If you’re not subscribed to Amazon Prime, qualifying for free shipping will become more difficult.
The e-commerce giant confirmed to CNBC that it’s testing a $35 minimum for non-Prime members. Previously, non-Prime members could qualify for free shipping with a minimum $25 purchase. Prime members, who qualify for free shipment with a subscription, won’t be impacted by the test. The test was originally reported by the ECommerceBytes newsletter, which spotted several posts on Reddit.
The test could be the company’s attempt to boost slow revenue, as it might pressure shoppers to subscribe to Prime. This could also backfire — CNBC conducted a survey in June that found 92% of Americans were tightening their belts in response to inflation. This isn’t the first time Amazon has hiked prices. CNBC said the company starting charging delivery fees on Fresh grocery orders under $150, instituted fees on some returns at UPS stores, canceled several projects and cut 27,000 jobs in addition to freezing corporate hiring.
“We continually evaluate our offerings and make adjustments based on those assessments,” Amazon spokesperson Maria Boschetti told ECommerceBytes. “We’re currently testing a $35 minimum for non-Prime customers to qualify for free shipping. Prime members continue to enjoy free delivery on over 300 million items, with tens of millions of items available for free Same or One-Day delivery.”
Amazon wasn’t immediately available for comment.