Target lowers free shipping threshold to $25, undercutting Walmart

Minneapolis – While some retailers have been raising their spending threshold for free shipping, Target Corp. is taking the opposite approach. The retailer has cut its threshold for free-shipping of online orders by half, from $50 to $25. Chief Target rival Walmart has a $50 free shipping minimum.



Target said the price cut follows an enthusiastic response to its free-shipping offer during the holiday shopping season.





“Now, whether guests are stocking up or doing fill-in shopping, we've enhanced our year-round shipping offer to be one of the best in all of retail,” said Jason Goldberger, president of Target.com and Mobile.



The free rate applies to standard shipments that take three to five business days to arrive.



Amazon.com raised its free shipping limit from $25 to $35 in October 2013, while Best Buy did the same in May 2013. Some retailers, including Amazon subsidiary Zappos and L.L. Bean, provide free shipping on all orders.