Greg Sandoval/CNETBest Buy wants to make sure that last-minute holiday shoppers will be able to get that special gift in time for Christmas.
The retail chain announced on Thursday that it will extend its store hours to accommodate those who haven't yet gotten something to put under the Christmas tree. From Friday, December 19, until Wednesday, Christmas Eve, your friendly, neighborhood Best Buy store will be open according to the following lez-echanges.com schedule:
Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 20: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, December 21: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday, December 22 and Tuesday, December 23: 7 a.m. until midnight
Wednesday, December 24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For Best Buy customers who'd prefer to shop online, the company is offering expedited shipping options. Anyone who places an order of $35 or more will automatically be ugpraded from standard shipping to two-day shipping.
Consumers who purchase any products via BestBuy.com by 8:30 a.m. PT on Monday, December 22, will receive them by Christmas. For shoppers who wait until Wednesday, December 23, Best Buy will offer special overnight shipping, albeit at an extra cost. Further, people who procrastinate until Christmas Eve have until 4 p.m. local time to order a gift on Best Buy's website and pick it up at their local store before it closes at 6 p.m.
To wrack up holiday sales, Best Buy has to compete with both brick-and-mortar stores as well as online retailers. So it's not surprising that Best Buy's extended shipping options come hot on the heels of some tempting options offered by Amazon.
On Wednesday, Amazon announced it would offer free shipping to anyone who orders something up until 11:59 p.m. ET this Friday -- as long as the order tops $35. Further, subscribers of Amazon $99-per-year Prime service can order an item on Monday, December 22, and get it before Christmas courtesy of free, two-day shipping. Prime members can even order a product on December 23 and pay $2.99 for one-day shipping to get it in time for December 25.
To lure shoppers online and into its stores, Best Buy is casting some special deals for the holidays. Apple's iPad tablets, including the iPad Air and iPad Mini 2, are $50 off through Saturday. MacBook Pros are $100 off through Saturday, while select MacBooks are $150 off through Christmas Eve. Starting Friday, gamers who order an Xbox One online will get a $50 gift card, while those who order the 4GB Xbox 360 will receive a $30 gift card.
