Amazon tests unlimited free shipping to Israel for Prime members

For several days, Amazon enabled unlimited free shipping to Israel for Prime members, allowing customers to order items ranging from toothpaste and clothing to exercise bikes, paddleboards, luggage, and computer monitors without minimum spend or weight restrictions. According to Ynet, the offer appeared late Wednesday and lasted until the end of the week. Even low-cost items and heavy goods that typically incur shipping fees of $100 to $200 were available for free delivery to Prime members. Non-Prime customers also reported unusually low shipping costs in some instances. The offer was removed on Friday night, reportedly after a surge in orders for heavy items. While some suggest it was a technical error, others speculate Amazon may have been testing a broader free shipping model for Israeli Prime subscribers. Amazon currently offers free shipping to Israel on eligible orders over $49, a programme active since 2019, though the range of eligible products has fluctuated due to flight disruptions. Asaf, manager of the 'Pashut Zol' shopping group on Telegram, told Ynet that a system update on Wednesday likely triggered the change. During this period, customers successfully ordered $5 items alongside large equipment, such as a paddleboard delivered for 429 shekels and a 32-inch monitor for 558 shekels, including VAT. Some shoppers also purchased exercise benches for approximately $60, falling below Israel's VAT exemption threshold. It remains unclear whether this was a deliberate market test or a technical fault. Customers who placed orders during this window are now waiting to see if Amazon will honour the shipments or cancel them.