Amazon has announced changes to holiday deliveries with the Christmas season looming.
The retail giant announced the change on its website. “Starting December 9, customers will see clear ‘Arrives before Christmas’ messaging on search and item detail pages—giving shoppers the peace of mind of knowing their special gifts will arrive before Santa’s sleigh,” Amazon wrote.
- Amazon also promised customers that Amazon would have “millions of popular items available for Same-Day Delivery through Christmas Eve in over 9,000 cities and towns across the U.S.”
- However, Amazon warned: “For customers shopping on Christmas Eve, make sure to shop early in the day as delivery windows are subject to availability and can sell out early in some areas when demand is high.”
Amazon’s moves come as holiday shopping has been strong. “U.S. shoppers spent $14.25 billion on Cyber Monday, pushing total online sales over the Thanksgiving weekend to $44.2 billion,” according to Reuters. “Spending rose 7.7% during the so-called Cyber Week.”
Added Reuters: “Shoppers spent $337.86 on average on items such as gifts, holiday apparel, decorations and other seasonal purchases, up from $315.56 in 2024.” The statistics came from the National Retail Federation, according to Reuters.
“Customers can check whether their area has Same-Day Delivery by visiting Amazon’s Same-Day Store, or can look for ‘FREE Delivery Today’ on product listings when shopping across all of Amazon,” wrote Amazon.
Amazon Now Offers a Service That Lets People Add to Their Deliveries More Easily
Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Amazon’s holiday shopping message also includes a reminder that the company pioneered a new service.
“Amazon’s new Add to Delivery feature lets Prime members add items to upcoming deliveries with one tap—no extra checkout required,” Amazon wrote. “Whether it’s wrapping paper for the gift they’ve just purchased, batteries for that new toy, or an essential item for hosting guests, Add to Delivery is there to meet shoppers’ needs as they arise.”
Amazon is also reminding shopping that it offers real-time tracking of packages.
“Track packages in real time with Amazon Map Tracking, reimagined with a festive holiday flair starting December 11,” Amazon wrote. “To access Amazon Map Tracking, select the relevant item or shipment on the ‘Your Orders’ page. The map will appear when the driver is within 10 stops of the delivery destination, which can be especially helpful for customers looking to intercept a surprise package before it gets delivered.”
Amazon previously announced extended hours for holiday returns. “For the 2025 holiday season, most items purchased between November 1 and December 31, 2025, can be returned through January 31, 2026. Apple-branded products purchased between November 1 and December 31, 2025, can be returned through January 15, 2026,” the company wrote on its website.
“American consumers may be cautious in sentiment, yet remain fundamentally strong and continue to drive U.S. economic activity,” National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a news release. “We remain bullish about the holiday shopping season and expect that consumers will continue to seek savings in nonessential categories to be able to spend on gifts for loved ones.”
