Retailers will find this Christmas more competitive than ever, with consumers finding that many have upped their game in terms of home deliveries.
That's according to mail and parcels firm DX, which believes the click-and-collect option will still play second fiddle to delivery.

"The main barrier to click-and-collect is simply that there are still a relatively low number of online checkouts that offer facilities such as CollectPlus," says DX director Paul Doble.

"For the moment at least, shoppers welcome the convenience of delivery to the home as long as the price is right, the service is quick and efficient, and doesn't require them to be in to sign for it.

"This Christmas, the industry will be more competitive than ever," he goes on. "Several large carriers have opened additional hubs and others are offering delivery on Sundays, the net result being that some firms will be aggressively increasing their delivery volumes, and free delivery is likely to become available at a lower minimum spend.

"Last Christmas there was a capacity shortage across the market, as sales outstripped delivery capabilities. The growth of click-and-collect should capture some of this market, but capacity will remain an issue, forcing consumers to pay for more specialised delivery options in order to get their hotly anticipated purchases delivered on time."