If you still have gifts to buy for the holiday season, you're in luck.

Monday, Dec. 17, is "Free Shipping Day," making it one of the few times in life when it actually pays off to procrastinate.

More than 1,400 online retailers have signed up to participate, according to FreeShippingDay.com. Yep, there is an entire website dedicated to the day.

Along with the free shipping, retailers are guaranteeing your packages will arrive by Christmas Eve.

Last week's anti-trust settlement between the credit card companies and major retailers over so-called swipe fees could mean higher prices for consumers who choose to pay with plastic.

We could conceivably see a two-tiered pricing system in stores: one price for customers paying with cash and a higher price for those paying with credit.

How much is using your credit card worth to you?

If you had to pay more for your purchases would you still use it?

Or would you switch to cash?

Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Vera Bradley and Sperry Top-Sider are the latest additions to the list of retailers opening this year in the Streets at Southpoint.

Vera Bradley  creates handbags, accessories, luggage, and other items in a variety of the company's well-known patterns. The company, which is publicy traded, has 52 U.S. retail stores in addition to eight outlet stores and 3,400 specialty retailers.

Sperry Top-Sider makes nautically-inspired footwear, clothing and accessories. Founded in 1932, the company is most well-known for its boat shoe.

Both retailers plan to open in the lower-level Belk wing some time this year.

Kmart plans to close its store on Kildaire Farm Road in Cary in November and lay off 71 people.

The company filed a notice this week with the N.C. Department of Commerce under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

The store will permanently close Nov. 13 and the layoffs are expected to begin the week before.

The company gave no reason for the store closure in its letter. A Kmart official didn't immediately return a call seeking comment this afternoon.

Kmart also has four stores in Raleigh, one in Durham and one in Smithfield.

Kmart and Sears are both owned by Sears Holdings Corp., which has reportedly been considering moving its headquarters out of Illinois.

North Carolina has been among those states said to be on the short list of potential new homes.

Sears has struggled for years with declining sales and customer defections to competitors such as Wal-Mart and Target.

In February, the company named Lou D'Ambrosio, a former IBM executive, to be CEO.

Sears Holdings is set to report second quarter earnings next week.

Audio Advice, an audio and video retailer with stores in Raleigh and Charlotte, said today that is has acquired ZoboTV, a home electronics retailer in Charlotte.

Founded in 1978 by Leon Shaw, Audio Advice sells high performance audio systems and home electronics.

The three stores involved in the deal with all remain open. The offerings in both Charlotte stores will be expanded.

Shaw said in a release that the combined companies will have more than 65 audio and video experts in the state.

ZoboTV was founded a decade ago by Jay Faison, who is also president of SnapAV, a custom installation business.

"Customers are increasingly looking for the best expertise and the best solutions in the marketplace," Faison said in a release.

"We believe the combined companies will provide just that.  This is also perfect timing for me as I have dedicated almost all of my energy and time to the growing SnapAV business.”

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.