Amazon shakes up delivery: Free shipping threshold jumps to £35 for Non-Prime members

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Non-Prime members in the UK woke up to a surprise this week as Amazon significantly increased the minimum order value required to qualify for free standard delivery. Previously, a £25 spend unlocked free shipping, but now that threshold has been raised to £35. When you consider the numbers, a £10 jump is a fairly large increase, 40% in fact.

This move is likely part of Amazon’s strategy to nudge customers towards Prime memberships, which offer unlimited free delivery alongside other benefits, but cost £8.99 per month for the pleasure.

What do we know about the change?

The change applies to all product categories except books. Thankfully, bookworms can still get cheaper delivery — orders including £10 or more of eligible books remain eligible for free delivery.

However, for everything else, from electronics to clothing, the new £35 minimum spend is in effect.

For those who don’t want to pay for delivery or can’t meet the new threshold, there are a few workarounds:

• Free pickup: Standard pickup at Amazon Lockers or other designated locations remains a free option for all orders, regardless of value. This allows you to collect your purchase at your own convenience.
• Paid Delivery options: Amazon offers a range of paid delivery options for faster service. One-Day Delivery and Priority Delivery come with varying fees depending on the speed and whether you’re a Prime member. Same-Day and Overnight Delivery are the fastest options, but also the most expensive.

Here’s a quick cost breakdown for non-Prime members:

• Free: Standard Pickup at designated locations, Orders of £10 or more of eligible books, over £35 for everything else (2-4 business days)
• £0.99: Priority Delivery (2 business days)
• £2.99: Premium Delivery to Locker/Pickup Location (one business day)
• £3.95 to £4.99: One-Day Delivery (varies by product category)
• £5.99: Same-Day & Overnight Delivery for non-Prime members

So before hitting checkout on your next Amazon purchase, it’s crucial to factor in the new £35 free shipping threshold. Consider combining smaller orders to reach the minimum or explore the free pickup option if it’s convenient. Remember, a Prime membership might be a cost-effective solution if you’re a frequent Amazon shopper and value free delivery.

Any Prime membership free trials?

With this increase in minimum spend for free delivery, you might be thinking about joining Prime, so it’s good to know that Amazon offer a 30-day free trial for Prime and after that it is £8.99 per month.

Read more about Amazon Prime free trials and more.

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