"Will my order arrive on time?" is one of the most frequent questions we hear at Step2 as we approach Christmas. Let's face it: this can have a huge impact on whether or not you place that order, because Christmas gifts that arrive on the 27th just aren't as much fun.

At Step2.com, the easiest way for you to know is by simply starting to place an order! Our checkout system automagically compares the State you're shipping to with a chart of our average transit times, and will warn you if your purchase is in danger of arriving late. So order with confidence--we won't let you place an order too late without first giving you a big, glaring message. (You can't miss it, because you have to confirm that you've read it before continuing with the order!)

For those of you who don't like that kind of self-help system, I can give you some basic guidelines. For Playhouses and Climbers (items that ship via Truck) cut-off dates range anywhere between 12/6 for Washington State and 12/14 for Ohio. For our smaller items (including Kitchens, and anything that ships via FedEx) the cut-off dates range between 12/14 for sunny California and 12/20 for Ohio.

Again, we recommend that you order as early as possible to ensure product availability!

Historically, the Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as Black Friday because it's the biggest shopping day of the year, putting retailers "into the black". This incredibly huge shopping day is spurred on by early bird specials and headline deals to lure shoppers into stores and begin their Christmas shopping in earnest. It's a slight narcotic to those who love the holiday bustle or just like getting great deals.

The advent of online shopping has begun to change this. Some have termed the Monday following Thanksgiving as "Cyber Monday," the online equivalent of Black Friday. Shoppers who have already become frustrated with the busy shopping malls and department stores turn online in droves to point and click their way through the shopping process, opting to have their purchases delivered straight to their doors instead of hunting for parking spots and hauling large bags of purchases around.

Indeed, the world wide web is changing the face of shopping in America, and retailers are looking for ways to make their online stores a more convenient option for those who prefer to shop from the comfort of their easy chairs.

Here's some of the ways you can save this year online:

• Free Shipping - Many retailers (including Step2.com!) offer select products for free shipping during this time of year. You pay normal retail prices and pay nothing for the convenience of home delivery.
• Coupon Codes - Growing in popularity are electronic coupon codes (AKA Promotion Codes) that are distributed via email newsletters or print ads that offer subscribers special discounts. At Step2 Direct we occasionally offer these type of promotions through our newsletter and sometimes in magazine ads.
• Shopping Portals - Some shopping portals offer discounts of up to 10% or more if you link through them to online retailers. A good example of this is BigCrumbs, which offers discounts plus cash back simply for shopping major retailers such as eBay, Apple, Best Buy, Circuit City, Macy's and more through their site.
• Rewards Cards - Many credit card companies offer airline miles, cash rewards, and more for using their credit cards when making purchases.

Finally: I've said it before, and I'll say it again: if you're ordering online, I highly recommend that you do it as soon as possible. This is the busiest shipping time of the year, and you don't want to take chances with your Christmas gifts. The best way in ensure that your online transaction will go perfectly is to order early.

Happy shopping!

-Andy

All Step2 holiday promotions ended 12/14/06. The offers listed below are no longer available.

Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? I sure hope not, because I just finished setting up another 11 items for free shipping! That's right, 11. Also, for some of our bigger items, we've shaved $100 off the price for a limited time! Step2 has never done any promotion of this magnitude before, and I'm excited to be a part of it.

Don't wait too long though, as quantities are limited, and these offers may end at any time. So start shopping now and save yourself some serious cash when you take advantage of these offers.

Free Shipping:
• LifeStyle Deluxe Kitchen
• LifeStyle Grand Walk-In Kitchen - ENDED 11/28/06
• LifeStyle PartyTime Kitchen
• Real Projects Workshop
• Up & Down Roller Coaster
• Music in Motion Roller Coaster
• Soft & Sturdy Blocks
• Soft & Sturdy Deluxe Blocks
• Soft & Sturdy Giant Blocks
• Art Master Activity Desk
• Bistro Grille
• MailMinder
• Safari Wagon
• Cross Country Cargo Wagon

$100 off:
• Clubhouse Climber
• Welcome Home Playhouse