📦 Is free shipping on ecommerce really free?

April 18 2025, by Víctor Manuel Morales
3 min reading time

In the world of e-commerce, "free shipping" has become a common selling point. But is it really free? How can an online store cover the cost of shipping without affecting its profitability?

Spoiler alert: shipping is never free , at least not for the seller. But there are smart and sustainable ways to offer it. In this article, we'll explain how it works and why it can be a real advantage for you as a buyer , as long as it's presented transparently.

🚚 Shipping always has a cost (even if you don't see it)

Every e-commerce company must pay a logistics company for every order it ships. Whether it's a national parcel service or an international carrier, shipping costs exist and are inevitable .

So how is it possible that so many stores offer free shipping?

In practice, this cost is either included in the total order price or diluted as the cart value increases . This allows online retailers to cover the expense without having to charge the customer directly.

📈 When is it feasible to offer free shipping?

Free shipping can be sustainable for e-commerce when some of these conditions are met :

The order value is high enough.
For example, if shipping costs €5 and the customer purchases products for €50, the logistics cost represents only 10% of the total. But if the order is €15, the margin is drastically reduced.
The profit margin allows it.
Some products have high margins that allow them to absorb part or all of the shipping costs without loss.
It is used as an incentive for minimum orders.
That's why it's common to see promotions like "Free shipping on orders over €49." This motivates customers to add more products and helps the store make each shipment more profitable.

🛒 And how do we do it at VicHome?

At VicHome.es , we believe in transparency . That's why:

We offer free shipping on your first order if you subscribe to our newsletter.
We want you to try our service without worrying about logistics costs.
For regular orders, we work with reasonable and adjusted rates , without inflating prices.
And of course, we also reward larger carts with free shipping promotions, because that's when we can absorb the cost without sacrificing quality or service .

🤝 A balance between customer and store

The goal of free shipping isn't to work magic or hide costs, but to find a balance where you as a customer win (by saving money and simplifying shopping) and we as a store also win (by optimizing shipping and building customer loyalty).

In short: yes, free shipping exists… but it's not free for everyone . It's a well-calculated strategy that, when applied logically and honestly, benefits both parties.