Overstock.com Inc. will ship orders of $50 or more for free, the web-only discount retailer announced today. The deal is valid for only U.S. orders shipping to the 48 contiguous states, it says.

“Sticker shock at checkout has always annoyed online shoppers, which is why we have offered one low flat rate of $2.95 for over a decade,” says Patrick M. Byrne, CEO at Overstock, No. 27 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide. “Now we are taking it a step further.”

Smaller orders continue to ship at the $2.95 flat rate. Members of the Club O rewards program, who pay $19.95 per year, already receive free shipping on all orders, the retailer says.

Overstock’s free shipping offer follows similar moves from other web retailers including Groupon Inc. and Sears Holdings Corp., No. 8 in the Top 500. More merchants also are offering in-store pickup options for online orders.