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Why you should be doing all your holiday shopping right now

If the recent shopping extravaganza that was Prime Day showed us anything, it’s that now is the time to take advantage of discounts on, well, everything. As we head toward the holidays we’re seeing phenomenal deals on all kinds of tech — from laptops, to 4K TVs to Nintendo Switches — as well as items for your kitchen, vacuums, Smart Home additions; really everything. And this year, it’s more important than ever to act quickly, to make sure you get your item delivered by the big day!

This is not a year like any other year. One thing we witnessed throughout Prime Day was longer shipping times, especially as the day wore on. The reasons are clear. The COVID-19 global pandemic has really gummed up the works, even for big retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. The fact is, the pandemic has caused, and continues to cause, a disruption in distribution. Things just take longer: Trucks need to be cleaned and disinfected; suppliers have to account for or replace affected staff; suppliers that were affected or eliminated have to be replaced. At the same time, demand has increased. People want items delivered; they don’t want to venture out to the stores. Which means the system has even more to deal with, using less resources.

The distribution networks can handle the demand, they just need a little more time to do it.

The result of all this is potential delays on your holiday packages, so it’s important that you order now if you want to make sure your items arrive in time for the big day. And while it might add some pressure, the good news is that discounts continue to be applied to hot items, like the Nintendo Switch (a big gift this year, as we look for ways to keep the kids, and ourselves, occupied and happy while indoors). Of course, this means that those same hot items are in shorter supply than ever. So, if you know what you’re looking for, grab it while you can.

The choice is yours, but with the discounts we’re seeing on top tech, and the impending crunch of holiday season, we suggest you jump on your holiday shopping right now. Things won’t get much cheaper, either, so get on it.

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