topic Re: FREE shipping - Amazon - NO minimum in Community Chat

FREE shipping/Amazon/NO minimum

feline groovy — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:53:28 GMT

Amazon drops its $25 minimum for free shipping ahead of the holidays in bid against Walmart and Target

Amazon offering free shipping with no purchase minimum for the first time in US
Promo lasts until Amazon can no longer promise delivery in time for Christmas
Customers not enrolled in Prime normally have to meet $25 min for free shipping

PUBLISHED: 03:03 EST, 5 November 2018 | UPDATED: 10:55 EST, 5 November 2018

Amazon.com Inc said on Monday it would offer free shipping with no purchase minimum for the first time this holiday season, heating up the competition with Walmart Inc and other rivals vying for customers' Christmas shopping sprees.

The U.S.-only promotion, effective from Nov. 5, waives the $25 minimum that customers outside Amazon's loyalty club Prime must hit for free shipping.

The deal lasts until Amazon can no longer promise items in time for Christmas with free delivery, which typically takes five to eight business days.

The announcement could help Amazon sustain its rapid sales growth. Shares of the world's largest online retailer were hammered last month after it forecast the slowest rise in revenue at least since the start of 2016.

The current quarter typically is Amazon's biggest.

Amazon cut its order minimum for free shipping to $25 from $35 indefinitely in May 2017.

Monday's news will pile pressure on Walmart and Target Corp, which in recent years have chipped away at Amazon's lead with their own offers of free two-day shipping.

While Walmart has maintained its $35 order threshold this holiday, Target has scrapped its minimum until Dec. 22.

Just over half of all U.S. households have a Prime subscription, analysts estimate.

Prime remains the cornerstone of Amazon's business because shoppers buy more from the retailer once they pay $119 for the year-long membership.

Perks include same-day shipping and video streaming.

Amazon is now courting those outside the club, hoping its brand and wider selection will set it apart.

Free shipping can apply to hundreds of millions of items on Amazon, versus hundreds of thousands on Target. Target promises to deliver the items faster, however.

It was unclear how free delivery on small-ticket items would impact net income for Amazon, which last month touted improvements in efficiency.

According to the Seattle company's latest annual filing, shipping costs nearly doubled from 2015 to 2017, reaching $21.7 billion.

Re: FREE shipping - Amazon - NO minimum

Mominohio — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:19:32 GMT

The tv news report on this I saw yesterday made it sound like not all things Amazon sells would fall under this offer.

Not sure what exactly that entails or if it was accurate, but heads up that it might not be everything, but selected items.

Re: FREE shipping - Amazon - NO minimum

Its Me LuLuBelle2 — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:20:50 GMT

@feline groovy, thanks for the info! When my Prime expired in August I chose not to renew it as I couldn't justify the cost compared to how little I've been ordering. I've had tremendous success with Walmart's shipping. Although you must have a minimum of $35 for free shipping, I've always received my items within 2 days. Thanks again.

Re: FREE shipping - Amazon - NO minimum

feline groovy — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:51:18 GMT

@Mominohio wrote:
The tv news report on this I saw yesterday made it sound like not all things Amazon sells would fall under this offer.

Not sure what exactly that entails or if it was accurate, but heads up that it might not be everything, but selected items.

@Mominohio:

Thanks - exclusions apply to Target's offer as well.

Just check out the details and dislaimers at Amazon and Target.com.

Re: FREE shipping - Amazon - NO minimum

MarkeieMark — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 19:51:00 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2 wrote:
@feline groovy, thanks for the info! When my Prime expired in August I chose not to renew it as I couldn't justify the cost compared to how little I've been ordering. I've had tremendous success with Walmart's shipping. Although you must have a minimum of $35 for free shipping, I've always received my items within 2 days. Thanks again.

Walmart shipping IS amazing.

Re: FREE shipping/Amazon/NO minimum

JanetsGirl — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 16:27:09 GMT

This is a big deal for me. I am not an Amazon Prime member. Often I find something I would like to purchase on Amazon but it does not meet the $25 minimum for free shipping, so I end up not buying it. The free shipping takes care of that problem. In fact, I took advantage of the free shipping this morning and bought something that I have had my eye on for quite a while that is less than $25. Nice!!

Re: FREE shipping - Amazon - NO minimum

lovesrecess — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 00:57:16 GMT

I am not a Prime member but do order a lot of stuff from Amazon....even if it doesn't include everything, it's worth a check to see if what I want to order qualifies.