Amazon Extends Free Shipping Cutoff Through The Weekend Before Christmas

Leena Rao

 

 

As more and more consumers are flocking online to shop for gifts this holiday season, Amazon has announced that it is extending the order deadline for its free shipping through the last weekend before Christmas.
Amazon has been offering “FREE Super Saver Shipping” on eligible orders $25 and over. So now, customers can place orders through Monday, Dec. 19 with delivery by Christmas, which is on Sunday, Dec. 5. Usually, Friday, December 16 is one of the last days when merchants offer free shipping with delivery by Christmas Eve. Amazon buyers can still order past the Dec. 19 deadline but will have to pay for expedited shipping to have the item delivered by Christmas.
Free shipping is actually one of the contributing factors to the significant increase in online holiday spending this year, so this is a wise move for Amazon to capture more consumer dollars on last-minute holiday shopping. Amazon made a similar move last year as well.
Of course, this is not good news for brick and mortar stores, who tend to reap the benefits of last-minute shoppers who can’t go online for free shipping offers the week prior Christmas.
Last week, Amazon announced that users of Amazon’s Price Check app will be able to score up to $5 off a purchase of any product if they use the app in-store, another blow to physical retailers.
We’ll probably see other big e-commerce players also extend free shipping deadlines in the coming week.

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