Another price hike: Amazon is increasing the threshold for free delivery via its Amazon Fresh grocery service.

On Friday, the company sent customers an email, explaining that in order to receive free delivery via Amazon Fresh, Prime members will have to buy at least $150 worth of groceries, effective Tuesday, Feb. 28. Otherwise, “delivery charges will be $3.95 for orders $100-$150, $6.95 for orders $50-$100, and $9.95 for orders under $50,” Amazon says.

Previously, the e-commerce giant would only charge a $4.99 or higher service fee for orders under $35 or $50, depending on where you lived.

The company is defending the service fee as a way to help keep prices down on Amazon Fresh amid inflation. “This service fee will help keep prices low in our online and physical grocery stores as we better cover grocery delivery costs and continue to enable offering a consistent, fast, and high-quality delivery experience,” Amazon explains.

Even so, consumers are upset. On social media, you can already find some users vowing(Opens in a new window) to drop Amazon Fresh. Others are suggesting customers try out grocery shopping services from competitors such as Walmart+, which is still offering free grocery deliveries for orders over $35.

Amazon is adding the service fee a year after the company raised the price for Amazon Prime from $119 to $139 per year for US annual subscribers, citing the need to pay rising wages and transportation costs. The e-commerce giant has also cut 18,000 jobs during the ongoing economic downturn facing the tech industry.

By: DocMemory
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