular toys in 2022 by age group:

• Infants and toddlers - Fisher-Price DJ Boouncin’ Beats; Level Up gaming chair

• Pre-school: Barbie Dreamhouse; Bluey Ultimate Lights and Sounds Playhouse

• Elementary school - Addison Rae, Delux Music Fashion Doll; Akeda Triple Strike Tag Team Arena

• Tweens - Airtitans Jurassic World Massive Attack T-Rex; LEGO Super Mario Adventures with peach starter course

Target has its own list of hot toys that start in price at $14.99. They include the Yahtzee Frenzy Dice & Card game; Kinetic Sand Swirl N' Surprise 2lb Playset; Cool Maker Stitch 'N Style Fashion Studio Sewing Machine toy.

Watch out for scams

In the event that merchants run low on the most popular toys, last-minute toy shoppers need to be aware of dangerous scams. A common trick is to post a fake ad for an in-demand and hard-to-find toy online at what seems like a heavily discounted price.

One consumer posted their experience on a scam-tracking website after they thought they were purchasing a popular Squishmallow for $40. They said they received the product in the mail but said it was counterfeit.

“There are no tags on it and it is of very poor quality,” the consumer reported. I have tried to use the email provided to request a return label and it is not a real email.”

Shoppers can avoid this experience by only shopping at known and trusted stores and online merchants. A discounted price on one of the season’s hot toys could indicate that the seller is not legitimate.

Amazon’s Black Friday sale is still days away, and now the company is getting shoppers ready for what’s to come after that – Cyber Monday sales. 

While some of Amazon’s Black Friday deals are already underway, the company announced that Cyber Monday sales will start promptly on Saturday, November 26, and run through Monday, November 28.

The sale is expected to feature some of the biggest brands of the holiday season – Mr. Coffee, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and Bose, among several others. 

Leading up to both the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Amazon will offer discounts on a handful of items every day. This is in addition to the daily Deal of the Day and will feature brands like Adidas, Casper, SodaStream, Oakley, and more. 

Here’s what will be discounted

Similar to its Black Friday sale, during Cyber Monday, Amazon plans to drop new deals every 30 minutes of the three-day savings event. However, the company has already announced many of its biggest sales for this upcoming weekend: 

• Up to 30% off Solo Stove fire pits 

• Up to 45% off BLACK+DECKER tools

• Up to 30% off American Girl dolls and accessories, LEGO sets, and Bluey toys

• Up to 70% off select Alexa devices – including Fire TV and Echo 

• Up to 40% off clothes from HappyNation

• Up to 50% off Gap clothing and accessories

• Up to 25% off items from Snoop Doggie Doggs 

• Up to 60% off Ring and Blink devices and accessories

• Up to 30% off accessories from Anker

• Up to 25% off Kourtney Kardashian’s Lemme vitamins

• Up to 40% off Mr. Coffee coffeemakers

• Up to 30% off hair products from T3 

• Up to 50% off DASH air fryers and meat thermometers

• Up to 30% off Segway, Jetson, and Hurley e-scooters and bikes

• Up to 40% off Bose, Sony, and JBL headphones and speakers

• Up to 30% off Marvel clothing and toys

• Up to 40% off Tommy Hilfiger clothes and accessories

• Up to 45% off clothes from Simple Joys by Carter’s and Amazon Essentials

• Up to 40% off eero mesh Wi-Fi systems

• Up to 40% off BALEAF athletic clothing

• Up to 40% off Skullcandy and Shokz headphones

• Up to 50% off premium beauty brands – Anastasia Beverly Hills, Murad, and more

• Up to 30% off Peloton accessories and clothing

Support small businesses and get gift ideas from influencers

While Amazon is hosting sales on some of the biggest national brands, there is also opportunity for shoppers to support small businesses this holiday season. 

Resources like the Small Business Gift Guide, the filter to shop for emerging brands, and the link to shop Amazon Handmade, allow consumers to shop for a wide range of gifts while supporting small businesses. These links feature affordable gift guides, ideas for stocking stuffers, and recommendations from celebrities. 

In addition, social media influencers have partnered with Amazon to share their gift ideas for Cyber Monday and the rest of the holidays. Storm Reid, Remi Bader, Vinnie Hacker, and Dixie D’Amelio have covered nearly every gifting category – apparel, handbags, home goods, electronics, teens, technology, and more. 

Though there’s plenty of time to order holiday gifts online without fear of when they’ll show up, that anticipation will start to build in the coming weeks. 

To help offset some of those anxieties, Saks OFF 5th has rolled out a new feature – Guaranteed Delivery Date. Rather than showing a vague window of when an item will show up on your doorstep, or having shoppers wait until their order ships to know when it’s really coming, the company will now show shoppers precisely when their order will arrive. 

“Before Guaranteed Delivery Date, SaksOFF5th.com customers were presented with a standard delivery time frame for each item, regardless of destination, which meant items shipping to New York, Seattle, or Hawaii all had the same shipping period of three to five business days,” said Shivi Shankaran, COO of SaksOFF5th.com.

“With our new logistics capabilities now in place, we’re able to analyze all of the many factors that go into estimating a delivery date, such as where the product is, where it needs to go, who can help us deliver, and provide a concrete date for when customers will receive their package based on when they order. By introducing a customer-centric approach to our delivery experience, we’re making it easier to shop with Saks OFF 5th than ever before.” 

Shoppers will be able to view their guaranteed delivery date once they’re in the checkout process. Their shopping cart will highlight the date of delivery, as well as the price of shipping for each shipping method.

However, shoppers will also see a countdown timer – they must complete their order before the timer runs out in order to lock in the original guaranteed delivery date. 

The company reported that while most orders will fall under the new Guaranteed Delivery Date, not all will. For those that don’t, there will be an estimated delivery range for when the package will be delivered. 

Additionally, should a package be delivered after Saks’ Guaranteed Delivery Date, customers are eligible for a refund for their delivery charge. 

Shopping becomes more efficient

With this new feature, shoppers will know immediately whether the item they have their eye on will arrive in time, or if they should start looking for backup options. 

Saks OFF 5th worked both internally and with Shipium, a shipping and technology company, to make their estimated delivery dates as precise as possible for every single item. The company has also started working with more delivery carriers to improve the delivery process and allow shoppers to get their items as quickly as possible. All of these efforts, the company says, combined with advancements in technology and fulfillment centers have made it possible for Saks OFF 5th to improve its delivery date process. 

The company also believes that more accurate delivery dates will improve its delivery efficiency, as well. With the holiday season underway, it estimates that shoppers will have as many as three additional days to place their order and ensure a Christmas delivery date. 

There will also be even more ways to ship deliveries this holiday season. Shoppers can expect to have more options – such as Next Day Delivery and Expedited Delivery. The Guaranteed Delivery update will be available for all delivery options, and they will also show the costs associated with each choice. 

Rakuten, the online platform that provides online shoppers with cashback and discount codes, will now offer exclusive opportunities for customers this holiday season. 

From November 12-13, Rakuten will host its first-ever in-person pop-up shop in New York City. To complement that event, and extend the cash back opportunities to shoppers across the country, customers can shop the Holiday Edit to earn 10% cash back on holiday gifts. 

“Consumers have weathered a lot these last couple of holiday seasons – last year with supply chain issues and this year with inflation,” said Vicki McRae, senior vice president of brand, creative, and communications at Rakuten.

“Rakuten wanted to inspire shoppers by creating a holiday shopping destination with impactful rewards. We are thrilled to bring our online platform to life in New York City because we know seeing, or experiencing, is believing. Our members have earned billions in Cash Back online, and for the first time, shoppers will be able to earn Cash Back on the spot at the pop-up, making Rakuten the most rewarding way to shop this holiday season.”

Sleigh Your Shopping pop-up 

For its first in-person shopping event, Rakuten will host a “Sleigh Your Shopping” pop-up event from November 12-13 at 666 Broadway in New York City. 

Shoppers will earn 10% cash back at the event for every purchase that they make, plus an additional 10% cash back to their Rakuten accounts after the event. The pop-up will also feature some of the biggest brands, ensuring shoppers are able to make progress toward finishing their holiday shopping list. This includes: UGG, JVN Hair, Patrick Ta Beauty, and Quay, among several others. 

Shoppers simply have to show up to the pop-up and start shopping. The event is free and open to the public. 

Online shopping opportunities

For that outside of the New York City area, or for those who prefer to shop online, Rakuten is also offering cash-back deals for online shopping. From November 10-13, shoppers can earn 10% cash back on purchases made through the company’s Holiday Edit gift guide. 

The company has teamed up with celebrities and social media influencers to curate gift guides in different categories to help make holiday shopping easier – and help shoppers earn more cash back. Erin and Sara Foster have created the Fashion Edit, Kate Hudson created the Wellness Edit, Patrick Ta created the Beauty Edit, and Jonathan Van Ness created the Hair Edit. Each list is full of different gift ideas that also offer shoppers cash back on every purchase. 

Rakuten also plans to offer special cash-back deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

In advance of Veterans Day, Friday, November 11, retailers are lining up to show appreciation for those who are, or have, served the U.S. in the Armed Forces.

“During this annual federal holiday, we extend this savings to our active-duty military and veterans as a way to help them save money while honoring their brave service,” said Meg Ham, president, Food Lion, one retailer offering a 10% discount. 

“Our military veterans represent the towns and cities we serve, and Food Lion is committed to caring for and honoring our hometown heroes.”

According to Military.com, the deals are pretty simple –  proof of military service, such as:

• Retiree or military ID card

• Veterans ID card

• VA Benefits card

• DD-214 form

• State of residency ID card

• And for those shopping online, some retailers will require a registration with ID.me, a digital wallet that provides secure authentication and verification for multiple federal agencies and more than 500 name-brand retailers.

If you’re a vet, you’ve got a bunch of choices, says Military.com – everything from sporting goods to mattresses. Here’s a partial list of the discounts, dates, and eligibility requirements:

Sports Gear

Academy Sports + Outdoors -- Are you (or someone in your family) the athletic type? Active-duty service members and veterans get 10% off the entire purchase online or in-store from October 23 through November 13.

Adidas -- Veterans and active-duty military get 40% off sitewide until November 12.

Clothes and Shoes

HYLETE -- Fitness apparel company HYLETE will offer two Veterans Day promotions from November 11 through November 13. For an extra 10% off service league pricing, shoppers can use code "VET10" or for $20 off a $100 purchase shoppers can use the code "VET20". Only one code may be applied per order.

Rack Room Shoes -- Military personnel and their dependents get a 20% discount off their entire purchase in-store on November 11.

American Giant -- Active-duty military, Reservists, National Guard, veterans, and military family members get 30% off online from November 7 through 11.

General Merchandise

Target -- Target is going sale crazy this time of year. In addition to its other deep discounts, it is offering a 10% military discount from October 30 through November 12 to all active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their families. The discount can be used on two separate transactions and applies to all in-basket items, online and in-store.

Dollar General -- Veterans, active-duty military, National Guard, and Reserve and their immediate family members save 20% November 10 through 13 on qualifying, in-store purchases.

Tractor Supply Company -- Active-duty military, veterans and their dependents get a 15% discount on November 11.

Kohl’s -- Veterans, active and former military personnel, and their immediate families get 30% off in-store purchases from November 11 through 13.

Automotive

Just Tires -- If your vehicle needs new tires or a tune-up, active-duty military and veterans get free Car Care Checks at Just Tires, plus an additional 10% off tires and services. Eligible guests who present a valid ID can schedule car care check appointments between November 10 and 14 and redeem service through November 17.

Goodyear Auto Service -- Active-duty military and veterans get free Car Care Checks, plus an additional 10% off tires and services. Eligible guests who present a valid ID can schedule car care check appointments between November 10 and 14 and redeem service through November 17.

Grocery Stores

Southeastern Grocers -- Veterans and active-duty military get an 11% discount with valid documentation on November 11.

Food Lion -- For its 1,100 stores, Food Lion is offering active-duty military personnel and veterans 10% off on their in-store shopping purchase total before taxes on November 11. Show your military ID and MVP Card at checkout.

Publix -- Veterans and active-duty military personnel get a 10% discount on groceries on November 11.

Haircuts

Great Clips – On November 11, veterans and active service members can go into any U.S. Great Clips salon and get a free haircut or a free haircut card for a future visit.

In addition, non-military customers who get a haircut on Veterans Day will also have the opportunity to pay it forward. They can receive a free haircut card to give to an active service member or veteran that can be redeemed for a free haircut from November 12 through December 9.

Sport Clips -- On November 11, participating locations will provide free haircuts to veterans and active-duty service members with valid proof of service.

Vitamins and Drug Stores

Vitamin Shoppe -- From November 10 to 13, veterans receive a 25% discount on their entire purchase at any in-store location of The Vitamin Shoppe and Super Supplements.

Walgreens -- On November 11 through 14, veterans, active-duty military and their families receive 20% off regular price eligible store items at any Walgreens or Duane Reade drugstore nationwide.

Office Supplies

Staples -- Active-duty military personnel, reservists, retired or disabled veterans and their immediate families get a 25% discount November 6 through 12.

Office Depot and OfficeMax -- Veterans, active-duty military personnel, Reservists, and their dependents get 25% off qualifying regular and sale-priced purchases November 11 through 13. This offer is valid in-store only and requires a coupon.

Furniture

Lovesac -- Active and retired service members and their registered dependents get 25% off online after verification. Apply for your discount code by October 30, then redeem your code by November 13.

Sleep Number -- Shopping for a new mattress? Active-duty military and veterans receive 20% off most Sleep Number 360 smart beds, all bases, and most bedding purchases. This offer is valid from November 1 through 14.

As consumers are in full swing with holiday shopping, Google is rolling out new Search features that are designed to make it easier for shoppers to save money this holiday season. 

The update comes with three new additions: price insights, new labels for coupons and promotions, and side-by-side price comparisons. 

“The holiday season is upon us, and many are already getting into the (shopping) spirit,” wrote Shashi Thakur, vice president and general manager of consumer shopping at Google. “Deals are particularly top of mind this year: Among Americans planning to shop for the holidays, 43% are planning to look for deals and sales more than last year. So we’re sharing a few new features to help you easily find those discounts and get the perfect gift at the right price.” 

