Back in 2008, we posted about Amazon offering $10 gift cards when you signed up for a free trial of Prime.
Back then there was free shipping for non-Prime members on $25 orders and Prime cost $79 per year.
Then in 2013, the free shipping threshold was raised to $35, followed by another increase to $49 for free shipping.
In 2015 Walmart started competing with Prime by selling a beta test ShippingPass, but it failed and the program folded after just 7 short months of going public in 2017.
However, when Walmart killed off ShippingPass in January 2017 they announced a lower free shipping threshold of $35, and a couple of weeks later Amazon matched that.
Then in May 2017 Amazon lowered their free shipping threshold from $35 down to $25, why did they do this? In response to Target raising their own threshold from $25 to $35, as a sort of look what we can do!
In 2019 both Amazon and Walmart introduced 1 day shipping on millions of items.
And then in September 2020 Walmart launched Walmart+ which is the first service to actually try and compete with Amazon Prime. It launched with a $35 minimum order from stores or online, but that minimum requirement has since been removed.
And now, in August 2023 Amazon has raised its minimum order fee from $25 to $35 for select cities. Based on our research, those include cities such as Baltimore, Dallas, Denver, Houston, LA, Miami, NYC, Phoenix, San Francisco, and more.
However delivered to many other cities still receive free shipping on $25 orders. Based on our research, those include cities such as Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Lakewood, NJ, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle, and more.
Is Amazon feeling the heat of Walmart+ and forcing them to raise minimum fees in hopes of saving on shipping costs and converting more Prime Members?
Is this a test to see if that works, or are they just increasing the cost of business in cities where free shipping is more expensive to fulfill?
Amazon offers free shipping with $35+ orders or get free next-day shipping on all orders with a free trial of Amazon Prime. Prime members can share benefits with a Household member here, allowing them to double up on Amazon Prime promos! A 6 month trial and discounted Prime membership is available with Amazon Student. EBT/Medicaid Cardholders can save on Prime Membership here.
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11 Comments On "Amazon Raises Free Shipping Threshold For Non-Prime Members In Select Cities; Plus A History Of Shipping Costs On Amazon And Walmart"
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whats with $1 ups store return charge i see now. It used to be free to return to ups store.
Start the return through customer service, it will be free (you don’t need to chat with them)
how do you do that?
I had a $2.58 return fee. Go figure.
Yup I’m seeing the same $1 for a damaged item I got.
Wherever I go on DD, i always see your name for some reason. Anyone else?
Gift of Prime was stealthily discontinued recently. Expect a price increase for Prime soon.
are ups store return fees a new thing? i thought it was only if there is closer or same distance alternative option?
maybe Dan get write about this on a main post
Amazon free returns is a scam! Walmart might as well tell all its customers free returns just drive to your local Walmart! So you can call / chat with them to get a label – but that is not the route they tell their customers to go when they want to return an item. One day some class action lawyers or AG will probably sue them for their deceiving return practices..
I’m in Jackson NJ, next door to Lakewood, and my threshhold today is $35.
Still 25 in 08701
but not 11219
doesnt say it anywhere though. Can just tell from what happens at checkout.