Free Shipping Day 2012: 25 Best Deals And Discounts For Holiday Shopping On December 17

Countless retailers are offering special deals and discounts and free shipping in honor of the online shopping day on Dec. 17, and several sites boast Christmas Eve delivery guaranteed.

The website that started it all, FreeShippingDay.com, has a list of nearly 1,700 merchants that participate in the e-commerce holiday, including Kohl's, Walmart, Best Buy, and Toys R Us, among others.

According to the site, Free Shipping Day was created in 2007 as a knee-jerk reaction to the recession to get shoppers shopping online, just like Black Friday. The event, "built in under two weeks" by shopper Luke Knowles, is in its fifth year and happens annually toward the end of the shopping season to give online buyers a last chance for yuletide savings.

In 2011, Free Shipping Day saw more than $1 billion in online sales and was the highest earning Friday in online retail history, according to the site. The day has seen a doubling of participating stores and has even extended into Canada.

However, 2012 saw a slight dip in the amount of retailers participating, according to Knowles, who told the Daily Finance the decrease can be cited to Free Shipping Day falling a day later, on the 17th.

But that doesn't mean Monday is short of any deals. Here are 25 of the best stores offering free shipping or discounts.

Gap: 35% off sitewide using code "GAPGIVE" with free shipping on a minimum purchase

Macy's: Free shipping on orders of $99 or more.

The Limited: Free shipping on all orders.

Fossil: free overnight shipping on all orders.

JC Penney: free shipping on all orders

Coldwater Creek: Free shipping plus 40% off all orders.

Converse: 25% off sitewide and free ground shipping, no minimum purchase required.

Eddie Bauer: Free shipping plus 30% off all orders.

Anthropologie: Free shipping on all orders.

Levi's: Free shipping plus 30% off all orders.

Lands' End: Free shipping on all orders, plus $40 off $100+.

Walmart: Free shipping on all orders of $45 or more.

JCrew: Free shipping plus 30% off all orders.

Express: Free shipping on all orders plus $25 off $75; $50 off $150; or $75 off $250.

Harry & David: Free shipping on all orders.

New York & Company: Free shipping, 50% off on all merchandise, no coupon code required.

Sports Authority: 30 percent off entire purchase until Dec. 22. Free shipping on Dec. 17 with no minimum purchase.

Toys R Us: 50% off Nerf Blasters, Hot Wheels Cars and Playsets, and Disney DVDs and free shipping on most orders.

Overstock: Free shipping on all orders.

Best Buy: Free shipping on all orders.

Office Max: Free shipping on order of $20 or more.

Radio Shack: Free shipping on orders of $25 or more.

Bath & Body Works: Free shipping on any orders of $25 or more using code "FREE25SHIP."

Nordstrom: Free shipping and free returns on every order.

Old Navy: Free shipping and 20% off orders of $50 or more using code "ONHURRY."