Saving more money this holiday season

Google Search’s new features were designed to help make holiday shopping easier – and cheaper – for shoppers. Here’s a look at what consumers can expect from the search engine: 

• Price Insights: This feature helps shoppers compare how the price of the item they have their eye on stacks up at other retailers. On top of that, Google will start showing whether the list prices are low, average, or high for the item. This will help shoppers understand whether or not they’re getting a good deal, overpaying for a must-have gift, or can get something cheaper elsewhere. 

• New Coupon and Promotion Labels: There is no shortage of coupon codes floating around the internet. With this new feature, Google will show which sales are going on right from the Search menu, and which coupon codes are active and valid. This update will tag which items are on sale, what the sale is, and the code that’s needed to activate the discount. This may help speed up consumers’ shopping process, as all of this information is now available after doing a search with no need to click through retailers’ websites. To make things even easier, shoppers can also now clip coupons. After clicking on the promo, the coupon code will save to your clipboard for easy access to paste into checkout. 

• Price Comparisons: The side-by-side price match feature was also designed to make online shopping faster and more efficient. When looking for a good deal on something specific, it can get time-consuming going through website after website. Now, a quick Google Search will show offerings for your specific item – from different stores – offering an immediate price comparison. 

Google plans to roll out these updates in full by the end of the month – right at the height of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. 

In preparation for the holiday season, Amazon will now offer customers a new way to pay for their orders: Venmo. 

Starting immediately, shoppers can check out either on Amazon.com or the Amazon app through their Venmo accounts. 

“We want to offer customers payment options that are convenient, easy to use, and secure – there’s no better time for that than the busy holiday season,” said Max Bardon, vice president of Amazon Worldwide Payments. “Whether it’s paying with cash, buying now and paying later, or now paying via Venmo, our goal is to meet the needs and preferences of every Amazon customer. We’re excited to continue to offer customers even more options when it comes to how and when they want to pay for their order.” 

“We know that the Venmo community of nearly 90 million users value the safety, security, ease, and familiarity that paying with Venmo helps to bring to the checkout experience,” said Doug Bland, senior vice president and general manager, head of Consumer at PayPal. “The ability to pay with Venmo on Amazon continues our ongoing commitment to offer the community more ways to spend, send, receive, and manage their money with Venmo.” 

Ease and convenience paying with Venmo

Checking out at Amazon with your Venmo account was designed to make things easier for shoppers, and offer yet another way to pay. 

Amazon has made the option as simple as adding any other payment method to your account. When ready to checkout, select payment methods, and begin the process of linking your Venmo account. After that, you’re all set. Paying with Venmo will then be an option at checkout for all future Amazon purchases. 

You can also opt to use Venmo as your default payment setting, meaning Amazon will pre-select your Venmo account as the primary payment method moving forward. 

Amazon says its customers can feel confident knowing their purchases are secure through Venmo. Additionally, using Venmo on Amazon doesn’t come with any additional fees, and customers will be able to pay the same way they would with Venmo – using their Venmo balance, or their linked credit or debit cards. 

The company has already started rolling out the Venmo feature to users, and all Amazon customers will be able to pay with Venmo by Black Friday.  

The holiday shopping season has officially kicked off, and major retailers have begun hosting big savings events this month. Target hosted its two-day Deal Day event from October 6-8, Walmart will be holding its Rollback and More sales event through October 13, and Kohl’s will host a 2-Day Deal Dash through October 12. 

Amazon is also participating in the early holiday shopping festivities with its Prime Early Access Sale on October 11-12. As Prime members consider their holiday shopping lists, preparation is key for the company’s second Prime Day event of the year. 

While Amazon plans to announce new deals over the course of the two-day sale, below are some of the items that are being highlighted as part of the discount event, as well as some tips for consumers to make the most of the Prime Early Access Sale. 

What’s on sale? 

Thousands of items will be on sale during this Prime event, including some of the biggest brands of the holiday season – Peloton, Casper, Ninja, Calvin Klein, and more. Here are some of the best deals consumers can score during the two-day Amazon sale. 

Home Goods: 

• Ninja Air Fryer with 2 Baskets: $199.99 (originally $249.99)

• Calphalon 10-piece Pots and Pans Set: $100 (originally $150) 

• Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker: $49.99 (originally $100)

• Toshiba Countertop Microwave Oven: $134.99 (originally $164.99) 

• REFSAVER Fridge Storage Containers: $20 (originally $35) 

Amazon Devices: 

• Echo Dot with Clock (4th Generation): $35 (originally $60) 

• Fire TV Cube: $60 (originally $120) 

• Kindle Paperwhite: $100 (originally $140) 

• Amazon Halo View: $45 (originally $80) 

• Kindle Oasis: $180 (originally $250) 

TVs: 

• Insignia 32” Smart HD Fire TV: $99.99 (originally $179.99) 

• TCL 50” 5-Series 4K UHD Dolby Vision HDR Roku Smart TV: $429.99 (originally $699.99)

• LG 55” C1 OLED Smart TV: $1,296.99 (originally $1,499.99) 

• Samsung 65” Class QLED Q70A Smart TV: $947.99 (originally $1,399.99) 

• Samsung 85” QN90B Class Neo HDR Smart TV: $2,997.99 (originally $4,497.99) 

Technology: 

• Apple AirPods 2: $90 (originally $169) 

• Fitbit Luxe: $87 (originally $140) 

• iRobot Roomba J7 Plus: $599 (originally $799.99) 

• Apple Watch SE (2020): $189 (originally $279) 

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: $179.99 (originally $229.99) 

Toys: 

• Lego Ideas Seinfeld Building Kit: $64 (originally $80) 

• TeeTurtle Reversible Plushies: $11 (originally $15) 

• Playmobil Knight Rider K.I.T.T.: $68 (originally $90) 

• Discovery Kids Gemstone Dig STEM Science Kit: $12.97 (originally $19.99)

• Nerf Modulus Recon MKIII Blaster: $28 (originally $34) 

How to make the most of the sale

To make sure you check off every family member or friend on your gift list during the Prime Early Access Sale, Prime members can set up personalized notifications for deals on specific items. You can set up these alerts on the Amazon website or app based on items you’ve recently searched for or looked at. During the sale, you’ll start to receive notifications as the items are discounted. 

Shoppers can also take advantage of Amazon’s holiday toy list and home gift guide. Both lists are broken down into different categories to help guide consumers to find the perfect gifts. 

It can be difficult to get a bargain anywhere these days. With efforts to find discounts for back-to-school supplies, holiday gifts, or airline tickets, the Cinema Foundation is giving movie lovers the opportunity to save some money – and head out to their local movie theater. 

The non-profit organization has named September 3 “National Cinema Day,” with all movie tickets costing just $3. This deal is in effect for movies shown in IMAX or 3D, and over 3,000 theaters across the country will be participating – including big-name chains like Regal Cinemas and AMC. 

As the last big weekend of the summer, very few moviegoers end up in theaters over Labor Day Weekend. The goal of the promotion is to generate interest with $3 tickets and build on the momentum from a successful summer for movie theaters nationwide. 

Scoring deals on snacks and drinks

For consumers with a local AMC or Cinemark theater, the deals don’t end with the $3 ticket to any movie. Both companies have also announced savings on snack and drink options for National Cinema Day. 

Cinemark will be offering moviegoers: $3 for a small popcorn (with the option to upgrade to a large for $1), $3 for a medium ICEE or fountain soda, and $3 candy. AMC theaters are offering its cameo combo of popcorn and a fountain drink for $5 plus tax. 

Depending on the success of this first National Cinema Day, industry sources say this may turn into an annual occurrence in the U.S. 

Macy’s has announced that it will open Toys “R” Us locations at all 509 of its U.S. stores by the holidays. The retail chain is expanding its partnership with WHP Global to bring the beloved toy brand to every Macy’s store beginning in late July, with the last one to be put in place by mid-October. 

Once considered gone for good, Toys “R” Us seems to have made a comeback from four years ago. In Macy’s reported earnings for the first quarter of 2022, toy sales were 15 times higher than the comparable period before the Toys “R” Us partnership. That's a positive sign for Macy's since some of its stores were also ready to be shuttered.

The in-store shops will range anywhere from 1,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet in the company’s flagship locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco. The plans also have some flexibility built in so that high-performing stores with a lot of foot traffic can add 500 to 3,000 square feet and an even wider assortment of products.

“Macy’s cannot wait to bring the Toys “R” Us experience to life in our stores,” said Nata Dvir, Macy’s chief merchandising officer. "We hope Toys “R” Us kids of all ages discover the joy of exploration and play within our shops and families create special memories together. The customer response to our partnership with Toys “R” Us has been incredible and our toy business has seen tremendous growth.”

The revamped Toys “R” Us shops bring some new twists with them. In addition to hands-on demonstration tables, there will also be a life-size “Geoffrey on a Bench” available for photo opportunities.

To make the openings extra enticing, each Macy’s location will host nine days of in-store events beginning on October 15. The events will include activities for everyone in the family and daily giveaways for Barbie, LEGO, and other toy brand lovers.

Consumers who are used to seeing special deals on everything from furniture to electronics on President's Day weekend might be disappointed by this year's showing.

While many brands are still offering deals on various items, experts say supply chain issues that have been affecting U.S. markets for months may keep deals from being ultra-low. If you don't believe us, just take a look at some of the inflation stories ConsumerAffairs has covered in recent weeks. 

Prices for both new and used cars have been soaring for quite some time, with new research showing that more than 80% of car buyers are paying over the sticker price. In fact, rising producer costs are causing higher prices across several categories, prompting economists to believe that high levels of inflation may last even after the supply chain issues are resolved.

Consumers can't even catch a break when it comes to online shopping. While the prices of certain products have been going up for months, shoppers who rely on services like Amazon Prime are being hit even harder because the price of a Prime subscription is going up.

Combating illegal price increases

While economists generally agree that consumers will see higher prices going forward into the immediate future, wary consumers should rest assured that officials are keeping a close watch on companies that may want to use inflation as an excuse to artificially raise prices. Late last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an initiative designed to stop companies from working with each other to do just that. 

“Temporary supply chain disruptions should not be allowed to conceal illegal conduct,” stated Jonathan Kanter, an assistant attorney general working in the DOJ's Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division will not allow companies to collude in order to overcharge consumers under the guise of supply chain disruptions.”

The DOJ is using the initiative to launch investigations in coordination with other U.S. agencies like the FBI to counteract companies that are looking to make illicit profits. It's even working with foreign agencies in other countries to ensure that global markets are also safe from this behavior.

“The lingering challenge of supply chain disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic has created an opportunity for criminals to fix prices and overcharge customers,” said Luis Quesada, an assistant director with the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to collaborate and investigate schemes that violate our antitrust laws and stifle our economic recovery.”

Officials are encouraging consumers who have any information about price-fixing or other anticompetitive behaviors to report the issue to the DOJ on its website. Consumers can also call the agency's Antitrust Division Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258.

Concerns about a spike in COVID-19 cases this fall did nothing to dampen consumers’ holiday spending. A report from Mastercard SpendingPulse shows that holiday retail sales rose 8.5% over last year, the biggest jump in 17 years.

Compared to last year, online transactions grew by 11.0%. The survey measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24.

“Shoppers were eager to secure their gifts ahead of the retail rush, with conversations surrounding supply chain and labor supply issues sending consumers online and to stores in droves,” said Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard and former CEO and Chairman of Saks Incorporated. “Consumers splurged throughout the season, with apparel and department stores experiencing strong growth as shoppers sought to put their best-dressed foot forward.”

The report also shows that consumers began shopping earlier than usual due to concerns that supply chain issues would limit the supply of the most popular gifts. Those concerns failed to materialize, however. Spending also increased later in the season as retailers offered more special promotions.

A big Black Friday weekend

Black Friday was the biggest day for spending during the 2021 holiday season. During the Thanksgiving weekend, shoppers drove U.S. retail sales up 14.1% year-over-year. In-store sales also rebounded, increasing 16.5% year-over-year. E-commerce sales experienced sustained growth, increasing by 4.9% over last year.

Online shopping made up 20.9% of total retail sales during the holiday season, up from 20.6% in 2020 and 14.6% in 2019. The report notes that online shopping got a strong boost from the pandemic, a trend that is expected to last.

Apparel, jewelry, and electronics were the most popular spending sectors, with all three categories registering strong growth over the 2020 holiday season.

After the 2021 holiday spending spree, consumers who used credit cards to make their purchases will be faced with paying for them in 2022. While credit card balances dropped sharply during the first year of the pandemic, the average consumer carries more than $5,600 in credit card debt, according to MoneyGeek.

With bankruptcy and liquidation behind it, Toys “R” Us hopes to open up its first comeback store -- a two-level, 20,000-square-foot flagship location at the American Dream megamall in Bergen County, New Jersey. The store is scheduled to open in mid-December, just in time for Christmas.

The company’s new store was designed to be reminiscent of the brand consumers know and love, complete with Geoffrey the Giraffe, interactive experiences, and product demonstrations. New to the scene are add-ons like Geoffrey's Café and ice cream parlor and a two-story slide.

"American Dream is a one-of-a-kind unrivaled retail center featuring massive entertainment experiences that make it an ideal destination for families. Debuting our first Toys"R"Us flagship here is a no-brainer," said Yehuda Shmidman, Toys “R” Us’ Chairman and CEO. 

"The Toy “R” Us brand is big and growing fast. Today we have over 900 stores and e-commerce sites operating across 25 countries outside the USA, and now our USA expansion plans are in high gear, propelling us into the next chapter of growth for our global brand."

Toys "R" Us’ deal with Macy’s still happening

WHP Global, Toys ‘R’ Us’ owner, announced earlier this year that the company will open over 400 Toys “R” Us shop-in-shops inside Macy's stores nationwide starting in 2022. One retail expert notes that while those locations will pale in comparison to the company’s previous 700 big-box stores prior to it collapsing, the deal with Macy’s puts it back in the mix for consumers looking for toys.

“The partnership with Macy's gives the Toys R Us brand more geographic depth yet less direct contact with customers,” wrote Retail Dive’s Ben Unglesbee. “The merchandising and operations for the Toys R Us store-in-stores is mostly driven by Macy's, which is eyeing expanded sales in the toy category through housing an iconic toy retail brand.”

Consumers who wait expectantly for a package that never arrives are often left to wonder what happened to it. An incident in Alabama last week may provide a clue.

During last week’s holidays, the Blount County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report that hundreds of FedEx packages had been found in a remote area of the western part of the county.

“I currently have a deputy on a location where it appears 300-400 boxes of assorted sizes have been thrown off a ravine,” Blount County Sheriff Mark Moon posted on Twitter last week. “An area manager from FedEx is en route to the scene. Hopefully, we will have some answers soon.”

