Amazon introduces £10 minimum spend threshold for free 'super saver' delivery service
Amazon has removed its free ‘super saver’ delivery service on some items worth less than £10.
The decision reverses Amazon’s 2009 pledge which allowed for purchases to be sent free of charge as long as customers were willing to wait up to five days for delivery following dispatch.
Though the changes will not apply to books, DVDs, music, video games and software products, analysts have claimed the decision could still be ‘damaging’.
Speaking to the BBC, Neil Saunders analyst for retail specialist Conlumino, said “there is likely to be resistance to this change” particularly from “infrequent shoppers who don’t mind waiting”.
Removing the free ‘super saver’ delivery option on items costing less than £10 is likely to impact on the vast number of goods Amazon offers out with its primary market of books and DVDs. In recent years, third-party vendors have sold goods on Amazon including health and beauty, clothing and gifts.
The decision to scrap ‘super saver’ for low cost items also allows Amazon to promote its one off charge delivery service Amazon Prime, which offers one-day delivery on an unlimited number of orders for £49 per year.
Amazon’s decision to introduce a price threshold for ‘super saver’ delivery follows news that the online retailer is one of many implementing the new ‘Follow My Parcel’ real-time delivery tracking service.