Amazon has been covertly increasing the minimum purchase threshold for some consumers in order to qualify for free shipping.
Some Amazon customers without Prime memberships must now spend $35, up from $25 previously, to be eligible for free deliveries.
As initially reported by the site eCommerce Bytes, an Amazon official, Kristina Pressentin, acknowledged that the company is testing the new qualifications.
Prime members who pay $14.99 per month or $139 annually for free delivery and other benefits are unaffected by the move.
According to Pressentin, “We continually assess our offerings and make changes as necessary.”
According to the consumer education website Consumer World, for the time being, clients appear to be subject to the new $35 minimum depending on where they live.
It was mentioned that, among other cities, Seattle, where Amazon is based, has a $25 minimum, while nearby Bellevue requires non-Prime customers to pay $35 for free shipping.
The action is being taken as the world’s largest online retailer tries to reduce expenses in all facets of its operations. Over 27,000 corporate jobs have been eliminated by the company in the past year, along with non-performing divisions of its business.
It discontinued providing free groceries delivery to Prime members for orders under $150 earlier this year.
Amazon has already increased the minimum order value to qualify for free shipping to as much as $49. In 2017, when Walmart was expanding its e-commerce business, it reduced it to $25.
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