Amazon Raises Free Shipping Minimum to $35

tubemonkey · 10-22-2013, 10:29 AM

Just in time for the holidays, Amazon is raising the threshold for free shipping. To qualify for free shipping, you must have a minimum order of $35 (a $10 increase).

Amazon wants you to get Prime, so they're giving you a holiday incentive

May the Prime be with you

Quote:

Changes to Amazon Free Shipping

These changes relate specifically to FREE Super Saver Shipping. All other services remain unchanged.

Amazon's minimum order size for free shipping has changed to $35. This is the first time in more than a decade that Amazon has altered the minimum order for free shipping in the US. During that time, we have expanded free shipping selection by millions of items across all 40 product categories. Look for "FREE Shipping" on product pages to discover eligible items.

Millions of Amazon customers have already made the choice of faster shipping by becoming Amazon Prime members. Prime includes unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping, with no minimum order size, on more than 15 million items, as well as unlimited streaming of over 41,000 movies and TV episodes through Prime Instant Video and access to over 350,000 books to borrow through the Kindle Owners' Lending Library. The service is so popular that more than a year ago we began shipping more items with Prime than with free shipping. Click here to start a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime.

Whichever shipping speed you choose, thank you for shopping at Amazon.com.

Canuck_in_Japan · 10-22-2013, 11:16 AM

In Japan, everything is free shipping for Amazon. Even if it only costs the equivalent of $3.

ApK · 10-22-2013, 11:17 AM

Aw. End of an era. Good thing we just got Prime for the Holidays. :-)
Without Prime, who knows, perhaps this will drive more business to local B&M places for more small orders.

jswinden · 10-22-2013, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Just in time for the holidays, Amazon is raising the threshold for free shipping. To qualify for free shipping, you must have a minimum order of $35 (a $10 increase).

Amazon wants you to get Prime, so they're giving you a holiday incentive

May the Prime be with you

I'm not surprised. Last year analyst were predicting they would be losing money with the free two-day shipping. I notice that the USPS just revamped their Flat Rate service too. The free insurance coverage has dropped from $100 to $50 USD, and I think they shrunk the box sizes as well. I've also noticed that UPS ground shipments that used to be guaranteed for 3-day delivery now have a 5-day delivery. The economy is catching up with everyone!

Catlady · 10-22-2013, 11:28 AM

Hmm. I'm not sure how (or if) this will affect my own buying behavior.

tubemonkey · 10-22-2013, 11:30 AM

I had Prime once, but cancelled it.

To put things in perspective, Best Buy's min is $25 and Walmart's min is $50.

elemenoP · 10-22-2013, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

In Japan, everything is free shipping for Amazon. Even if it only costs the equivalent of $3.

That's interesting. Do they have Amazon Prime anyway? What are the benefits? Faster free shipping?

ProfCrash · 10-22-2013, 12:00 PM

Most stores minimum is $50. We have Prime and will keep it. Prime Combined with subscribe and save and Amazon Mom saves us 20% on the items that we buy on a regular basis.

tubemonkey · 10-22-2013, 12:08 PM

Walmart ship to store is a viable free alternative if you routinely shop at the physical store.

xg4bx · 10-22-2013, 12:15 PM

I'll just keep abusing B&N's then lol. A $25 annual membership gets me free express shipping.

jswinden · 10-22-2013, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I had Prime once, but cancelled it.

To put things in perspective, Best Buy's min is $25 and Walmart's min is $50.

It was no brainer for me to have Prime back when I didn't have to pay state sales tax. But now I have to pay the state sales tax through Amazon, so the prices are more on par with other sites. But I still get a good deal through all the shipping orders.

AnemicOak · 10-22-2013, 01:03 PM

So far between 2 day shipping, the steaming service and the occasional use of the lending library Prime's been worth the $6.58 a month for me. If it was just shipping I'm not sure it would be anymore as I order a lot less than I once did.

tubemonkey · 10-22-2013, 01:47 PM

Their timing sucks! They should've announced it, but waited until after the holidays to implement it.

afv011 · 10-22-2013, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

(...) when I didn't have to pay state sales tax. But now I have to pay the state sales tax through Amazon, (...)

You always had to pay state sales tax. I guess the IRS will be very happy about your public confession of tax evasion.

ApK · 10-22-2013, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afv011

You always had to pay state sales tax. I guess the IRS will be very happy about your public confession of tax evasion.

Oh, we know he just meant he was able to keep that tax money in an interest-bearing account until he had to file, thereby improving cash flow and defraying the cost.

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10-22-2013, 11:16 AM	#2
Canuck_in_Japan Wizard Posts: 1,476 Karma: 14328611 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tokyo, Japan Device: Aura, Aura H2O, Kindle PW3	In Japan, everything is free shipping for Amazon. Even if it only costs the equivalent of $3.

10-22-2013, 11:17 AM	#3
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,402 Karma: 69116640 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	Aw. End of an era. Good thing we just got Prime for the Holidays. :-) Without Prime, who knows, perhaps this will drive more business to local B&M places for more small orders.

10-22-2013, 11:28 AM	#5
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,423 Karma: 52734361 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Hmm. I'm not sure how (or if) this will affect my own buying behavior.

10-22-2013, 11:30 AM	#6
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,850 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	I had Prime once, but cancelled it. To put things in perspective, Best Buy's min is $25 and Walmart's min is $50.

10-22-2013, 12:00 PM	#8
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Most stores minimum is $50. We have Prime and will keep it. Prime Combined with subscribe and save and Amazon Mom saves us 20% on the items that we buy on a regular basis.

10-22-2013, 12:08 PM	#9
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,850 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Walmart ship to store is a viable free alternative if you routinely shop at the physical store.

10-22-2013, 12:15 PM	#10
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	I'll just keep abusing B&N's then lol. A $25 annual membership gets me free express shipping.

10-22-2013, 01:03 PM	#12
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	So far between 2 day shipping, the steaming service and the occasional use of the lending library Prime's been worth the $6.58 a month for me. If it was just shipping I'm not sure it would be anymore as I order a lot less than I once did.

10-22-2013, 01:47 PM	#13
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,850 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Their timing sucks! They should've announced it, but waited until after the holidays to implement it.