Moon later reported that FedEx had sent a truck that picked up all of the packages. Later, FedEx issued a statement of its own.

“The security of our customers’ shipments is a top priority and we are committed to treating our customers’ packages with the utmost care,” the company said in a statement to media outlets. “We are taking steps to recover and transport the affected packages as quickly as possible. In addition to cooperating with law enforcement, we are conducting a review of this situation and will take the appropriate action.” 

The packages were recovered near Hayden, in the northern part of the state and about 30 miles north of Birmingham.

Not that uncommon

It turns out that packages getting dumped in an isolated location instead of being delivered is not an uncommon situation. During the holiday season last year, when COVID-19 kept millions of shoppers at home, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and other delivery services struggled to handle the huge increase in online orders.

Last December, a USPS division in Chicago conducted an investigation after 19 packages were found dumped in a Southwest Side alley garbage can. The investigation determined that the packages were handled by FedEx and never made it to the Mount Greenwood Post Office for processing.

Also in December 2020, the New York Post reported that an Amazon delivery driver was spotted throwing a package into the woods in Logan Township, New Jersey. A sheriff’s deputy reported recovering eleven undelivered packages.

A traditional Thanksgiving dinner will cost quite a bit more than last year, according to a survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). 

As we reported this week, the price of turkeys has risen because of supply and demand issues. But the federation’s survey shows that the cost of the entire meal is up 14% over 2020, more than twice October’s inflation rate.

Farm Bureau "volunteer shoppers" visited grocery stores and checked prices Oct. 26 to Nov. 8, about two weeks before most grocery store chains began featuring whole frozen turkeys at sharply lower prices. 

They found that a frozen turkey costs more than last year, at $23.99 for a 16-pound bird. That's roughly $1.50 per pound, up 24% from last year. The survey did find that many supermarket chains put frozen turkeys on sale closer to the holiday. Consumers who shopped during the week of Nov. 5-11 paid only 14% more for a bird.

Side dishes also cost more

Other parts of the typical Thanksgiving spread will also cost more in 2021. Prices of sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, coffee, and milk are all higher to some degree this year.

For example, the cost of pie crusts has risen 20% and dinner rolls are up 15%, at $3.05 for a dozen. The price of stuffing is the only item that costs less than last year, falling 19%.

The survey found that removing turkey from the meal reduced the cost increase to less than 7%. The average price of a typical Thanksgiving dinner was calculated using 2018 surveys with pricing data from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

"Several factors contributed to the increase in average cost of this year's Thanksgiving dinner," said AFBF Senior Economist Veronica Nigh. "These include dramatic disruptions to the U.S. economy and supply chains over the last 20 months; inflationary pressure throughout the economy; difficulty in predicting demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and high global demand for food, particularly meat." 

Changes in consumer behavior may also contribute to a more costly Thanksgiving meal this year. During the pandemic, people dined at restaurants less and ate meals at home more than in years past. Nigh says that behavior put pressure on supermarkets, leading to prices that are higher than they were before the pandemic.

America’s merchants may not like hearing this with Black Friday approaching next week, but for millions of Americans, holiday shopping is about as pleasant as a root canal.

That startling finding is part of TD Bank’s 2021 Merry Money Survey, which showed that for more than half of Americans -- 52% -- holiday shopping is painful. And yes, 33% of that group actually equated the pain of holiday shopping to an unpleasant dental procedure.

This year’s survey also suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a long-lasting effect on consumers’ holiday shopping habits. After the economic uncertainty of 2020, 73% of those in the survey are creating a holiday budget, up from 68% in 2018. At the same time, 66% of consumers said holiday spending makes them “anxious.”

Pandemic’s positive impact

On a more positive note, the effects of the pandemic appear to have made people more reflective about the holidays. The survey shows that 84% of Americans valued last year’s holiday celebrations because they were more about the time spent with loved ones versus spending money on gifts.

Now that millions of people are vaccinated, there will likely be more in-person holiday events in 2021, making some long for the “good old days” of 2020, when the virus provided an excuse to stay home. Fifty-six percent of respondents said they liked being able to avoid holiday parties and awkward family events.

While consumers may not be enthusiastic about shopping for extended family members, they are showing no such hesitation about buying for their pets. Sixty-three percent of consumers in the survey said they plan to buy gifts for their pets this year, including 76% of millennials. Fourteen percent of millennials said they plan to spend more than $100 on each of their pets.

‘Set your limits’

While some consumers may enjoy more holiday cheer in 2021, there are still many others who feel weighed down by the effects of the pandemic. Matt Boss, head of Consumer Products at TD Bank, says rising prices and holiday commitments are factors to consider this year. 

"Holiday shopping, travel, hosting, and celebrations all have costs associated – and due to supply chain issues, we're seeing cost increases that will make joining in even more of a challenge for some,” Boss stated.

According to the survey, 69% of consumers said say they have overspent during the holidays in the past, a possible reason for holiday anxiety. Boss says keeping things simple and low-key -- much like last year -- may make for happier holidays.

“Set your limits – whether financial or personal – and stick to them," Boss said.

If you go in for traditional Thanksgiving dinners, with turkey and all the trimmings, next week’s holiday may pose something of a challenge. Turkeys cost more, and there may be fewer of them at your neighborhood supermarket.

While supply chain issues may be partly to blame, there are also other factors at work. David Anderson, a livestock economist at Texas A&M, says U.S. turkey production was down 5% this year when compared to 2020. He said producers reduced flocks because the cost of both labor and feed have gone up.

Demand is also likely to be greater this year. In 2020, with COVID-19 raging and no vaccines available, there were fewer family gatherings. Many families are planning to make up for that this year.

Turkey prices spike ahead of Thanksgiving

With fewer turkeys, increased demand, and higher transportation costs, economists say consumers can expect to pay more than usual for a holiday bird if they can find one to their liking.

Turkey prices the week before Thanksgiving range from about $1.50 to $2.30 a pound, according to Gregory Martin, a poultry educator with the Penn State Extension Department. He tells Lancaster Farming, an agriculture website in Pennsylvania, that much of the increased cost is due to shipping difficulties. 

While producers raised fewer turkeys this year, Martin says he doesn’t foresee a turkey shortage. However, with tighter than normal supplies, he says shoppers may have to compromise.

“There might be fewer turkeys, so you may have to take what’s there,” Martin said. “There’s going to be birds, but with this panic buying, it may not be the right size you’re looking for.”

Smaller birds are harder to come by

In particular, small birds may be harder to come by this year. Industry experts say large turkeys, those that 16 pounds or more, may be the most plentiful.

Meanwhile, chefs point out that there are many perfectly acceptable turkey alternatives. One of the most obvious ones is plant-based turkey, which has grown in popularity in recent years. According to Forbes, an estimated 4.5 million plant-based turkeys will grace Thanksgiving tables this year.

Some chefs suggest taking a break from turkey this year since there appears to be plenty of other holiday meats to choose from, including ham, pork, and beef. They say cornish game hens, served with an abundance of vegetables and casseroles, also make a nice holiday spread.

Parents have already started their holiday shopping and reportedly face supply chain challenges in finding favorite toys. The consumer group U.S. PIRG says that shortfall could increase the dangers from counterfeit or recalled toys.

In its 36th Annual Toy Safety Report, U.S. PIRG found that recalled or counterfeit toys have already made their way to consumers’ shopping carts. The organization has urged parents to check toys closely before giving them as gifts.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recalled 13 toys so far this year. PIRG Education Fund toy researchers found two additional recalled products — a hoverboard and a children’s watch accessory — that could fit into the toy gift category. 

Safety experts say the recalled toys pose a number of risks, including high levels of lead, potential foreign-body ingestion by a child, and choking hazards caused by small parts from easily broken toys.

Toys from traditional retailers should be safe

The group says parents who purchased toys at well-established retail stores are much less likely to find toys with safety risks. Those toys are required to have a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC). The CPC seal shows that the toy follows all applicable federal safety standards for children.

The problem, safety advocates say, involves toys purchased at thrift stores or online at unfamiliar or third-party retailers. They say websites that act as the middleman between the customer and the seller can be especially problematic.

“The middlemen do not consider themselves to be traditional retailers and therefore often do not follow the same rules that a traditional retailer would,” U.S. PIRG said in a press release. “Whereas the retailers must receive a certificate of compliance from a manufacturer before selling a toy, not every toy sold online may be covered by a CPC and the toy described in the website listing might not be the toy that arrives at your door.”

Potential dangers include toxic chemicals such as heavy metals or phthalates. Most parents don’t have access to labs that could test for harmful substances.

Because of supply chain constraints this year, consumer advocates worry that the unsafe toy problem could be worse. They say parents may cast a wider net in their search for toys for their children.

How to spot a fake or dangerous toy

U.S. PIRG has released a set of tips for parents and other relatives on how to spot a counterfeit or dangerous toy. First, the group recommends looking at the seller’s website. When looking at a toy’s product description, watch out for misspellings or mislabeling. Website listings with low-quality pictures of toys can also indicate a counterfeit, the group says.

The group also says to look for age recommendations. If there isn’t a clear age range, it’s best to avoid buying the toy. 

A “too-good-to-be-true” price can also be a red flag. When shopping on a website that has third-party sellers, comparing listings for similar toys can be a good way to identify what the average price should be. 

When shopping at websites hosting third-party sellers, you should be able to access the seller’s information. On Amazon, you can select the seller’s name under “Buy Now.” On eBay, you can click the seller’s name under “Seller Information.” On Walmart.com, a product sold by a third party has the seller’s name listed next to “Sold and shipped by.” 

Black Friday will be here before you know it, but how can consumers prepare for the busiest holiday sales season ever when supply chain issues and worker shortages are making shopping more difficult?

If you plan on ordering items online, you’ll want to make sure you place your orders as soon as possible. In a recent report, BlackFriday.com noted that there are more options for fast delivery this holiday season. 

After being stuck in pandemic limbo in 2020, many major merchants are upping their game. Target and Walmart are offering same-day delivery for orders of $35 or more, Amazon Prime has free two-day shopping for Prime members, and Best Buy is offering a next-day shipping option.

Holiday shipping deadlines for 2021

FedEx, UPS, and USPS. Since Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, shipping times will be shortened by a day or so for consumers who want to get their items before that holiday. Smart shoppers who celebrate Christmas should shoot for their packages to arrive by Friday, Dec. 24 at the latest. 

Consumers who elect to ship with USPS should mark Dec. 18 as the last day to submit orders for First-Class delivery. The deadline for Priority Mail is Dec. 19.

The least expensive option for FedEx shippers ends on Dec. 9 if they want to get their packages on time. The company has several other options -- including Dec. 25 -- but at higher prices. UPS Ground, the company’s best price option, calls for Dec. 9 as the last day to schedule a delivery. But like FedEx, it also has pricier options for those who wait past then. 

Consumers should note that these dates are for shipments within the contiguous U.S. If you’re shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, overseas, or to the military, you should check the carriers’ sites. 

Store shipping deadlines and deals. BlackFriday.com’s Shannon Flynn says shipping deadlines from major retailers are somewhat of a moving target this year. 

In fact, many companies appear to be foregoing general ship-by-dates and giving real-time shipping estimates to consumers based on their delivery address and the items they purchased. While some retailers won’t offer expedited or free shipping for the holidays because of carrier restrictions, there are some larger companies that will.

To see a list of those companies and their requirements, visit BlackFriday.com’s site here.

With nearly three weeks to go before Black Friday, major retailers are already in the midst of their holiday deal offerings. For parents, current supply chain bottlenecks may add to the urgency to shop early for toys.

"There is no one 'hot toy' this year for parents to get anxious about buying,” said Joanne Oppenheim, who maintains the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. “However, given the supply shortages, if there is something special your child wants, we recommend not waiting.”

The portfolio, an independent consumer organization, puts together lists of toys for certain age groups. Oppenheim says there are three significant trends this year that can help parents and other family members select toys that are not only fun but aid in a child’s development.

Take a screen break

The first trend might be labeled “old school.” After more than a year of being glued to screens, Oppenheim says kids need a break. Board games, puzzles, and games that promote physical activity are likely to be popular this year. She also notes that dolls reflect the growing emphasis on diversity. 

“We reviewed more doll collections this year that reflect greater diversity by including both girls and boys of varying skin tones and heritages,” she said.

The third trend is technology. The Oppenheim list includes toys that introduce the concept of coding, as well as the first 3D Printer designed specifically for kids. “STEM toys continue to be a hot trend - our testers found the most engaging and entertaining ones,” Oppenheim said.

Find an overlooked toy

Finding an overlooked toy that’s not on everyone else’s list might also be a good strategy. In the U.K., iNews reports that Amazon has already run out of three of the 12 ‘Dreamtoys’ picks unveiled by the toy industry last week.

The Toy Insider predicts that rugged toy trucks will be a popular item this year. New Bright‘s Heavy Metal Truck collection features real, stamped metal body panels that look authentic. The collection includes four 1:10-scale trucks that are controlled by 2.4GHz technology. The trucks are powered by an included rechargeable battery with USB Smart Charge technology.

Other popular toys that currently appear to have adequate supplies include Lego Star Wars sets, Paw Patrol toys, and CoComelon toys.

What will holiday shopping be like this year with the economy dealing with a chip shortage and supply chain hassles? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says consumers need to take the situation seriously because it could greatly affect the price of certain items, how shoppers will find them, and whether they’ll get them in time.

Retailers are painfully aware of how bad this could be. In a recent KPMG survey of retail executives, 82% of respondents acknowledged that they are either “somewhat” or “very concerned” about inventory shortages.

As a result, the survey reports that retailers are building omnichannel strategies that will allow them to rely on the growing popularity of “last mile” delivery options. Those options include traditional online ordering with delivery included, curbside pickup, ordering online and picking up items in-store, and buying in-store with home delivery.

Five things to do while holiday shopping

In addition to worrying about the chip shortage and supply issues, the FTC says consumers need to look out for scammers who are already setting up fake online shops. To cover all of these issues, the agency laid out five things consumers should do when shopping this holiday season:

Research sellers before you buy. The FTC suggests searching online for the name of the seller and product, plus words like “complaint” and “scam.” You should also read reviews about the seller and their products.

Feed your inner skeptic. Every year, there seems to be one toy that’s higher in demand than everything else. The FTC says if you see an offer for this year’s hottest gift in mid-December from a seller you’ve never heard of, run as fast as you can in the other direction.

