It’s a way different holiday shopping season in 2020, but there are definitely some upsides.
Besides there being way more “buy online, pickup in store” options, we’re seeing a lot more convenience being offered to shoppers this year — letting us skip some of the less desirable parts of shopping.
Here are 7 things you won’t have to deal with this year.
1. Skip the checkout line at Target.
Target’s MyCheckout app gives store associates the ability to scan or search for items and check out — right from the sales floor.
In the run-up to the holidays, Target is rolling out another 1,000 MyCheckout devices, so even more customers can skip the checkout line. That’s just one of the ways Target is trying to speed up the in-store shopping experience this year.
RELATED: 6 New Ways Target Holiday Shopping Will Be More Convenient This Year
2. Skip the Santa visit at Macy’s (because he’s not there).
This one’s kind of sad (unless you begrudgingly do the annual Santa visit). For the first time in 160 years, Santa won’t be in person at Macy’s for visits, due to COVID.
In the meantime, there’s a virtual experience so kids can be sure their list gets to the North Pole.
RELATED: Macy’s Won’t Have Santa in Stores This Year
3. Skip the Christmas tree lot; have Lowe’s deliver it free.
You can get a real, fresh Christmas tree delivered from Lowe’s to your home within 2-5 days, depending on local availability.
And delivery is free. And for orders over $35, you can get other items, such as wreaths and decor, delivered free, too.
RELATED: Lowe’s Will Deliver Your Christmas Tree for Free
4. Skip paying for everything right away with buy now, pay later services.
This year, we’ve seen a surge of new buy now, pay later services emerge, where you’re able to divide the cost of purchases into four payments, paid every two weeks.
QuadPay, Klarna, and PayPal all have options that’ll help you this holiday season, especially if you’re shopping online (but in stores too).
RELATED: 8 ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Services Better than Layaway
5. Skip Thanksgiving shopping at major retailers.
Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Kohl’s, TJMaxx, and a bunch of other stores are closing for Thanksgiving this year.
All of these stores are trying to take the emphasis off Black Friday by holidng various sales throughout the month. Walmart is having three different Black Friday sales in November.
RELATED: Your Current List of Stores Closed on Thanksgiving 2020
6. Skip worrying about missing the window to make returns.
Major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Wayfair, and Apple have extended their windows for returns during the holiday season.
Amazon, for example, is allowing returns until Jan. 31 on purchases made between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.
RELATED: What You Need to Know About Holiday Shopping Returns in 2020
7. Skip waiting 2 days for orders to arrive — get same-day delivery.
Sometimes you need something right away, whether it’s baking goods, a last-minute gift, or a stocking stuffer.
We’re seeing more same-day delivery options than ever these days, and it’s beyond just Instacart, Shipt, and DoorDash. If you want it now from one of your favorite retailers, there’s a good chance you can get it brought to your home within a couple of hours.
RELATED: The Definitive List of Stores with Same-Day Delivery
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