Looking to save a few bucks when you pick up a new game, some books, or the newly unveiled Amazon Echo Show? You might be in luck.
Amazon appears to have dropped its free shipping minimum to $25 — just months after it had already lowered it to $35 from $49, making this the first time Amazon's cap has been at the $25 mark since 2013, according to Best Black Friday.
Originally, orders containing only books valued at $25 and up could be mailed for free, but now it appears that any qualifying orders of that amount or more can be shipped anywhere in the US without paying shipping and handling costs.
Though Amazon didn't say why it lowered its rates, speculation is that competition from fellow big-box retailer Walmart spurred the decrease.
It's widely believed that Walmart's recent two-day shipping policy announced earlier this year prompted Amazon's first shipping minimum dip, while Wally World's new Store Pickup service — which allows customers to pick up their online orders in-store for a discount — may have pushed Amazon to dig even deeper. It could also be getting prepared even earlier this year to lure customers in for Black Friday.
It's worth noting that Amazon's site states orders shipped for free will take approximately 5-8 business days to arrive. Comparatively, those who shell out $99/year for Amazon Prime are eligible for unlimited free two-day shipping on all qualifying purchases, as well as a laundry list of other perks.