Compare products. Shopping for the best deals is bound to save consumers money, and that’s especially important this holiday season. “Even with the chip shortage, shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Comparison shop online, looking at prices, delivery dates, and even discounts or coupon codes,” the FTC’s Carly Johnson suggests.

Pay by credit card. Johnson encourages consumers to use credit cards whenever possible so that charges can be disputed if something goes wrong or a scammer gets involved. “And if someone tells you to pay by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or by mailing cash, stop and find another seller,” Johnson said. “That’s how scammers tell you to pay.”

Keep records. When you buy something online, print out and save a copy of the order until you get what you ordered and know that you’re going to keep it vs. returning it. 

Major retailers have begun their Black Friday sales earlier this year, but consumers may still have to search longer to find holiday bargains. And once again, you can point the finger of blame at the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Wall Street Journal survey of business executives and industry analysts suggests that consumers should expect to pay close to full price on a wider array of products because of supply issues. There simply won’t be as many products available as in years past, giving merchants more pricing power.

The Journal report suggests that there could be a change in holiday spending patterns this year, with many consumers deciding to emphasize giving “experiences” over gifts. A 28-year-old mother of two in Redlands, Calif., said she is considering taking her family to Disneyland for Christmas instead of giving gifts.

Consumers are encountering more than the usual number of out-of-stock messages when they look for gift items. Adobe tracks web traffic for retail sites and reports that these online empty shelves have increased by 172% over last year.

That’s not to say there will not be deals; they just might not be quite as good as in previous years. Adobe predicts that sale prices may average 5% to 25% off, slightly less than in the past.

Look for advertised deals

For consumers who are eager to save money on holiday shopping, advertised deals from major retailers may offer the surest savings. Target, Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart have already revealed their Black Friday sale prices, and some of them have already launched their sales.

Consumers have already discovered the absence of deals on some big-ticket items. Major appliances like washers and dryers are almost always at full price these days. The same is true for new cars, which are in short supply because of the shortage of computer chips. As a result, consumers may see fewer television commercials this December suggesting a new car as a Christmas gift. You can still buy one, but there will be almost no incentives, and dealers will likely ask for the sticker price or more.

Steve Lawrence, chief merchandising officer at Academy Sports + Outdoors, recently told CNN Business that shoppers will see fewer deep discounts during this year's holiday season in just about every category.

"Last year was not very promotional. We don't think that this holiday is going to be terribly promotional either," said Lawrence.

It may be a holiday season like no other in recent memory, according to a new study by Oracle.

The 2020 holiday season was different because COVID-19 concerns limited large family gatherings. This year, the game-changer is an expected shortage of products and delays in shipping them.

The Oracle study suggests that consumers are already making plans to meet the challenges. The researchers found that 52% of Americans have already started holiday shopping or plan to shop earlier than usual. 

In what should be good news for retailers, 20% of respondents say they plan to order more gifts this year in case some are delayed or canceled. Millennials are the most likely demographic group to order backup gifts.

Another big year for gift cards

Gift card sales, which have been increasing every year, will likely make a big leap this year. Thirty-four percent of people in the study said they plan to give more gift cards this holiday season. Among baby boomers, the percentage rises to 58%.

"As we see in the news, the supply chain challenges are a global reality,” said Mike Webster, senior vice president, and general manager, Oracle Retail. “Regardless, consumers will still measure retailers on their ability to deliver on their wish lists this holiday season." 

William, of The Villages, Fla., was frustrated with JCPenny when he ordered a sheet set in two parts, but he said the company couldn’t send the matching pillowcases because of a supply shortage.

“JCP refuses to waive an $8 shipping fee for the no-longer useful sheet set that will come without the matching pillowcases,” William wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “As a result, I will be refusing a $200 order that included a half dozen items.”

‘Accountability the name of the game’

This year, Webster says retailers will be held accountable by shoppers who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing holiday season last year.

"Accountability will be the name of the game,” he said. “Retailers must have clear visibility into their inventory, a realistic timeline for the fulfillment, and a plan to communicate clearly throughout the order and delivery processes. Through transparency and execution, retailers can earn trust with their customers and build the potential for future loyalty."

The supply chain issue has grown more severe since the end of the summer. Twenty-eight percent of consumers in the study admitted to being concerned that the products they want will be more expensive due to scarcity and 27% are worried that the products they want won't be available.

Delivery concerns are also mounting, and perhaps with good reason. The study found evidence that the nation’s overburdened delivery system is likely to face increased demands over the holiday season.

Seventy-two percent of respondents said they will have gifts delivered to their homes rather than shopping in a brick-and-mortar store. Twenty-two percent are already worried that the items they order won’t arrive in time.

With the holidays less than six weeks away, U.S. mail carriers and package delivery companies are getting out in front with their recommendations for consumers who want their gifts to arrive on time.

Overall, things are pretty much the same as 2020’s holiday schedule for UPS and FedEx, but the USPS has moved its first-class and priority mail ship-by dates up by a day. 

Shipping breakdown by carrier

USPS: If you’re taking the U.S. Postal Service route, here’s what you need to know. The USPS recommends that anyone who wants to have their package delivered on time for Christmas Day via ground service should ship it by Dec. 15. For those who don’t hit that cutoff date, they can still use first-class mail, which gives them until Dec. 17 to send their package. The deadline for priority mail is Dec. 18, and the deadline for priority mail express is Dec. 23. For international and military shipping, the USPS also provides a list of shipping dates here.

While the USPS doesn’t make specific reference to Hanukkah or Kwanzaa mailing date suggestions, shipping two weeks in front of those holidays is likely a safe bet. The agency also reminds consumers that mailing rates have changed and that they should be prepared to spend more than they have in the past. 

Another consideration that consumers should take into account is that slowdowns at USPS may have an additional impact. ConsumerAffairs reviewers like Henry from Waterbury, Conn., have already been impacted by slower service times.

“I sent my package on July 7th 2021 and I was promised delivery on July/12th/2021,” he wrote. “I have tried to call but I can't get to someone. I went to service center in Waterbury and they gave a number to call Hartford consumer center. I called the number, every time I call no one answers, the recording asks for your number and name and promise to call you back in 24 hours. I have called for 12 days and every time the system will ask you for name and number and no one has ever called me back. My documents had personal information and now I don't know what to do.”

UPS: UPS says consumers will want to schedule their packaged delivery by Monday, Dec. 20, to get it by December 24. For those who miss that cut-off, there are other, more expensive, options. Those include:

• Dec. 21: UPS 3 Day Select

• Dec. 22: UPS 2nd Day Air

• Dec. 23: UPS Next Day Air

A complete list of UPS shipping dates and services is available here.

FedEx: FedEx says the last day to get a package out for Christmas is Dec. 15 if you’re going the ground shipping route. For the less expensive ground economy packages, consumers will need to ship the package by Dec. 9. 

FedEx can still deliver packages for those who wait until the last minute, but it will charge a higher rate. A full list of FedEx shipping dates and available services is available here.

Be careful of order confirmation scams

The Postal Service reminds consumers that scammers have recently been using the order confirmation scam. If you receive a text message from a number you don’t recognize saying you need to confirm a delivery by clicking on a link, the USPS says you should stop right there. The scam — called “smishing” — starts with the pretense that it’s from Walmart, Costco, Target, or Amazon and that you need to confirm a recent purchase you supposedly made. 

“Customers are required to either register online, or initiate a text message, and provide a tracking number. USPS will not send customers text messages or emails without a customer first requesting the service with a tracking number, and it will NOT contain a link,” the agency said. “So, if you did not initiate the tracking request for a specific package directly from USPS and it contains a link: don’t click the link!”

Playing off of last year’s success with its 12 Days of Wine Advent Calendar, Sam’s Club has decided to try out wine delivery in advance of the holiday season.

Starting soon, Sam’s Club members in 16 states will have access to the delivery service. It will allow them to order the retailer’s private brand Member’s Mark wines online at SamsClub.com and have them shipped directly to their home. Additional states and wines will be added to the service early next year.

How good are Sam’s Club wines?

Banking on the success that Trader Joe’s had with its Two-Buck Chuck, larger retailers have gone all-in on private brand wines over the past few years. Target, Kroger, Walmart, and Costco all want a piece of the budget line action. For example, Sam’s Club’s big brother Walmart rolled out 10 private-label wines for $11 a bottle a few years ago in a line called the “Winemakers Selection,” featuring wine from California, France, and Italy. 

In a survey of how good Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark wines were, ConsumerAffairs found lots of positives -- and a few sour grape reviews too. Its members seem to love its Old Vine Zinfandel -- 4.4 stars for a bottle retailing at around $7. But it’s the $9 Member's Mark Moscato d'Asti that appears to be the overall favorite, getting a near-flawless 4.9-star rating.

In a taste test of seven of Sam's Club Member's Mark wines, BusinessInsider taste testers were split on the quality of the overall selection. The Moscato d’Asti got good reviews with that group too, but another white wine -- the $7.98 Prosecco -- was a good price in the testers’ opinion, calling it a "steal" and a "decent value." 

It was the red wines where the biggest dissension came into play. The Member's Mark Malbec appeared to be the most polarizing product. Descriptors that reviewers used included "fruity," "light," "watery," and "nutty." Two of the tasters labeled the wine as "bitter," while two others raised a glass and applauded it as very "drinkable."

The future looks good for private label wines

Even if you’re someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience with wine, taking advantage of the price points on some of the above retailers’ private brands is a low-risk way of raising your game.

“These days, you don't have to know a lot about wine to take home a good bottle,” ConsumerAffairs’ Mark Huffman wrote in an article about private label wines that big box stores and grocers are carrying. “If the supermarket chain carefully chooses the wine it sells under its own label, the consumer is assured of a good product without having to know much at all about wine.”

The numbers speak for themselves. The winner in the Product of the Year USA’s wine category in 2020 was not a brand name wine from one of the well-known vineyards, but rather a $10 Quarter Cut Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon sold exclusively at Aldi.

“Many of our award-winning wines are less than $10, which proves quality doesn’t always mean expensive,” said Joan Kavanaugh, vice president of national buying services at Aldi U.S.

Starting Friday, the mail will move a little slower. New regulations that change delivery standards for some U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail will go into effect at the end of the week.

The Postal Service struggled with delivery during the pandemic, especially during the holiday season. In the wake of that, and in an effort to improve finances, USPS proposed earlier this year that it give itself more time to deliver some mail. The agency currently has a goal of delivering first-class mail between one to three days. That changes to one to five days for 39% of first-class mail on Friday.

“Modifying select service standards is a key growth element and enabler of our 10-year plan, contributing to our top goal of meeting or exceeding 95% on-time delivery across all product classes, including the growing package market,” Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy said in a June statement. 

USPS officials said most postal customers won’t notice a change in service. It stresses that the longer delivery times will apply almost entirely to pieces traveling long distances. According to a USPS spokeswoman, 61% of first-class mail and 93% of periodicals will continue to meet the current delivery standards. 

Holiday crunch

However, the change comes at a bad time for some people. Online retailers have already warned consumers to do their holiday shopping early, pointing to existing supply chain issues. They’ve expressed concern that a crush of late orders could place heavy burdens on shippers.

That’s what happened last year. In mid-December, USPS warned consumers that some shipments would not arrive at their destinations by Christmas because of the surge in online shopping during the pandemic. The Postal Service had to deliver even more packages during the holidays because private express carriers shifted some of their deliveries to USPS.

Some people posting Postal Service reviews at ConsumerAffairs don’t appear hopeful about the upcoming holiday season. P., of Grand Rapids, Mich., is losing patience.

“In the past year, I have mailed out exactly 3 items via USPS, each processed in person by staff at my local post office branch,” P. wrote. “NONE have been delivered.”

What do do

Consumers who plan to purchase gifts that require shipping should probably begin shopping now. It will take time to receive the product and even more time to ship it to the recipient.

Some online retailers offer gift-wrapping services so that the item doesn’t have to be shipped twice. This year, that might be the prudent course of action.

USPS has not yet published deadlines for mailing packages to ensure delivery, but other delivery services have. Still, consumers sending time-sensitive packages should not wait until the deadlines to ship.

As we approach the November and December holidays, a report from Foodmarket says that retailers are encouraged that consumer demand for meat and poultry products will remain strong. On the flip side, labor shortages continue and supplies are forecast to tighten, which could lead to higher prices.

Hog heaven

Autumn is typically a strong season for hog producers. With October being National Pork Month, there’ll likely be special price promotions for consumers, and pork could become an attractive option over beef and chicken. In fact, pork prices have already declined from their summer peak -- by a whopping 21%.

“Notably, the average retail price for whole boneless pork loin this week is at a sizable discount to boneless skinless chicken breast, a competitive item with pork loins,” the report noted. “Pork loins this week average $2.70 per pound, compared to $3.58 per pound for chicken breast. The roast category averages $2.76 per pound, 9.2% below last year. Meanwhile, ribs, bacon, and pork chops continue to hold sizable premiums to year-ago levels.” 

How now, brown cow?

Across the field in the beef sector, cattle supplies are forecast to tighten in the coming months. While labor and supply shortages in the chicken market have made most of the headlines, beef producers have also felt a pinch from the pandemic. “Processing capacity is plagued with staffing shortages, mechanical issues, and recently — a plant fire at a JBS facility in Nebraska, making it increasingly difficult for feedlots to become current. While fed cattle prices continue to trek largely sideways, wholesale beef prices are softening post-Labor Day but remain elevated in record territory for this time of year,” the report said.

According to the latest Urner Barry survey, Choice beef carcass value was up 50% and Select was 41% higher over this time last year. The offshoot of that is that average retail prices for ground beef, roasts, and steaks were also up from a year ago.

And chicken?

The bird is still the word when it comes to the consumer’s pandemic-oriented meat of choice, and that factor alone has created a shortage — and a rise in prices — for chicken.

Urner Barry’s latest retail survey shows that retail prices for whole birds are up 8.7% from a year ago and average $1.87 per pound. Boneless skinless breasts are up 15.5% from 2020. If you’re a wing lover, be prepared to pay. Currently, the average for wings is $4.24 per pound, up a whopping 78.2% from last year. 

