Last-Minute Shoppers Cashing In On Free Shipping Day

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - If you haven't wrapped up your holiday shopping, you may want to cross some items off your list today.

The Internet will likely be flooded today with last-minute shoppers.

It's Free Shipping Day and that means nearly 1,200 retailers are offering free shipping with no minimum order requirements.

"Retailers know that if they offer free shipping, people are tending to load their carts up," consumer expert Doug Berg said.

In fact, consumer experts say with free shipping, the average order is $124. Without the free shipping, that amount drops to $91.

A small business in northern Colorado launched Free Shipping Day back in 2008.

It's grown over the years and now, more retailers than ever are participating.

There's a wide range of stores from big chains like Cabela's and Target, to Snapfish.

Here's something else, retailers are guaranteeing that your orders will arrive by Christmas Eve.

If you're thinking companies are losing money by eating the shipping costs, think again.

High shipping costs often end sales. Experts say 58 percent of people abandon their online carts because of pricey shipping costs.

Plus, retailers typically factor shipping costs into prices to begin with.

"They know to build those shipping costs into the margin of their products," Berg said.

You can find a link to the free shipping website here: http://www.freeshippingday.com/