SEATTLE, Jun 18, 2002 -- Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMZN) announced that effective today, as a long-term test, it has reduced from $99 to $49 the qualifying order size for its popular Free Super Saver Shipping option.
At the conclusion of the test, which is expected to last three to six months, the company will decide whether the $49 ordering hurdle can remain permanent.
In January, Amazon.com introduced its everyday, Free Super Saver Shipping option for qualifying orders over $99. Today's action cuts by one-half the order size now needed to qualify for Free Super Saver Shipping.
"Amazon.com is working hard to lower prices for customers, and we're eager to see how customers respond to this extended test of a $49 Free Super Saver Shipping option," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "We hope we'll be able to make it permanent."
Today's announcement is Amazon.com's fourth significant price decrease in the past 11 months. In July 2001, Amazon.com lowered book prices to 30% off books over $20, and in January introduced its Free Super Saver Shipping option on orders over $99. In April, Amazon.com extended the 30% discount to books over $15, and today extended its Free Super Saver Shipping option to qualifying orders over $49 as a long-term test. Additionally, Amazon.com recently reduced product prices on many bestselling CDs, bestselling DVDs, electronics and tools.
With today's announcement, Amazon.com customers can now choose free shipping on qualifying orders over $49 being shipped to a single U.S. address. (Details and restrictions can be found at www.amazon.com/supersavershipping).
About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, Wash., opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com and sellers list millions of unique new and used items in categories such as electronics, computers, kitchen products and housewares, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, baby and baby registry, software, computer and video games, cell phones and service, tools and hardware, travel services, magazine subscriptions and outdoor living items. Through Amazon Marketplace, zShops and Auctions, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's millions of customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.
Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.fr and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 300,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to potential future losses, significant amount of indebtedness, competition, strategic alliances and business combinations, seasonality, potential fluctuations in operating results and rate of growth, foreign currency exchange rates, management of potential growth, system interruption, international expansion, consumer trends, fulfillment center optimization, inventory, limited operating history, government regulation and taxation, fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and new business areas. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, and all subsequent filings.