Amazon’s New Delivery Hurdles: Throw in £35 to Get Free Shipping
In a move that feels a bit like a “no free lunch” policy, Amazon now requires that you spend at least £35 on non‑Prime items to avoid a delivery fee. That’s a 40% jump from the old £25 bar.
What’s Fueling the Rise?
- Energy and fuel hikes have been blamed by the experts, but it’s unclear why Amazon is trebling the threshold.
- David Jinks from Parcelhero says, “Ouch, 40% is steep. Amazon says it’s all external: shipping costs up, you feel it.”
- But Amazon also runs its own Amazon Logistics, the second‑largest UK carrier—shipping 0.9 billion parcels last year and eating up 17% of the whole market.
Who’s Barely Paying?
Nearly half of non‑Prime shoppers are now staring at a potential £4.99 surcharge on each item. Amazon is nudging more people toward a subscription that coins a whole bundle of perks.
Why? Because Prime members spend twice as much as everyone else. It’s like paying for your favourite coffee plan—half your favourite latte is free.
Prime: The Big Money‑Puller
Forget a simple shipping fee. Amazon is pulling in £95 per year (or about £8.99 a month) for Prime. In return, you get:
- Same‑day and next‑day deliveries
- Free streaming movies, shows, and audiobooks
- Exclusive Prime Day sales you can’t ignore
For those who don’t want to shell out for Prime, there are still a few loopholes:
- Local Pick‑ups—send your item to an Amazon‑friendly shop or locker (though not every item or seller qualifies).
- Books Deal—if your order contains at least £10 of books, you dodge the extra charge. It’s a throwback to the day Amazon began as a book store.
Will the Threshold Push More to Prime?
It’s plausible that more shoppers will dive into Prime to avoid the £35 hurdle. After all, the subscription brings free delivery, plus a bunch of entertainment goodies. If you’re eyeing the Prime Day sales (deadline: 16 July), it may well be worth the membership fee.
At the end of the day, the supermarket of Amazon has swapped a €5 fee for a £35 gate—if you’re in a hurry, the navigation might feel a bit like a speed bump. Good luck, shop‑ers!
