Bed Bath & Beyond Steps Up Shipping Wars
Last month RIS talked about strategies to combat this season’s shipping concerns, and as the end of the holiday season inches closer, retailers are starting to put their plans into play.
Bed Bath & Beyond, for one, has a new trick up its sleeve to fulfill shoppers’ pre-holiday orders, but still keep them out of stores as virus cases climb. The retailer is running a limited-time, free same-day-delivery promotion for Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY customers.
The three-day promotion launches in partnership with Shipt on Monday, December 14, 2020, and will enable customers to beat the holiday rush by having digital orders delivered direct to their doorstep, free of charge, within hours of ordering. Same-day delivery for orders placed on the retailer’s websites are fulfilled by Shipt's last-mile service, Shipt Driven.
After the promotion runs out, customers can get 20% off their total purchase on curbside pickup or buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) orders from Thursday, December 17, 2020, to Thursday, December 24, 2020.
"In the final days of the holiday season, we know how important it is for customers to be confident they will receive those last-minute items,” Rafeh Masood, EVP and chief digital officer of Bed Bath & Beyond said. “Our free same-day delivery service offer and great deals on store and curbside pickup mean customers can save and be certain they've beaten the holiday rush, all from the comfort of their own homes.”
Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported delivery giant UPS on Cyber Monday notified drivers across the U.S. to stop picking up packages at six retailers, including L.L. Bean, Hot Topic, Newegg and Macy’s.
A number of retailers, including J.C. Penney, Lowe's and Kohl's, are telling shoppers they need to place their online orders soon or else pay expedited shipping fees if they want to get their packages delivered in time for the holidays, the Associated Press reports, and for some retailers, like H&M and Lego, the deadlines have passed.
For those retailers that have it, Steve Horwitz, distinguished professor of Free Enterprise for the Miller College of Business at Ball State University, recommends retailers emphasize more strongly curbside delivery or consider “to engage in what economists call ‘congestion pricing:’ Offer free shipping or other discounts for people who are willing to order and ship gifts earlier in the extended season when demand is lower, perhaps including holiday wrapping.”
While Bed Bath & Beyond’s free same-day delivery promotion meets this tactic, there are some caveats. The promotion is only available on eligible products and orders over $39. Orders placed after 1pm will arrive the next day and customers must reside in eligible zip codes for same-day delivery.
Shoppers must shop online at bedbathandbeyond.com and buybuybaby.com to receive the promotion and will be able to apply any valid coupons. Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY launched same-day delivery on their respective websites in September as part of an expanding omnichannel experience for customers.
"Getting gifts delivered on time should be the last concern for families during this holiday season like none other," said Joe Manning, chief business Officer at Shipt. "Whether you are gifting kitchenware to your loved ones or buying festive decor to dress up your own home, you can count on a Shipt Shopper to deliver the same day you order.”