Will the shortage of available chicken meat get worse? It’s hard to say, but the current picture is pretty bleak. According to Foodmarket’s review of Department of Agriculture data, the agency reports that the availability of frozen chicken stocks at the end of August was down nearly 20% from 2020. "Total chicken stocks were the lowest since 2014 and breast meat lowest since 2016. Wing stocks lowest since 2009 with a small August gain. No wonder since prices are near record high," Bob Brown, a private analyst in Edmond, Oklahoma, told Foodmarket. 

Christmas in August? If you’re a Target shopper it is. 

On Monday, the company announced the selections for its Top Toy list for the upcoming holiday season and gave details on some store exclusives that customers will be able to take advantage of in-store and online. It also updated the public on its plan to add over 160 Disney stores inside Target locations across the U.S.

Target officials said 85% of the toys in this year’s lineup will be completely new. At the top of the list are brands like LEGO sets, L.O.L. Surprise! dolls, PAW Patrol, Barbie, and the Zoe Doll. Target is also partnering with FAO Schwarz, the oldest toy store in the world, on an exclusive 70-piece toy collection.

Target is also growing its partnership with Disney in a big way, with popular properties like Star Wars and Raya and the Last Dragon headlining the inventory.

"Target continues to be a top toy destination for all families, and we're pleased to offer unique experiences and a curated toy assortment that brings joy to parents and children of all ages," said Nik Nayar, SVP of Hardlines, Target. "We're seeing more guests shop for toys at Target than ever before, and whether it's Bullseye's Top Toys or finding joy with one of the 1,300+ exclusive toys and games, guests are choosing Target for our inspiring, easy and affordable gift-giving experience."

The Top Toys of 2021

Target’s list of Top Toys for this holiday is broken down into six categories that focus on different areas of play. They include:

Inspire New Stories

• Healthy Roots Zoe Doll

• Baby Alive Lulu Achoo Dolls

• Disney Raya and the Last Dragon Land of Kumandra Set – EXCLUSIVE

• B. Play Ice Cream Truck – EXCLUSIVE

• Animal Planet Deep Sea Shark Rescue Submarine Set – EXCLUSIVE

• Kinetic Sand Sandyland Folding Sandbox – EXCLUSIVE

• OSMO Little Genius Starter Kit – EXCLUSIVE

• LEGO Creator Botanical Collection Bird of Paradise – EXCLUSIVE

• LEGO Friends Heartlake City School

• Gravitrax Speed Marble Run – EXCLUSIVE

• Peek-a-Roo

• Orbeez Soothing Spa

Inspire Imagination

• L.O.L. Surprise! Family Pack 24K DJ and Neon – EXCLUSIVE

• L.O.L. Surprise! OMG Movie Magic Studio

• Na! Na! Na! Surprise 3-in-1 Backpack Bedroom Jennel Jaguar and Sarah Snuggles

• Barbie Dreamhouse

• Rainbow High Rockstars Lyric Lucas, Vanessa Nova, Carmen Major – EXCLUSIVE

• Love, Diana Magical Musical Castle

• Ryan's World Lost City Adventure Chest – EXCLUSIVE

• Jurassic World Legacy Collection - Tyrannosaurus Rex Escape Pack – EXCLUSIVE

• Star Wars Galactic Snackin' Grogu

• Batman All-Terrain Batmobile Remote Control Vehicle

• Hot Wheels Monster Trucks T-Rex Volcano Arena Track Set

• Monster Jam Remote Control Freestyle Force Grave Digger

• Imaginext DC Super Friends Transforming Bat-Tech Batbot

• Unicorn Purse Pets

• Got2Glow Fairy Finder Pink Jar

• Magic Mixies

Inspire Dreams and Creativity

• FAO Schwarz Electric Guitar + Amp – EXCLUSIVE

• LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Wizard's Chess – EXCLUSIVE

• LEGO Star Wars The Armorer's Mandalorian Forge – EXCLUSIVE

• Bluey & Jean Luc's Caravan Adventures Playset – EXCLUSIVE

• Melissa & Doug Let's Explore Park Ranger Cabin and Boat – EXCLUSIVE

• Our Generation Cozy Cabin

• 5 Surprise Toy Mini Brands Toy Store

• Lalaloopsy Sew Royal Princess Party: Suzette & Mimi La Sweet and Cosy & Teacup Hearts

• PAW Patrol: The Movie Ultimate City Tower Playset

Inspire Active Play

• Segway C20 Kids Electric Scooter – EXCLUSIVE

• Jetson Sync All-Terrain Hoverboard Black – EXCLUSIVE

• NERF Elite 2.0 Flipshots Flip-32 Blaster

Inspire Fun Family Moments

• Monopoly: Target Edition – EXCLUSIVE

• Chuckle & Roar Pop It! XL Tie Dye – EXCLUSIVE

• Throw Throw Avocado – EXCLUSIVE

• Crossed Signals

• Beyblade Burst Surge Speedstorm Slayer Showdown Battle Set – EXCLUSIVE

• Roblox Action Collection - Ninja Legends Deluxe Playset

Inspire Future Gamers

• Nintendo Switch OLED

• Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy-Con

• PlayStation 5 Console

• Xbox Series S

Focusing on customer convenience and deals

To save its customers time, the same-day pickup and delivery options that Target began offering during the COVID-19 pandemic will remain in place with no membership required. To save those same shoppers some money, the company says its Top Toys all start at a $19.99 price point. Target RedCard holders can also enjoy 5% off their Top Toys purchases.

Some consumers have taken a shine to Target’s efforts to cater to customers. In a ConsumerAffairs review, Mike of Bernalillo, N.M., said he was satisfied by the shopping experience. 

“Great store with lots of variety. Love the toy and game section. Electronics are well stocked and seasonal stuff always get my attention,” he wrote. “And employees always in a good mood. Returns are easy!!”

This Fourth of July weekend, consumers are expected to spend $7.5 billion on food, drinks, and other celebrations of U.S. independence. That comes out to an average of about $80 per person, according to the National Retail Federation. 

The NRF’s annual Independence Day spending survey drew responses from 7,893 consumers. The organization said it found that 84% of consumers plan to celebrate Independence Day this year -- an increase from 2020’s figure of 76%. 

Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said they plan to put money towards hosting or attending a cookout, barbeque, or picnic. Around 33 percent of consumers said they plan to take in a fireworks show or go to a community celebration of some sort. 

Gas supplies running low

Twelve percent of respondents to the NRF’s poll said they plan to travel or leave for a vacation this weekend. Separately, AAA forecasted that 43.6 million Americans will travel by car this Fourth of July weekend -- the most so far this year. Unfortunately, gas demand and prices are both high. 

The national average price for a gallon of regular is currently sitting at $3.10, the highest since October 2014, according to GasBuddy. Industry experts say gas stations are running short on supplies because of a shortage of tank truck drivers and rising gas demand. 

"It used to be an afterthought for station owners to schedule truck deliveries. Now it's job No. 1," Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for the Oil Price Information Service, which tracks prices for AAA, told CNN Business. "What I'm worried about for July is the increased demand works out to about 2,500 to 3,000 more deliveries needed every day. There just aren't the drivers to do that."

Experts are concerned that travelers may see a station without gas here and there and take it as a sign that they should top off their tanks. However, doing so will only make a shortage worse, said Jeff Lenard, vice president of strategic industry initiatives for the National Association of Convenience Stores. 

As was the case when there was a gas shortage caused by the Colonial Pipeline attack, Lenard says consumers should refrain from topping off their tank more than necessary. 

"We have the same advice we had then, this is not the time to fill up every car you have and every container you have," he said. "We hate to see shortages and outages caused by drivers panicking and topping off their tanks."

Father’s Day spending in the U.S. will exceed $20 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual Father’s Day spending report. 

The NRF expects 75% of American consumers to buy gifts. Of those who observe the father-focused holiday, 50% plan to purchase gifts for their biological fathers. Twenty-six percent plan to spend money on their husbands, and 11% plan to buy something for their sons. 

The average amount of money that consumers expect to spend will be around $174 -- an increase of $26 from 2020. Americans are projected to spend several billion dollars more on Father’s Day this year; in 2020, total spending came out to around $17 billion.

Key insights

The NRF said the biggest spenders this Father’s Day will be between the ages of 35 and 44. Consumers in this age group are expected to spend an average of $259 on the dads in their life.  

The top gifts that respondents said they plan to purchase for Father's Day are greeting cards (59%), clothing (49%), a special outing such as dinner or brunch (46%), gift cards (45%), and personal care items (28%). The NRF noted that the number of consumers planning a special outing is back to pre-pandemic levels. 

“Americans are looking forward to celebrating their fathers, husbands and sons this Father’s Day,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “With our nation now making significant strides toward recovery and reopening, retailers are prepared to help customers safely find items they want and need to make this year’s holiday celebration extra meaningful.”

This year’s Father’s Day will be celebrated on June 20, the third Sunday of June.

There may be plenty of flowers for Mother’s Day, but the selection may be smaller and bouquets may cost more. Like many things, the floral industry has reportedly taken a hit from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

CBS News reports that the virus has adversely affected the floral supply chain. Some of the most popular flowers in the U.S. are grown and harvested in South America, where COVID-19 is currently raging.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Columbia, a major flower-growing region, is dealing with national strikes. The flowers that finally make it to U.S. ports are encountering delays before they are loaded into trucks, which are reportedly in short supply. The result has been a delay in retail outlets obtaining some popular flowers, such as cut hyacinths and other imported flowers.

Industry experts say some of the problems go back almost a year to when the pandemic shut down economies around the world. It hit growers especially hard since their product is perishable and demand dried up almost overnight. Many had to curtail operations or shut down completely.

"It's a story that goes back to the beginning of the pandemic," Seth Goldman, CEO of UrbanStems, told CBS News.

Consumers still want flowers

Now that the virus appears to be retreating in the U.S. and millions of Americans have been vaccinated, demand for flowers for Mother’s Day is as strong as ever. The Society of American Florists (SAF) estimates that nearly 70% of U.S. shoppers will purchase flowers as part of a Mother’s Day gift.

An SAF survey of members found concerns about supply but also optimism for significant growth over Mother's Day in 2020, which occurred during the initial surge of the pandemic. Survey respondents also said they would counter supply constraints by designing unique and unusual arrangements for the holiday.

“It’s time to capitalize on our talent and creativity as opposed to cookie-cutter designing so that we can show that we still can create even in a shortage,” one respondent wrote.

Despite the shortage, consumers will still find plenty of flowers for Mom this year. But industry sources suggest that consumers should be prepared to accept substitutes and to pay more for them. 

Florists are quick to point out that the higher costs really aren’t for the flowers but rather the transportations costs, which have risen an estimated 10% to 15% over the last couple of months.

The world was still coping with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last May when Mother’s Day came around. While we’re not out of the coronavirus woods yet, consumers are looking to focus more on mom this year.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) conducted its annual survey to see how much people will be splurging on Mother’s Day in 2021. The findings show that spending will eclipse $28 billion this year, with 83% of consumers planning to celebrate the holiday. 

“There is a lot of consumer optimism around Mother’s Day this year as more people are getting vaccinated and stimulus checks are being distributed,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “For many, this is a chance to make up for last year’s Mother’s Day when we were under lockdown.”

Spending on mom

If the survey responses are a good indication, then moms can expect some nice gifts this year. Over half of respondents said they plan to spend money on jewelry this year (59%), while over a quarter will look to buy electronics (28%). 

Average spending this year is projected to come in at $220.48 per person, but the NRF says consumers between the ages of 25 and 34 will spend even more. This age group plans to spend an average of $367.08 per person, an increase of $99 over last year. 

Besides physical gifts, just under half of consumers say they’re planning a special outing or meal for mom (49%). Of course, pandemic conditions will make going out a little bit different than in past years.

“With safety guidelines at top of mind, consumers are planning to be with family, are making travel plans and organizing a special brunch or outing. All of these activities will be reflected through their purchasing decisions,” said Shay. 

In its annual Valentine’s Day survey, the National Retail Federation (NRF) found that consumers are likely to spend a little less than they did last year. 

The NRF said just over half of U.S. adults (52 percent) plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. Average expenditures will drop $32 this year (from $196 last year to $165 this year). In total, Americans are expected to spend around $21.8 billion -- a 20 percent decline from this time last year, before COVID-19 had become a major concern. 

Despite the drop in spending, the NRF says Valentine’s Day 2021 is still poised to be the second highest Valentine’s Day in terms of expected spending. It comes “on the heels of a record-setting winter holiday season,” noted Katherine Cullen, senior director of industry and consumer insights for the NRF. 

The NRF says consumers will also celebrate a little differently this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Celebrating differently 

The NRF’s survey of 7,882 adult consumers yielded the following key insights:  

• Just 24 percent say they will celebrate with an evening out this year, the lowest percentage in the survey’s history.

• Another 41 percent say they will plan a special dinner or celebration in the comfort of their own home.

• Nearly half of consumers (46 percent) say they are actively avoiding in-person gatherings. This translates to $1.5 billion less in spending on an evening out this year.

• Twenty-seven percent of those celebrating Valentine’s Day are planning to buy gifts and other treats for their pets.

• Fewer young consumers are planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, but those who do plan to celebrate are spending a little more than they normally would. Those aged 18-24 were the only age group to increase their planned spending on Valentine’s Day, from $109 to $184.

While celebrations may look a little different this year, the NRF said it expects things to look more typical in 2022. 

“Nothing can mask love permanently, and we expect consumers will return to their typical Valentine’s Day traditions next year,” the firm said. 

Still on the hunt for that perfect Valentine’s Day gift? Check out ConsumerAffairs’ top Valentine’s Day Deals for 2021 here.

Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the nation’s shipping industry was nearly overwhelmed during the holiday shopping season. Now, many retailers have taken a novel approach to receiving returned items.

In many cases, they’re issuing refunds and telling consumers not to bother returning the product. That’s because it often costs less to eat the loss than to pay for the return.

Citing data from Narvar, The Wall Street Journal reports that returned purchases jumped 70 percent in 2020 as the pandemic created a huge shift to online purchases. The surge continued into the holiday shopping season, creating a tsunami of returns over the last two weeks.

A big driver of return costs is shipping. If a consumer returns an item to the store where they bought it, the return processing cost is less. But when the product has to be shipped back to the retailer, the costs quickly rise.

A number of larger retailers have apparently determined it’s more cost-effective to let the customer keep the item and just issue a refund. According to The Journal report, it can cost as much as $20 to process a return, even before paying for freight on top of that.

