Amazon increases free shipping minimum order to $49

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in internet on (#14YNT)
Amazon.com has raised the free shipping minimum to $49 from $35 for non-Prime members, according to information provided on the Amazon website. The company hasn't published a press release with the news. For books, the threshold is still $25.

There is unlimited free two-day shipping for Prime members. "A higher minimum order requirement for free non-Prime shipping effectively increases the appeal of Prime membership, and Prime households spend disproportionately more than non-Prime households." A steep 32.8% increase in fulfillment costs had a negative impact on quarterly earnings announced on January 29. Prime membership increased 51% in 2015.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-ups-free-shipping-minimum-to-49-from-35-for-non-prime-members-2016-02-22

Re: Point of reference (Score: 1, Interesting)

by Anonymous Coward on 2016-02-29 13:28 (#15GEE)

There's no legitimate reason for shipping costs to be rising.
US Post Office rates have gone up, I thought this was due to their new requirement to fully fund all their pensions? Or something like that? This requirement was likely caused by FedEx and other shippers lobbying the government. Just another case of companies/capitalists that really want to be monopolists -- in this case driving business away from the Post Office by forcing higher USPS rates.
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