Amazon introduces Prime Now delivery fee

Amazon has introduced a minimum order fee for its Prime Now same day delivery service.

For purchases under £40 made through the delivery service, customers will have to pay £3.99 plus a £2 tip for drivers.

Previously, Amazon had a minimum order of £20 to get free same day delivery through Prime Now. The minimum order has now come down to £15, although any order below £40 comes with the £3.99 fee. The fee covers same day delivery within a specified two-hour period.

Prime customers pay an annual fee of £79 for membership on the basis covers free delivery of unlimited purchases through the year.

Now, customers who want same day delivery under the Prime Now service will have to pay these fees on top of the subscription.

The change has not gone down well with customers, with many taking to social media to share their disapproval. One customer

: “So disappointed that @amazonprimenow changed the delivery fees won’t be using this every week now #amazon #primenow #amazonprimenow”. Another : “Yep I just cancelled mine. Doesn’t make sense to do that if like us we spend nearly every week. They shoulda just gave us the option to change our membership rather than make everyone else suffer because of the majority #loyaltygone”.

Amazon launched Prime Now in London in 2015 and the service has now spread to Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Portsmouth, South Yorkshire and Surrey.

The service specialises in delivering food, groceries, health, beauty, and home products.

Amazon’s press office has yet to respond to a request for comment on the development.