Shipping Fees Are on the Rise—Here’s How to Avoid Them

Online shopping has become a part of everyday life for most of us. In fact, more than 85 percent of Americans have made purchases online, according to Statista—and that number is expected to rise to a whopping 94 percent by 2029. As online orders surge, many companies are rethinking how they handle costs. Free shipping and returns, once common perks, are disappearing as a result.

To help you avoid unexpected shipping fees, here are some smart tips for navigating the ever-changing landscape of online shopping.

Strategies to secure free shipping

Only about 20 percent of retailers offer free shipping on all orders, according to a recent Capital One Shopping report. That means the other 80 percent come with strings attached. But that doesn’t mean you need to pay up. Try these savvy tactics to dodge those shipping fees.

1. Walk away from your cart

If a store doesn’t offer free shipping outright, they may have a minimum purchase threshold—such as $50—that you need to hit.

Let’s say you only want to buy a $20 item. If it’s not urgent, add it to your cart and walk away. (Be sure to create or log in to the store’s free loyalty account so that your cart is saved.) Then, the next time you shop that site, your original item should still be in your cart, which you can add to a larger order at a later time.

Another perk of leaving something in your cart? The store may email you a discount or free shipping code to encourage you to complete your purchase.

2. Search for free shipping coupons

Before you hit “Check Out,” do a quick search on Google and ChatGPT to see if the retailer is offering any current promotions with free shipping codes.

One often-overlooked source for discount codes is YouTube. Search for a creator who reviewed a product from that company, and scroll through the text below the video. You’ll often find a discount or referral code tucked into the video description.

3. Use the free ship-to-store option

If you’re ordering from a retailer website that has physical locations, it may offer a free ship-to-store option. Often, the business will waive shipping fees if you choose to pick up your order in-store.

This can also be a smart choice if you’re not home during delivery hours. You’ll have peace of mind knowing your package is safe, and many retailers (including AAA Stores) will notify you as soon as your order arrives.

4. Join loyalty or membership programs

Many retailers offer free shipping as a loyalty perk. It’s often free to join, and you may unlock ongoing free shipping with no minimum.

5. Sign up for retailer newsletters

Some stores offer free shipping codes as a thank-you when you sign up for their email list. These codes often don’t appear on the website but land directly in your inbox.

6. Wait for free shipping promotions

Many retailers offer free shipping during seasonal events such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or back-to-school sales. If the item isn’t urgent, waiting could save you the shipping fee entirely.

Ways to optimize returns

Let’s say you ordered something—hopefully with free shipping—but it just didn’t hit the mark. Now you’re faced with making a return. Return policies have changed in recent years, largely due to the rising volume of returns. Nearly 25 percent of all US online purchases in 2024 were sent back, according to Statista.

Before you make your next return, consider these strategies to keep the process smooth and stress-free.

1. Read the return policy before you buy

Before completing your purchase, take a moment to review the store’s return policy. If the retailer charges a return fee or doesn’t accept returns on certain items, you may want to reconsider placing that order.

Also, pay attention to the return window. While many retailers, including AAA, offer a 30-day return period, others may only accept returns within 14 days of purchase.

2. Find approved return locations

It can be time-consuming to print a return label, re-box the unwanted item, and drop it off at the post office.

To streamline the process, some companies partner with authorized drop-off locations such as UPS, Staples, or Kohl’s. In these cases, you can usually bring the item as-is, scan your return QR code at the counter, and let the store handle the packing and shipping for you.

3. Look into the “Keep It” option

Processing returns can be costly for retailers, especially when shipping and restocking fees are involved.

To cut down on these costs, some companies now offer a “Keep It” option. Instead of asking you to send the item back, they’ll refund your money and let you keep, donate, or toss the product.

This option isn’t always advertised, so you might need to contact customer service or check the return page to see if it applies to your order.

4. Consolidate returns when possible

If you’re returning multiple items to the same retailer, see if you can bundle them into one shipment. It may save you time—and in some cases, extra fees.

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Even if you know a store’s shipping and return policies, check every few months for any updates to help stay in control of your shopping experience—and your budget.