Israeli shoppers rejoice: global shopping giant Amazon has resumed free shipping to Israel.As of Thursday morning, purchases over $65 are eligible for free shipping to Israel. Only certain items are eligible for free shipping, which are clearly marked on the site. No guidance has been provided as to how long the promotion will last.
Israelis have waited a year and a half for this moment.
When Amazon began offering free shipping to Israel for orders above $49 in November 2019, it set off nothing less than a consumer revolution overnight. Because Amazon was able to sell thousands of products more inexpensively than local stores, Israelis began buying almost everything online, including clothing, electronics, food and even toilet paper.
However, that all ended abruptly in March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on global shipping channels and forced Amazon to cancel the benefit.
Deliveries to Israel were canceled completely during the early days of the pandemic. Later last summer, sales to Israel were restored, but with longer and more expensive shipping options. Shipping times to Israel have now returned closer to pre-pandemic levels.
Shopping online is a favorite pastime for Israelis, and it has long been common for olim (immigrants to Israel) to order online and have the packages sent to a relative abroad to be picked up or delivered on an upcoming visit. For many Israelis, free delivery to their homes in Israel represents an international level of luxury.
Israelis are avid shoppers on international shopping sites like Ali Express and Next, but the quality and variety of international products on Amazon is generally considered superior.
The $65 threshold for free shipping is intentional. Currently in Israel, deliveries from overseas under $75 are exempt from customs charges. Keeping the size of an order between $65 and $75 in order to avoid fees requires shoppers to exercise a certain level of attention and savvy that Amazon has likely taken into account. The previous threshold of $49 gave shoppers more room to make a sport of dodging fees.
Facebook groups dedicated to shopping on Amazon were already abuzz on Thursday with people sharing advice on which deals ship to Israel, and tips on reaching the $65 minimum.
The return of free shipping “was unexpected, but was certainly appreciated by the community,” said Avi Parshan, who runs a group called The Best Deals in Israel. He called the raising of the minimum order price “bittersweet.”
Israel’s Economy Ministry recently proposed that Israel’s $75 VAT exemption on imports should be canceled, as it creates a competitive disadvantage for local retailers who are required to pay VAT from the first shekel. However, if such a measure is ever adopted, it would likely be years away, and would be contingent on Israel developing a simple payment mechanism for consumers and suppliers to pay customs charges, according to the Economy Ministry document.