How retailers decide

A Walmart spokeswoman told the newspaper that the “keep it” policy primarily covers items it doesn’t plan to put back on the shelf and resell. Other factors that go into the decision to write off the purchase is the customer’s purchase history, the cost of the item, and the cost of accepting the return.

Target said it employs a similar policy in a small number of cases when it determines it is more efficient to just write a check. It says it urges consumers to donate unwanted items.

Because retailers have not adopted a hard-and-fast rule, consumers won’t know whether they will be told to keep the unwanted item until they begin the return process. But in a growing number of cases, they are being told to do so.

Naturally, this trend has not gone unnoticed in the scammer community. Retailers have more narrowly refined their algorithms to detect fraud. The most common tactic criminals have employed so far is to claim the item never arrived and that they are fearful of going to a physical location to ask for a refund because of the pandemic.

A holiday ritual is returning holiday gifts that are the wrong size, the wrong color, and just plain wrong. In this year of the pandemic, making these returns might be a little easier.

A report by Modern Retail, an industry trade publication, notes that the crush of online purchasing that has occurred since March has caused retailers to evolve their return policies over the last few months.

“From big box stores to direct to consumer brands, the bottleneck effect created by the pandemic’s online shopping boom has pushed retailers to push back return windows,” the publication writes. “They’re not only there to give consumers more flexibility to get refunds, but also enough time for customer service reps to process returns safely.”

Amazon returns

Amazon has a special section of its website just for returning a gift. You’ll find it here. Some things to know are:

• You’ll need an Amazon account;

• You’ll need the order number from the purchase;

• If you’re the person who received the returned gift, you’ll receive the amount of the purchase as an Amazon gift card.

Walmart returns

Walmart extended grace periods on returns and exchanges early in the pandemic and is still showing some leniency. Walmart explains how to return a gift here. Most gifts, with some exceptions, can be returned even if purchased online.

Walmart accepts returns at all of its stores. Ideally, Walmart would like all packaging, materials, and accessories that came with the item. If you don't have the packing slip or a receipt, and your item was purchased on Walmart.com, provide the order number or the email address of the sender. 

If you have a receipt or packing slip and you're within the return window, you can return the item for cash or a Walmart gift card. 

Target returns

At Target, most unopened items sold by Target in new condition and returned within 90 days will receive a refund or exchange. There are exceptions, but they will be noted on the receipt or packing slip.

Items that are opened or damaged or do not have a receipt may be denied a refund or exchange, however. New Jersey stores will continue to observe state-ordered return restrictions. 

Target outlines its gift return policy here.

As explained by Modern Retail, the expanded return time frame is not only a courtesy to consumers but to allow for the safe handling of returned items during a pandemic. 

Some companies plan to set aside returned items for at least a day before they are handled by store personnel. Most items will go through a cleaning process before they are restocked.

Consumers spent more on the holidays than last year, but not by much. In this season shaped by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Mastercard’s SpendingPulse report shows that sales between November 1 and Christmas Eve grew by 2.4 percent year-over-year.

“American consumers turned the holiday season on its head, redefining ‘home for the holidays’ in a uniquely 2020 way,” said Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard.

Sales from online shopping grew by a staggering 49 percent. That was hardly a surprise, though, since consumers hunkering down at home were ordering just about everything online.

What consumers purchased this season was also a bit different. The report shows spending was down on traditional gift items -- notably apparel -- and much higher for home furnishings. In fact, home furniture and furnishings saw the strongest growth of any sector compared to 2019, up 16.2 percent. Online spending for the home surged 31 percent compared to last year.

People working from home apparently decided they don’t need to dress up. Clothing sales sank 19.1 percent while electronics and appliances were up 6 percent overall.

Department stores were the big losers because fewer consumers ventured out to malls and shopping centers. Sales were down 10.2 percent year-over-year, though stores with an online channel saw their online sales increase by 3.3 percent.

Earlier start, earlier end

Consumers spread their shopping over a wider period this year. A number of major retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, staged promotions in October. The numbers show consumers took advantage of those earlier opportunities.

“Across our expanded 75-day holiday shopping season, sales were up 3 percent, a testament to the holiday season and strength of retailers and consumers alike,” Sadove said.

Because so many shoppers depended on shipping, the season drew to a close this year a lot earlier than in the past. After Black Friday, the top shopping day was December 12 -- one of the last days shippers would guarantee delivery before Christmas.

December 21, the Monday before Christmas, was the third-biggest shopping day in 2019. This year, it didn’t even crack the top 10.

The pandemic-led upsurge in online shopping has put the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in a serious crunch, leading agency employees and postal industry tracking firms to warn shoppers not to put too much hope in having all their gifts under the tree by December 25. 

Making matters worse, the Washington Post reports that private express carriers FedEx and UPS have completely cut off delivery service for some retailers, sending tons of packages to USPS, which bogs down the system even further.

“We’re really gridlocked all over the place,” a Postal Service transportation manager in Ohio told the Post. “It’s bad. I’ve never seen it like this before.” Things are bad enough that one Grinch’y USPS carrier reportedly dumped 19 packages in the garbage in a Chicago woman’s trash can.

Letter carriers in Detroit and Philadelphia said that some of their peers have been assigned two eight-hour routes each day, and some offices have gone as far as rerouting employees to other facilities to try and get caught up. 

“I don’t think anyone, including the post office itself, knows just how bad delays are,” the Philadelphia carrier said.

This week is make it or break it

The USPS tried to put its best foot forward in a press release, saying that it’s continuing “to flex our network, including making sure the right equipment is available to sort, process and deliver a historic volume of mail and packages this holiday season.” But past that spin, it laid out exactly what consumers should expect from the agency. 

Shipping deadlines: The Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines for expected delivery by Dec. 25 to domestic U.S. addresses and Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office addresses:

Dec. 15 — USPS Retail Ground service

Dec. 18 — APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express service

Dec. 18 — First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards)

Dec. 18 — First-class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)

Dec. 19 — Priority Mail service

Dec. 23 — Priority Mail Express service*

Packages to Alaska and Hawaii have separate deadlines and are available here.

*Not a guarantee, unless otherwise noted. Dates are for estimated delivery before Dec. 25. Actual delivery date may vary depending on origin, destination, Post Office acceptance date and time, and other conditions. Some restrictions apply. For Priority Mail Express shipments mailed Dec. 22 through Dec. 25, the money-back guarantee applies only if the shipment was not delivered, or delivery was not attempted, within two business days.

Weekend delivery: USPS already delivers packages on Sundays in most major cities and will continue to do that. 

Christmas Day delivery: For an additional fee, mail carriers will also deliver packages on December 25 in select locations.

Expanded hours: Available in select locations

Expanded package delivery window: “Where volume warrants,” USPS will deliver outside of its normal times, including in the morning, afternoon, and early evening.

Busiest mailing and delivery days: Crunch time is officially here. This week, December 14-21, is predicted to be the busiest mailing, shipping, and delivery week.

Tips to help improve the chances of an on-time delivery

The Postal Service realizes that being in crunch time puts guaranteed delivery times in an iffy position, but it says there are a few things consumers can do to better their chances.

Skip the trip and ship online: “Consumers don’t have to leave home to ship their packages. In these socially distant times, they can simply visit usps.com or use the Click-N-Ship feature for help shipping that holiday gift, ordering free Priority Mail boxes, printing shipping labels, purchasing postage and even requesting free next-day Package Pickup,” the service said, adding that usps.com is “always open.” 

Use free Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes: This is available for free at Post Office locations or online at www.usps.com/freeboxes.

Make it easy with Click-N-Ship: If you have a computer, you can create shipping labels and pay for postage online at www.usps.com/ship.

Schedule a free Package Pickup when the carrier delivers your mail:  This seldom-used tip might be worth its weight in gold for those who hate standing in line. More importantly, it’s free regardless of the number of packages. Pickups can be scheduled at www.usps.com/pickup. 

One important note, though: Mail and packages that weigh more than 10 ounces or are more than a half-inch thick and use stamps as postage cannot be dropped into a collection box or left for a carrier to pick up. Instead, people have to take them to a local Post Office.

Around 40 percent of U.S. consumers plan to spend less than they normally do on gifts this holiday season, according to a survey from CNBC. 

The organization polled 800 Americans as part of its All America Economic Survey and found that the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is causing many consumers to cut back on spending. 

The survey found that 39 percent of consumers will spend less this holiday season, while just 11 percent plan to spend more than usual. The average American plans to spend $886, which is a 10 percent decrease from planned holiday spending last year. 

In 2017, the same survey found that 25 percent of Americans planned to cut back spending during the holidays, and 18 percent said they would spend more.

Wealthiest Americans showing most restraint

This year, the reasons consumers cited for spending less were: 

• Loss of wages or income (29 percent)

• The coronavirus (19 percent)

• The economy (17 percent)

• A need to save money (16 percent)

CNBC’s survey showed decreased spending plans across all income brackets. However, the survey suggested that “the wealthiest Americans could be holding back the most” this year.

“It does seem like those Americans earning over $100,000 are holding back a little bit more than they did in 2019,” said Hart Research Associates partner Jay Campbell.

That caution could be rooted in uncertainty regarding how next year will play out economically. A third of respondents said they believe the economy will get worse in 2021. Republicans were found to have a more pessimistic outlook about the economy while Democrats’ outlook has grown more positive since the election of former Vice President Joe Biden. 

Online spending surge

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant jump in the number of consumers planning to do their shopping online this holiday season. CNBC’s survey found that 55 percent of respondents plan to do most of their shopping online, compared with 43 percent a year ago. 

“It’s the biggest gain in the 14 years of the survey and follows a three-year plateau in that metric. It’s also the first time more than half of respondents favored online shopping,” the report noted. 

Though many consumers have already gotten a head start on their holiday shopping, a new study is exploring a trend that could lead consumers to make more unplanned purchases. 

According to researchers from the University of Innsbruck, consumers need to keep their focus while shopping if they don’t want to take home any unexpected items. Their study revealed that wandering glances while shopping are the biggest factors in consumers straying from their shopping lists, and many stores use this to their advantage to get shoppers to add more to their shopping carts.

“Over the past decades, retailers have developed many sales strategies that focus on the visual attention of customers,” said researcher Mathias Streicher. “All these strategies maximize the journey through the store and increase the probability to remember a forgotten need or discover a new product.” 

The power of persuasion

To see how powerful it can be to harness consumers’ attention while shopping, the researchers conducted multiple shopping experiments that focused on the difference between narrow and broad focus while participants were shopping. 

Shoppers were shown images of available items on a digital display screen; however, the narrow focus group saw the same images in the middle of the screen while the broad focus group saw different images projected all around the periphery of the screen.  

One test involved participants in a supermarket, with the researchers assessing how far participants walked through the store and whether they were able to stick to their shopping lists. The researchers were interested in the distance travelled throughout the store because they explained that many stores keep essential items far away from the entrance to ensure that customers have to walk through more of the store so they can be enticed to make more purchases

The researchers learned that participants were more likely to peruse more items in the store if they were exposed to them prior to shopping, and this led to twice as many unplanned purchases and much more travel throughout the store.

“In looking at shelves, shoppers always see a subset of the assortment and which subset they see critically depends on their visual attention,” Streicher said. “We were able to show that attentional patterns can be unconsciously broadened or even narrowed down by simple in-store communications.” 

Staying focused in the store

What is Streicher’s advice to help consumers through their holiday shopping? He said it’s important for consumers to have a list on hand and stick to it.

“Our research shows that unplanned purchasing already begins at the level of visual attention,” he said. “To reduce unplanned purchases, it is therefore better to avoid wandering glances in shopping situations -- preferable with the support of a shopping list.” 

The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be affecting the holiday shopping season. 

A new study from the National Retail Foundation (NRF) shows that the average U.S. shopper spent 14 percent less this year at physical stores than in 2019 from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday.

However, on the flip side, Black Friday and Saturday saw substantial growth in online activity. For the first time ever, the number of online Black Friday shoppers eclipsed the 100 million mark, up 8 percent over last year. The online shoppers were even more aggressive on Saturday, shooting up 17 points compared with last year. 

Overall, online-only shoppers increased by 44 percent for the entire weekend, for a total of 95.7 million.

Consumers are buying earlier

With more people shopping online and the threat of the pandemic still peaking in early fall, some retailers decided to roll their deals out earlier so that they had additional time to make course corrections if needed. Some examples included moves made by Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, which all offered Black Friday prices at the same time as Amazon Prime Day in mid-October.

The NRF said that motivated 52 percent of holiday shoppers to take advantage of early holiday sales and promotions this year. Of those who did, 38 percent said they checked off holiday purchases in the week leading up to Thanksgiving. Fifty-three percent felt that promotions over the Thanksgiving weekend were pretty much the same as they had been earlier in the season.

Watch out for “Green Monday”

There’s still a couple of weeks before Santa comes, and retailers aren’t ready to put their carrots and sticks back in the closet quite yet.

It may come as a surprise, but there’s something called “Green Monday” that experts say is the second-best day for online holiday deals. It’s also the biggest online shopping day in all of December. 

Green Monday falls on the second Monday of the month, which would check in this year on December 14 — or 10 shipping days before Christmas. Walmart, Target, and Amazon are all gearing up for Green Monday, and the competition is expected to be fierce.

“Green Monday is receiving more competition from sales extended through Cyber Week,” said TheBalance’s Kimberly Amadeo. “With Amazon Prime and other services, shoppers can wait until closer to Christmas to buy online and have their purchases arrive on time. But Green Monday is still a good bargain, with retailers offering substantial discounts from regular prices.”

For you useless information hounds, “Green Monday'' gets its name from eBay. In 2007, the site experienced one of its biggest sales days on the second Monday of December. In honor of that rolling-in-the-green milestone, it gave the day its now colorful name. 

Delivery services, struggling under the volume of online orders this holiday season, have temporarily stopped picking up some orders from six retailers. 

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that UPS has asked its drivers to delay picking up packages from Gap, Nike, L.L. Bean, Hot Topic, Newegg, and Macy’s for the time being because packages coming from these retailers exceeded its capacity. 

It’s not clear how long the restrictions will be in place, but sources said UPS is likely trying to make sure it doesn’t commit to delivering more than it realistically can during peak delivery season. 

Packages still moving

Although UPS has set limits, some of the retailers said the carrier is still picking up packages. 

An L.L. Bean spokeswoman told the Journal that there have been delays for pickups at a few of its stores, but UPS is “actively picking up packages from our warehouse facility and our retail locations daily.” A Nike spokeswoman said her company expects “the majority of these orders to meet estimated delivery dates and are communicating with consumers [about] any changes in delivery.”

The pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in online shopping, prompting the delivery giant to set “specific capacity allocations” for its customers over the holiday season, according to CNBC. 

Retailers were also encouraged not to constrain Black Friday online promotions to a single day this year. A number of retailers started offering Black Friday-esque discounts as early as October. 

By imposing pickup limits, delivery services are reportedly trying to ensure delivery problems don’t crop up later in the season. 

“They are being very disciplined in what they pick up, and that is what they need to prevent a collapse,” ShipMatrix President Satish Jindel said.

For people looking for something unique to add to their Christmas wish lists, analysts and financial managers say they should consider shares of stock -- a gift that has the potential to keep on giving.

“Gifting stocks can be a great way to teach children or grandchildren about saving and investing, or a fun way of creating interest in the stock market, a company, or a particular industry,” says Eva Victor, director of wealth planning at Girard, a wealth management firm in the Philadelphia area.

One of the greatest advantages of gifting stock to a child is the tax benefit. Under the annual gift exclusion, individuals are allowed to give up to $15,000 annually (for 2020 and 2021) to any number of recipients without incurring a gift tax.

How to buy and gift stock

Giving stock isn’t something that requires a master’s degree, but there are some rules to pay attention to so you stay on the right side of the law.

If you’re thinking of giving stock to a child, Bankrate turned ConsumerAffairs onto a few options for how to make things as easy as possible:

• Purchase stock specifically for a child. That can be done simply by using a custodial account over which you have control. A minor child should have a custodial account, while an of-age child may have a regular account. “While you could transfer the stock as physical certificates, it’s merely a novelty and pricey to do so, too,” said James Royal, Bankrate.com analyst and author of “The Zen of Thrift Conversions.”

• Give stock from an existing investment account. Bankrate suggests contacting your broker to help make the transfer electronically or by stock certificate. Again, the recipient should have a brokerage account to receive the stock.

• Give stock with an app. Many online brokers offer apps that allow you to give stock.

The sky is NOT the limit

If you’re sitting on a pile of cash and looking for the tax break of the century, there are some definite upsides, but you need to get a hold of yourself because there are legal thresholds that could cause tax headaches if you go over the limit. 

Under the annual gift exclusion, you can safely give stock to any number of children (or anyone for that matter) without incurring a gift tax as long as you don’t go over the $15,000 limit per year. 

“A couple (meaning a husband and wife separately) could gift up to $30,000 to every child and grandchild under this exclusion,” says Victor. “Any unused annual gift exclusion doesn’t carry over to later years.”

The IRS offers a full set of FAQs on gift taxes. If you’d like to find out more, those answers are available here.

This year, Cyber Monday spending was widely expected to smash records -- and it did just that. 

According to a report from Adobe Analytics, consumers spent $10.8 billion online on Monday, setting a record for the biggest online shopping day in U.S. history and beating last year’s $9.4 billion Cyber Monday record. 

Adobe, which analyzes website transactions from 80 of the top 100 U.S. online retailers, said consumers got some of the biggest discounts on computers (28 percent), sporting goods (20 percent), toys (19 percent), appliances (20 percent), and electronics (27 percent). 

With the pandemic still keeping people at home, many consumers purchased toys and electronics to keep family members entertained. Some of the top sellers in the toy category included Lego Sets, vTech Toys, and scooters. In the electronics category, top sellers included Apple AirPods, Apple Watches, HP & Dell Computers, and Chromecast.     

Key insights

Adobe said it expects online shopping and curbside pickup to continue to be used more often this holiday season compared to years past. On Monday, Adobe said the number of orders placed online and picked up curbside was up 30 percent from a year ago.

“Throughout the remainder of the holiday season, we expect to see record sales continue and curbside pickup to gain even more momentum as shoppers avoid crowds and potential shipping delays,” said Taylor Schreiner, a director at Adobe Digital Insights.

The firm said a significant percentage of Cyber Monday purchases (37 percent) were made on smartphones, continuing a trend that has emerged over the past few years. Researchers noted that early discounts offered by retailers during the weeks leading up to Cyber Monday didn’t have a major impact on the day’s spending totals. 

“Cyber Monday continued to dominate the holiday shopping season, becoming the biggest online shopping day in US history, despite early discounts from retailers,” Schreiner said.

While Black Friday may represent the official start to the holiday shopping season for many consumers, there are many people who are already scouring online sites to get good deals on products for their friends and family. To help in that effort, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has published a blog post with various tips to keep in mind. 

Shameka Walker, an attorney with the FTC’s Division of Consumer & Business Education, says that holiday shopping has taken on a new shape this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Because of COVID-19, it’s likely that we’ll be going online to look for those perfect gifts. With so many deals around and what seem like eternal ‘Black Friday’ sales, it’s important to keep some online shopping tips in mind,” she said. 

Holiday shopping tips

Walker says one of the most important things to do if you’re planning to shop from home is to make sure your computer is outfitted with up-to-date antivirus software. Computer security, in general, is something that the FTC takes very seriously, and it has published a comprehensive list of things consumers can do to make sure their cybersecurity is up to snuff. 

ConsumerAffairs also has several resources focused on helping consumers protect themselves against threats like identity theft.

Other tips Walker provides include things that consumers can do when doing their actual shopping to ensure that they’re getting the best deal and keeping themselves safe. They include:

• Taking time to compare products. If you know that there’s a product out there that you’ll want to get for the holidays, don’t be content to buy it from the first source you look at. Shopping around can allow you to save money that can be used for other gifts or to sock away for a rainy day. 

• Checking out sellers. Going hand-in-hand with comparing products is the necessity of checking out who is selling you a product. Sites like ConsumerAffairs can allow you to look up reviews about a company to ensure that you’re buying from a legitimate source. 

• Looking for coupon codes. There’s more than one way to get a good deal. While steep discounts are always nice, finding an eligible coupon can be another way that you can increase your savings. 

• Paying by credit card. Paying for online purchases with a credit card gives consumers protection under the Fair Credit Billing Act. This allows you to dispute certain charges and limits the amount of money that a hacker or scammer can potentially steal from you in the event of a cybersecurity lapse. 

• Using secure checkout. You’ll want to make sure that the site you’re using to buy a product is protected by enhanced security protocols. One easy way to check for this is by checking the site’s URL and seeing if it starts with “https.” The “s” in that case stands for “secure,” which means you can have more confidence when it comes to entering your information. 

• Keeping records of transactions. Keeping a running tab of the products you’ve ordered will give you an easy checklist once packages start coming in. If you notice there’s something missing, you can contact the vendor early on to resolve the issue.

Whether you’ve been planning your holiday shopping for months or are waiting until the holiday season is officially upon us, it’s never too early to start thinking about gift ideas. Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago is giving consumers a leg up on shopping this holiday season. 

According to their findings, giving an experience-related gift rather than a material item is the best option for long-term happiness when it comes to older kids. 

“What this means is, experiences are highly coveted by adolescents, not just expensive material things, like some might think,” said researcher Lan Nguyen Chaplin. “Don’t get me wrong. Young children do love experiences. Entire industries (e.g., theme parks such as Disneyland) are built around this premise. In fact, young children are ecstatic throughout the experience. However, for experiences to provide enduring happiness, children must be able to recall details of the event long after it is over.”

Memories last a lifetime 

The researchers analyzed four previous studies that explored how kids’ happiness differed when they received a material item versus when they received an experience-related gift. For kids between the ages of three and 17, the researchers learned that an experience wins out in terms of lasting happiness. 

They explained that young kids can appreciate the things right in front of them, so while they’d certainly enjoy an experience gift, the happiness they feel is limited to the length of the event. However, as kids age and their memories get stronger, material goods become less important and having memories of experiences leaves a bigger emotional impact. 

Ultimately, both types of gifts -- material things and experiences -- will make kids happy. However, if parents and loved ones are looking for creative ways to give older kids a lasting memory, opting for an experience could be the better choice. 

Additionally, for parents looking to give an experience to little ones, the researchers recommend documenting those special moments. Having a tangible way for kids to look back and reminisce on important days and events can help them create that connection with family members and appreciate the time spent together. 

“Take pictures or videos of family walks, playing in the snow, and birthday parties,” said Chaplin. “Children are likely going to appreciate those experiences more if there is something to remind them of the event. Additionally, they’ll be able to learn the social value of shared experiences.” 

Despite the fact that many Americans are ignoring health officials’ advice and plan to gather for a holiday meal, many more will stay home on Thanksgiving and safely “visit” friends and family by phone and Zoom.

But everyone has to eat, and if there is no enthusiasm to cook for one or two people, there are plenty of restaurants -- from fast-food to full service -- open on Thanksgiving day. Most offer takeout or delivery.

The list below, compiled by USA Today, includes national restaurant chains that have said they will be open at some locations, though hours may vary from those posted online. Some local, independent restaurants may also be open.

• Applebee's

• Bertucci's (stand-alone locations)

• Black Bear Diner

• Bob Evans

• Boston Market

• Bravo! Italian Kitchen 

• Buca di Beppo 

• Burger King

• Capital Grille

• Cracker Barrel

• Del Taco

• Denny's

• DoorDash

• Dunkin'

• Einstein Bros. Bagels

• Famous Dave's (only corporate locations)

• Fogo de Chão

• Golden Corral

• IHOP

• Jack in the Box

• Maggiano's Little Italy

• McDonald's

• Metro Diner

• Morton's The Steakhouse

• Pollo Campero 

• Postmates

• PT's Taverns

• Ruth's Chris Steak House

• Papa John's

• Popeyes

• Smokey Bones BBQ 

• Sonic Drive-In

• Starbucks

• Steak 'n Shake

• Uber Eats

• Waffle House

• Wendy's

Many people who plan to cook at home on Thanksgiving apparently are serving a smaller gathering this year. NPR reports that turkey farmers have fielded many requests for “the smallest turkey you have” over the last week.

With many retailers taking a pandemic-led breather on Black Friday, Cyber Monday is predicted to be a big bargain stand-in. Amazon is planning ahead for the event by giving shoppers a sneak peek into everything from savings to stocking stuffers.

Actually, Amazon’s Cyber Monday isn’t a Monday-only thing. It starts Thanksgiving weekend, lasting three days from November 28 through November 30. On top of shopping deals, customers will also have the chance to support small businesses through recently launched collections at amazon.com/supportsmall. 

In a news release announcing the event, Amazon said it’s committed to making it easy for consumers to save this holiday season with free shipping on “millions of items.” That’s made possible through an improved processing system that the online retailer was forced to review in the wake of unexpected fulfillment problems brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The company also touted some new research from ecommerce analytics firm Profitero that found Amazon to be the “lowest price online retailer.”

What’s on sale?

For those of you who’ve already got your pencil out, here’s a selection of Amazon’s Cyber Monday deals covering several categories. For the complete list of what’s on sale, Amazon has published a press release with more information here.  

Fashion

• Savings of up to 30 percent on select seasonal fashion trends, including bright puffers, plaid and printed loungewear, and cozy fleece.

• Savings of up to 50 percent on CUBCOATs fashion hoodies.

• Shoppers can save as much as 30 percent on Nautica men's and women's apparel.

• Deals of up to 50 percent off on Cole Haan men’s and women’s shoes.

• Savings of up to 40 percent on Lands' End apparel.

Beauty, Health, and Personal Care

• Savings of up to 35 percent on razors from Braun, Gillette, and more.

• Shoppers can save as much as 47 percent on whitening kits and oral care from Oral-B, Crest, and more

• Save 50 percent on 23andMe Health + Ancestry Personal Genetic Service Kit.

Amazon Devices

As you might expect, Amazon’s own devices are getting the royal sales treatment. This year’s Cyber Monday deals in that category include:

• The all-new Echo is $30 off at $69.99. As an extra bonus for consumers with Amazon Music Unlimited, those who purchase a select Echo device now get six months of the premium, ad-free streaming tier for free.

• The all-new Echo Dot Kids Edition is $21 off at $38.99.

• The all-new Fire TV Stick Lite is $12 off at $17.99.

• Ring Video Doorbell 3 is $60 off at $139.99.

• Kindle Paperwhite is $45 off at $84.99. New Amazon members can also enjoy 2 months of Kindle Unlimited for $0.99.

Toys & Games

• Cyber Monday shoppers can save as much as 30 percent on Baby Alive, Littlest Pet Shop, and more.

• Savings of up to 30 percent on Playskool and more preschool toys.

• Shoppers can save as much as 30 percent on NERF.

• Savings of up to 30 percent on Hasbro Games.

• Save up to 30 percent on Disney toys and home products.

Household, Kitchen, Office, Smart Home and Home Improvement

• Save 47 percent on select Bissell floor care products.

• Savings of up to 45 percent on select Instant Pot products.

• Deals of up to 30 percent off on select Cuisinart products.

• Shoppers can save as much as 30 percent on Ashley Furniture.

• Savings of up to 35 percent on iRobot 675 Roomba Vacuum.

Electronics

• Save up to 30 percent on Smart Home Security Cameras.

• Savings of up to 15 percent on weBoost Signal Boosters.

• Shoppers can save as much as 40 percent on Jabra Headphones.

• Savings of up to 40 percent off select video games, including Just Dance 2021.

Major Appliances, Lawn & Garden and Tools

• Save 15 percent on GE Profile Nugget Ice Maker.

• Cyber Monday shoppers can save as much as 10 percent on select GE Compact Refrigerators.

• Save 20 percent on select Worx Tools.

• Shoppers can save as much as 30 percent on select BLACK+DECKER Products.

• Savings of up to 20 percent on select SKIL Tools.

Sports & Outdoors

• Shoppers can save as much as 15 percent on select Intex Airbeds.

• Savings of up to 25 percent on select baseball and softball equipment.

• Save up to 20 percent on select kids bikes, adult bikes, helmets and more.

• Select golf clubs, balls, and accessories are on sale with savings of up to 60 percent off.

Automotive

• Save 50 percent on Tire Installation.

• Savings of up to 30 percent on Select NOCO Products.

• Shoppers can save as much as 20 percent on Select Gator ETX Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Covers.

Amazon Gift Cards

• Savings of 20 percent or more on select gift card brands, including Gap, H&M, Petco, and more if purchased from November 26 through November 30. 

• Gift card users can receive a $10 bonus with their reload of $100 or more through Amazon Reload if they are replenishing their Amazon Gift Card balance for the first time from now through December 31. 

