Amazon ups the ante on the free shipping race

Amazon has again raised the stakes in the home shipping war.



Almost a year after raising its free shipping minimum for non-Prime customers from $35 to $50, Amazon subtly announced on its website that it is once again honoring free shipping on orders of $35.



“You receive free shipping if your order includes at least $35 of eligible items or $25 of books (in which case all other eligible items in the order also ship free). Any item with "FREE Shipping" messaging on the product detail page, that is fulfilled and shipped by Amazon, is eligible and contributes to your free shipping order minimum,” the policy said.



Amazon’s Prime members still receive unlimited free two-day shipping, with no required minimum spend.



The move is a strategic one, especially as more competitors try to beat Amazon at its own shipping game.



For example, the new pricing comes less than a month after Walmart announced that it was ending its ShippingPass program, a fee-based, two-day delivery service, in favor of a free two-day shipping program. Now Walmart shoppers that hit a a $35 price threshold are entitled to free shipping.



Meanwhile, Best Buy offers its own membership program. Shoppers that join My Best Buy rewards receive free two-day shipping on orders of $35 or more. There is no annual fee to join, the retailer said.