Target cuts free-shipping minimum to $25

Online shoppers can now get free shipping on orders of $25 or more from Target Corp.

The discount retailer on Monday reduced its free-shipping minimum from $50.

“We saw an enthusiastic response to our free shipping offer over the holidays. Now, whether guests are stocking up or doing fill-in shopping, we’ve enhanced our year-round shipping offer to be one of the best in all of retail,” Jason Goldberger, president of Target.com and Mobile, said in a news release.

The Minneapolis-based company said Target.com set sales records on Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday.

Amazon and Walmart may follow suit or cut their minimums even further, said Brian Sozzi, CEO and chief equities analyst for the research firm Belus Capital Advisors.

“The U.S. consumer now views free shipping as a right,” Sozzi told The Associated Press. He said he thinks retailers will do away with the charges altogether in a few years. They can do that, Sozzi said, because they are building more distribution centers, which makes it easier and cheaper to ship items.

Amazon.com, a leading online retailer, offers free shipping on orders of $35 or more unless the customer signs up for its Amazon Prime service.

Best Buy‘s minimum order is also $35. Wal-Mart Stores requires an order of at least $50 to get free shipping.