As Christmas draws ever closer, consumers hoping to pick up some last minute items for the big day are making use of safe shopping online to scour the web for what they need. And because the final delivery dates have already passed, most customers are using click and collect services to pick up gifts and food from their nearest bricks and mortar outlets.

However, major retailers including Tesco and Sainsbury’s have highlighted the fact that the popularity of click and collect is putting additional pressure on their already strained resources, with the availability of slots for pickup dwindling nationally, according to the Sun.

John Lewis has even stepped up its efforts to meet demand and pushed back the final point at which click and collect orders can be made. But the message from all major outlets is that people should not expect to be able to log in and easily acquire a collection slot, or indeed arrange for the delivery of items to their home at the last minute.

Marks and Spencer has already closed its online orders for anyone hoping to pick up or have items delivered before Christmas. And while many retailers will be opening their doors early next week, for those customers who have not quite prepared themselves for December 25th, it will be too late.

The rise of shopping online has made it much easier to pick out festive items to buy and then swoop in to collect them in one go, rather than having to trawl through over-stuffed shelves looking for a specific product, all while battling crowds of similarly motivated consumers. However, there are limits to how late this responsibility can be left, meaning that even with extra staff on hand, some retailers will end up disappointing their customers.