53% of web retailers offered free shipping of some kind in April, including 14% that offered it on all orders.

The other 39% that offered free shipping provided it at the following minimum order values:

$25 – $49.99, 6%;

$50 – $74.99, 11%;

$75 – $99.99, 8%;

$100-$124.99, 7%;

$125 or more, 7%.

The SmartHub study, by Innotrac Corp., a provider of fulfillment and customer service technology and services, is based on data compiled from 100 online retailers in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide during the week of April 23, when many retailers were running promotions for Mother’s Day. Some of the surveyed retailers were clients of Innotrac, but the group represents a mix of retailers by six product categories, some of which are not Innotrac clients, says Yolanda Kokayi, marketing manager at Innotrac.

The study also found:

Nearly half of merchants charged between $6 and $11 for standard shipping when free shipping offers did not apply;

87% of merchants promised delivery within eight business days, but 84% were actually able to deliver within three days.

Nearly 70% of merchants required customers to pay for shipping for returns.

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