For as long as we can remember, Amazon.com’s minimum purchase requirement to qualify for its free super saver shipping was $25, a pretty easy threshhold for many shoppers to reach with perhaps a couple of books or a really nice salad spinner. It’ll be a bit tougher now, however, as Amazon has quietly increased the free shipping amount to $35.

Consumerist reader Whitney writes that she only noticed the change when she tried to buy something, and it appears that customers haven’t received the news straight from the horse’s mouth.

“Amazon did not make any kind of direct announcement, just this little quiet piece found in a corner of their website, and people finding out when they tried to purchase things yesterday/today,” she writes. “I’m glad I have Prime, but a lot of folks don’t.”

There’s only this note, tucked away in a spot on the site that’s not easy to find unless you click around a bit and know exactly what you’re looking for:

Changes to Amazon Free Shipping
These changes relate specifically to FREE Super Saver Shipping. All other services remain unchanged.

Amazon’s minimum order size for free shipping has changed to $35. This is the first time in more than a decade that Amazon has altered the minimum order for free shipping in the US. During that time, we have expanded free shipping selection by millions of items across all 40 product categories. Look for “FREE Shipping” on product pages to discover eligible items.

It’s not so much the shipping requirement that sticks in the craw, but the way Amazon non-announced it. Customers appreciate being filled in on changes before they happen, instead of finding out belatedly when their items are already in the digital basket.

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