UPDATED: John Lewis extends click-and-collect cut-off

Contrary to earlier reports in The Telegraph that said John Lewis would stop offering click-and-collect at the end of tomorrow – a day earlier than last year – a spokesperson for the department store said like last year it would extend the cut-off. 

The spokesperson said: “This morning we are pleased to confirm that we will extend the ordering cut off date to 8pm on December 23 for pre-Christmas collection in all John Lewis shops.”

However, the cut-off date for ordering to collect at Waitrose shops remains the December 22, which the spokesperson insisted was “in line with previous years”.

Click-and-collect is set to be a popular fulfilment option this Christmas.

Sainsbury’s has warned that its click-and-collect slots were sold out, according to The Telegraph.

Clodagh Moriarty, online director at Sainsbury’s, told the newspaper: “We’re gearing up for a click-and-collect Christmas, with more customers than ever choosing to pick up their Christmas food shop from one of our 140 click-and-collect locations.

“Our online grocery home delivery service is set for a record Christmas.

“We have created more delivery slots this year than ever before to serve the increasing amount of customers who are choosing to shop online for home delivery.”

This means many shoppers will be forced to buy their presents on the high street as Christmas shopping reaches a crescendo this weekend.

For the first time in five years December 24 falls on a Saturday, and it is forecast that 900,000 shoppers will spend £50m in London’s stores alone.