Amazon has silently increased the minimum spending requirement for free shipping on its platform.
Non-Prime customers now need to spend $35 instead of $25 to qualify for free shipping.
Amazon spokesperson Kristina Pressentin confirmed the new qualification, which was initially reported by the blog eCommerce Bytes. However, Prime members who pay a monthly fee of $14.99 or an annual fee of $139 will not be affected by this change and will continue to enjoy free shipping benefits.
“We regularly assess our offerings and make adjustments accordingly,” said Pressentin.
Currently, it seems that the new $35 minimum applies to customers based on their location, according to consumer education website Consumer World. For example, customers in Amazon’s headquarters city of Seattle are still required to spend $25, while non-Prime customers in nearby Bellevue have to spend $35 for free shipping.
This move is part of Amazon’s efforts to reduce costs in various aspects of its operations. In the last year, the company has eliminated over 27,000 corporate jobs and discontinued underperforming business units. Recently, it also ended free grocery delivery for Prime members on orders below $150.
In the past, Amazon has gradually raised the minimum order requirement for free shipping, reaching as high as $49. However, in 2017, the company reduced it to $25 in response to increased competition from Walmart’s ecommerce operations.
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