In a quiet move early Tuesday, Amazon raised to $35 the purchase amount to qualify for free Super Saver Shipping. After over ten years of requiring a $25 purchase for free shipping, this change will significantly reduce the number of purchases eligible for the free Super Saver Shipping. Frequent Amazon customers will need to change their shopping habits in order to continue using free shipping services. What can you do?
Utilize The Wish List
In addition to the shopping cart, Amazon offers a wish list. Similar to a shopping cart, you can put items on your wish list and return to them later. This is perfect for things that would eventually be nice or to keep track of consumables that you can use to fill your cart. For example, I want to buy a case for my camera's memory cards. I'm not in any hurry, so I've put it in my wish list. Next time I'm shopping, I can stick that on my order if I need to reach the new $35 minimum for free shipping.
Find Filler Products
There are several websites that help you find products to help meet the purchase minimum. FillerItem.com allows you to enter the amount of money you need to spend, and suggests all available products at or above that price. CoolFillerItem has great pictures and a wide variety of items listed.
Buy An Amazon Prime Membership
At $79 per year, many of us look at Amazon Prime and think, "too expensive." However, there are many ways to make it less expensive than you might think. And, per my sister, "it is amazing."
First, consider that an Amazon prime membership includes unlimited free shipping, unlimited video streaming from their library, and limited free book downloads of selected items. It also includes discounts on services such as the Kindle FreeTime program.
Second, look in to Amazon Student and Amazon Mom memberships. Amazon Student offers similar benefits to Amazon Prime, with six months free and subsequent half-price Prime membership. Amazon Student also offers special promotions, contests and savings. Amazon Mom costs the same $79 per year as Prime, but offers additional benefits such as 20% off diapers and wipes and 20% off 5 or more subscribe and save products.
Lastly, you can share the free shipping benefits with up to four other people. They can't use the other benefits, but what a great way to help a friend save money!
Use Social Media To Combine Orders
Depending on your community, it might be easy enough to post on Facebook: "Hey, I'm placing an Amazon order. Does anyone need anything?" Obviously, it doesn't have to be Facebook. Whatever works best for you, as long as you don't have four neighbors placing four separate orders on the same day. What a waste that would be.
The $25 Super Saver Shipping promotion was one of the reasons that I have loved shopping Amazon. While I am disappointed that they have raised the purchase minimum for free shipping, I am sure that I can find ways to make it still work for me. What do you think?
