In an email to Amazon Prime members, Amazon announced Friday it is raising the threshold for free Amazon Fresh delivery from $35 to $150.
The changes are set to begin Saturday, Feb. 28, one month and a day after the notice was sent.
Orders under $150 will now incur a fee.
Orders under $50 will include a delivery charge of $9.95, orders between $50 and $100 will include a delivery charge of $6.95, and orders between $100 and $150 will include a delivery charge of $3.95.
According to Amazon, the service fee will “help keep prices low in our online and physical grocery stores as we better cover grocery delivery costs.”
The update was not welcome on social media, as several posts pointed out that the fees will most likely affect low-income customers the most, who can afford it the least during inflation.
AmazonFresh became my only option for shopping for my own groceries using SNAP/EBT during the ongoing pandemic.
— Charis Hill | they/them (@BeingCharisBlog) January 27, 2023
Now they'll begin charging many of their poorest customers, including many on fixed incomes, even more during inflation. pic.twitter.com/Ir2NWTONlU
When companies should be incentivizing healthy eating and living, its ironic that @AmazonFresh decides to do the exact opposite! Single/smaller family households may not be able to consume $150 worth of fresh foods. So they are saying pay the fee or buy something processed. pic.twitter.com/eHFElsr1ui
— Sandy (@NikkhiSingh) January 27, 2023
Amazon Fresh upping those fees on those who can least afford it. pic.twitter.com/v00w0O3Qnt
— Coastal Life (@samanthacoast) January 27, 2023
Amazon noted it will still offer two-hour delivery windows for all orders and some customers will able to select six-hour delivery windows for a reduced fee.
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