Two words: Free Shipping. It is single most effective online promotion. – 80% of e-tailers will offer some sort of free shipping promotion this holiday season. Some shipping offers come with conditions, i.e., spend $50.00 to qualify. So, if you have two $25.00 items to purchase, you may be better off finding a site where you can purchase both vs. spreading those purchases out over 2 sites and forgoing the shipping cost advantage. Also, new this year is SITE TO STORE -- especially on hot items. Circuit City may have the hot electronic item (eg Nintendo Wii Guitar Hero), but they're going to make you come to the store to get it, cause they're banking on you buying more when you get there. Walmart offering Free Shipping for items ordered online, but picked up in-store.

Free shipping with no strings attached is gone because etailers are willing to absorb cost of "standard shipping" timelines, but as they start to have to pay the Fed Ex & UPS they'll pass that premium along to you.