• Gift card shoppers can receive a $15 promotional credit with the purchase of $50 or more in Amazon Gift Cards from now through December 20. Promotional credits expire on February 6, 2021, and other restrictions may apply.

Whole Foods Market and Grocery Items

For grocery shoppers, Amazon’s Cyber deals for its Whole Foods Market last a bit longer -- from November 27 to December 1. Shoppers can find deals on customer favorites, including organic honeycrisp apples ($2.99/lb), Animal Welfare Certified air-chilled organic chicken wings ($2.99/lb), and all probiotic supplements (25 percent off). 

Prime members can also enjoy an additional 10 percent in savings, both in-store and online, and everyone can save up to 30 percent on holiday beverages.

Special limited-time deals

It may not be something on every shopper’s deals knowledge base, but Amazon has another deal site -- Woot! -- that promises to deliver dozens of additional, limited-time discounts for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The site is offering free shipping for Prime members and daily doorbuster deals. 

At Amazon Warehouse, shoppers can save an extra 20 percent on select quality pre-owned and open box items for the kitchen, home, office. This includes major appliances, furniture home décor, and more.

With November nearly halfway gone, consumers across the U.S. are gearing up to face Thanksgiving during a pandemic. While holiday gatherings will doubtless look different this year, retailers are still offering special deals to help people save money on holiday essentials. 

One such retailer, BJ’s Wholesale Club, has announced that it will be offering a coupon to members that they can use to get a free frozen or fresh Butterball turkey. The in-store coupons are being offered while supplies last from November 14 through November 25. 

The company said BJ’s members can take advantage of the free turkey deal by buying three qualifying items from a list of over 80 products that can be found at BJs.com/FreeTurkey. The offer is supposedly one of many that will be offered in the coming weeks.

“We’re helping our members give thanks this holiday season by offering incredible savings on everything from fresh food and groceries to entertaining items and household essentials," said Michael Leary, BJ’s senior vice president of GMM, perishables, grocery, and beverages. "We’re committed to providing our members outstanding value in an easy one-stop holiday shop. That’s why we’re excited to announce our free turkey promotion to help members stress less and save even more this Thanksgiving,” 

Also included in a company press release was BJ’s upcoming holiday schedule. The retailer said it will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but it will be opening its doors for deals on Black Friday starting at 7 a.m. Consumers who want an even bigger jump on deals can shop for items on BJs.com starting at midnight on Thanksgiving. 

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed just about everything this year, including the way consumers will do their holiday toy shopping. Experts at the industry trade publication The Toy Insider say the pandemic presents twin challenges this year.

"It's more important now than ever to go into your holiday shopping with a game plan — not just to shop safely, but also to avoid the disappointment of a sold-out toy," said Laurie Schacht, chief toy officer at The Toy Insider. 

Social distancing is easy if you shop online, but remember millions of other consumers probably have the same plan. Schact says shipping delays and supply chain glitches are good reasons to get an early start.

"After you check everyone off your holiday list, we also advise that you think about stocking up on games and activities to keep kids and families entertained inside as the weather gets colder and we're being advised to stay home,” she said. “These types of items sold out in the spring, so get ahead of the rush while you can."

This year, Schact says parents need a strategy before they start shopping for toys. Do your research to find the best, age-appropriate toys. Don’t forget to look for reviews on sites like ConsumerAffairs.

Time is of the essence

Don’t hesitate. When you see the toy you want, grab it. It might not be there if you wait. 

Retailers are offering deals all season long to cut down on the big crowds that normally show up on Black Friday. The Toy Insider says hot toys are sure to sell out quickly, and there's no guarantee that a toy will be discounted later on, as they have in past years.

Know what the hot toys are and what they should cost. Target offers this Hot Toy Guide, broken down by ages. It also has a handy section for Top Toys under $30, which is helpful for staying on budget. 

RetailMeNot’s Hot Toy Guide spans most of the major retailers, not only cluing you into the in-demand toys but also helping with price comparisons. 

Knowing the MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price) will help you avoid overpaying for a toy. This year especially, experts say there could be more third-party sellers or "toy scalpers" who hike up the price of hard-to-find toys, especially right before Christmas.

Hot toys

On RetailMeNot’s hot toy list this year are:

• Star Wars The Child Animatronic Edition, for kids age five and up, selling for $59 at Amazon

• Pets Alive Fifi the Flossing Sloth, for kids age three and up, marked down to $19.88 at Amazon

• CuliGirls, for kids age three and up, selling for $9.99 at Amazon

The Toy Insider has also published a guide to holiday toy shopping that you can find here. It has a special section on STEM toys, such as Botley 2.0, the coding robot, for ages five and up.

Before buying any toy, industry experts say you should make sure the toy isn't a knockoff, which could pose safety issues and may not perform the way it should. Look for the correct name and spelling of the product and its manufacturer to make sure you're buying the real thing.

The 2020 holiday season will be unlike any in recent memory. No large parades, no office parties, and even extended family gatherings may be a rarity.

With the disruption to traditional routines caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the economic uncertainty it has produced, a survey by the personal finance site Debt.com found 60 percent of U.S. consumers plan to spend less on the holidays this year. 

But the factors listed above many have little to do with it, the study authors say. Spending will be down because the pressure’s off.

Thirty-seven percent of those who are spending less say they feel less pressure to buy gifts because holiday celebrations are going to be virtual this year. Another 23 percent said they don’t expect friends and family to spend as much on them because of the pandemic. Debt.com Chairman Howard Dvorkin calls it “Grinch logic.”

"I've spent nearly three decades counseling Americans on how to save more and spend less, but that's nearly impossible to do during the holidays," Dvorkin said. "No matter how blunt they are about their debts, they'll blow their holiday budget.”

‘No one wants to be the Grinch’

Dvorkin says Americans fear only one thing more than landing deep in debt and that’s the fear their family and friends will think they’re cheap.

“Everyone wants to be Santa Claus, and no one wants to be the Grinch," he said.

The findings may come as a rude awakening for retailers, who have already begun their holiday sales push. The National Retail Federal estimates the average consumer spent $1,000 on the holidays last year but Debt.com found that 73 percent of consumers say they’ll spend less than $500. Only 2 percent say they’ll spend more than $1,500.

Without a doubt, a sizable portion of the reduced holiday spending will be related to cutbacks in travel. Fewer people will travel for the holidays, either to see family or to enjoy a vacation.

Holiday travel booking are down

Right after Labor Day, when holiday travel tends to be booked, CNBC reported advance reservations for Thanksgiving were off by 16 percent, while Christmas bookings were down 35 percent and New Years’ Eve reservations were 33 percent lower.

Only 30 percent of consumers said they will spend less this year because they’ve lost income. To make those dollars go farther, personal finance experts recommend making a holiday budget and sticking to it. 

Other ways to avoid debt is to aggressively price-check before you guy and don’t forget to use your credit card rewards.

Knowing that the 2020 holiday season will require a whole new way of doing things, Target is going all out to meet the consumer where safety matters. 

The retailer is stepping up its COVID-19-related safety measures to include contactless self-checkout, technology that allows guests the freedom to skip waiting in line, and more parking spots for its contactless drive-up service.

“Year over year, the investments we’ve made in our business and team have made Target the easiest place to shop in America. As we’ve navigated the pandemic, that focus has evolved to ensure we’re also creating the safest place for our guests to shop,” said Target CEO Brian Cornell. 

“As we approach the holidays, guests can feel confident in choosing Target – a safe experience, incredible value, and a differentiated assortment that will help them celebrate the joy of the season,” Cornell said.

The new safety measures

Here are the additional steps Target is taking to make customers feel safe when they come to one of their stores:

• MyCheckout: The retailer is adding 1,000 more MyCheckout devices at its stores, allowing team members to help guests check out anywhere in the store and avoid waiting in line.

• Contactless In-Store Payment: Target shoppers are now given the option of using Wallet -- the mobile payment option inside the Target app -- which provides for not only a contactless self-checkout experience, but it also eliminates the need to pick up and use a scanning device that another shopper might have used.

• Pre-Trip Shopping Reservations: One new and interesting twist Target is adding to its list of safety measures is giving customers a look-see on how many customers are at the store so they can decide if there’s enough space to shop safely and comfortably. This holiday season, guests can visit Target.com/line to see if there is a line outside their local Target store, and if so, they’ll be able to reserve a spot in line. When their turn to enter the store has come, Target will then text the guest to notify them.

Improved same-day services

On top of the in-store safety measures, Target is also adding several new enhancements with its same-day services. These include:

• Double the drive-up spots: For the 2020 holiday season, Target is doubling the total number of drive-up spots by adding some 8,000 additional ones, which it hopes will make life easier for guests to access the service.

• Socially-distanced drive-up experience: Target says that it’s completely doing away with the need for barcode scanning at drive-up, making it even easier for guests and team members to socially distance. Now, all a customer has to do is show the personal identification number on their app to a team member through their car window to confirm the order.

• The customer can change pick-up times: Target’s updated app allows customers to change – in real time – when they want to pick up their items even after they’ve arrived at the store.

A smart move

The attention Target is giving to safety concerns is also good business. A recent survey by PwC found that 65 percent of U.S. consumers said they were concerned about catching the coronavirus. Add to that, a study from the International Council of Shopping Centers showed that 66 percent of surveyed consumers also said they are more prone to visit stores that have firm health precautions in place, such as those at Target.

Target will also be closed on Thanksgiving. Following Walmart’s lead, the retailer said that it made the decision in the interest of making the holiday shopping experience “simple, safe and stress-free.”

As ConsumerAffairs reported earlier this month, the 2020 holiday shopping season is going to be anything but traditional. One of the first major big box brands to act on the pandemic-nudged shift is Lowe’s. For one thing, the home and garden retailer is starting its holiday savings on Thursday, October 22 with an emphasis on online specials. Company officials say the early start will help “eliminate frenzied, crowded, one-day shopping” on Black Friday.

With toys, apparel, and the usual holiday gift fare not part of its product line, Lowe’s focus will be primarily on things related to the “home” -- like appliances, patio furniture, electronics, lighting, and decor -- in what it’s calling its Season of Savings.

"We've been blown away by our customers' creativity and dedication to making their homes work harder and smarter for them this year. Whether repurposing a room into an office or tackling basic repairs, more time at home became more time for home," said Bill Boltz, Lowe's executive vice president, merchandising. 

"We want to make the holiday experience even more accessible this year by offering competitive deals earlier than ever on top-rated, unique gifts for the home, as well as on the most sought-after brands that will help our customers gift home for the holidays this season."

Appliances are a big focus

One key angle that Lowe’s will no doubt work is the appliance angle. Consumers have spent much more time at home because of the coronavirus, spurring a higher demand for appliances. However, appliance factory shutdowns put the hurt on supply chains from parts to finished products. That led to a domino effect that throttled delivery times.

Holding a dominant position in appliance retail will certainly help Lowe’s work its magic during its Season of Savings. It will be holding daily, one-day, online-only Cyber Steals on small appliances and offering savings of up to $700 on major appliances totaling $1,999 or more.

Other hooks

Tools: In addition to good deals on appliances, Lowe’s is doing buy-one-get-one (BOGO) specials on DeWalt and Craftsman tools and accessories, portable heaters to fend off the winter chill, and products kids can give dad like tape measures.

Win a truck: Lowe’s is also offering a chance for Lowe's for Pros account holders to enter to win a new 2021 Chevy Silverado. The vehicle will be packed with more than $3,000 worth of DeWalt tools. 

Free Christmas tree delivery: Beginning Friday, October 30, Lowe’s is offering free tree delivery and decorative items like fresh-cut wreaths and tree containers. The only caveat is that a shopper’s total purchase has to be over $45. 

Curbside pickup and other COVID-safe options: Lastly, coronavirus-cautious consumers can buy online and pick up their orders either in-store or curbside. Lowe’s is also offering new contactless self-service pickup lockers and direct-to-home delivery to make the shopping experience more flexible and convenient.

The 2020 holiday season will probably be the weirdest one most of us have ever had, thanks to COVID-19. For one thing, holiday in-store traffic is predicted to be 25 percent lower than last year. 

The flip side of that is that more than 7 in 10 holiday shoppers plan to make most of their purchases online, up from 51 percent last year, according to a recent CreditCards.com survey. However, that single shopping shift could throw the whole fulfillment cycle into a tizzy, putting as many as 700 million gifts at risk of not arriving in time for the holidays, according to SalesForce.

To avoid disaster, consumers are going to have to make some changes to find a new pandemic-led holiday shopping comfort zone. To help ConsumerAffairs readers get a head start on rethinking their shopping plans, Ted Rossman, industry analyst at CreditCards.com, gave us tips on how to save money on holiday shopping this year.  

Tips for saving

There will be lots of ways to save money through online shopping, but it might take jumping through a few hoops. To get a better handle on what those hoops are, Rossman laid out the four most important elements consumers should start considering for the 2020 holiday season.

Use an online shopping portal. Rossman thinks that Rakuten, Dosh, and TopCashBack are great options for helping consumers save money. His reasoning is that retailers are willing to pay referral fees to these platforms when they bring in customers. “It’s targeted advertising, basically, and it means free money for consumers.”

Rossman may be onto something. When ConsumerAffairs checked out Rakuten, there were plenty of brands offering as much as 12 percent cash back. One brand taking full advantage of the situation was AT&T, which was offering up to $300 in reward cards with qualifying TV and internet when purchases were made online, plus up to $150 cash back.

One word of caution: ConsumerAffairs reader reviews of Rakuten run the gamut between “awesome” and “lesson learned.” But, to its credit, reviewers said Rakuten’s customer service team was proactive when it came to negative reviews in some cases.

Shop through your credit card issuer portal. From the credit card issuer's website, consumers can click through to a retailer’s website and shop normally while enjoying some added benefits and discounts. You can enter store-specific coupon codes, as usual, for even more savings. 

Take advantage of card-linked offers. “These are a close relative to online shopping portals, but better known by credit card brand names such as Amex Offers, Chase Offers and the Wells Fargo Earn More Mall. When you pay with the affiliated card, you’ll get money back,” Rossman said.

Check out your options for buyer protections. Take the time to find which credit cards offer the best extended warranties, purchase protections, price protections, and guaranteed return benefits.

Added incentives

If you have a good credit score, some credit card issuers are offering incentives to try and bring you into their fold. Rossman makes note of several signup bonuses available to consumers who meet the card issuer’s criteria. Two examples he gave were the Capital One Venture Rewa