Recently a survey showed that Amazon shipping has gotten slower for non-Prime members. Something that according to some analysts is largely due to the company’s focus on delivering for its growing number of Prime members.
Now Amazon has announced that they have increased the amount of money US customers need to spend in order to qualify for free shipping, from $35 to $49. There is one exception though, orders including $25 or more of eligible books qualify for free shipping.
Increasing Logistics Costs
The increase is likely due to the fact that shipping costs are rising for Amazon and they are under pressure from shareholders to remain profitable. It might also be a way to attract customers to sign up for its Prime subscription service.
One of the advantages of paying $99 a year for a Prime membership is enjoying free two-day shipping on most orders. Something Amazon also states clearly on the page where it shows that the company has raised the bar for free shipping.