Amazon extends deadline for Christmas free shipping

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OK, all you slackers out there who haven’t made lists or checked them twice, Amazon.com has a holiday gift for you: The online retailer has extended the deadline for free shipping.

Amazon will guarantee Dec. 24 delivery for orders placed through Dec. 17. Shipping on orders of more than $25 is free. If you belong to Amazon Prime, you can get free shipping on Christmas gifts on orders placed by Dec. 22.

Free shipping is a big selling point especially for the total cheapskates (guilty as charged). But it also raises costs for Internet retailers.

The Santa (or Scrooge, depending on your perspective) this year was Walmart.com, Amazon’s arch-rival, which has been offering free shipping on millions of items through Dec. 20 with no minimum order.

-- Jessica Guynn