Give that person a raise.

Year after year consumers tell companies that what they want most for their online purchases is free shipping.  The companies have resisted, primarily because shipping is an out of pocket expense for them, so they are loath to offer it for free.  So year after year we continue to have this disconnect.

Well someone at Amazon finally came up with a solution.  And it's brilliant in its simplicity.  Let advertisers pay!  Why not?  With 3.5 million parcels shipped daily that sounds like fairly impressive reach to me.  Add social media, and the possibilities are endless.

To try it out, Universal Pictures has entered into a deal with Amazon to promote its new Minions film which will be released on July 10.  I'm not sure if that beats dressing up Chuy like they did for the last film (I miss you Chelsea Lately!) but I think it has potential.  Especially since customers have already started posting photos of themselves with the boxes on social media.  It's part of a sweepstakes to win a $1,000 Amazon gift card.  And, the effort also includes a dedicated online storefront for Minions merchandise.  (Chao, 2015)

Neat.  I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed when my Amazon package arrived this week without a cute yellow box, but it was a book from an affiliate.  Too bad.  I might have posted a pic of me with it.  I look good in yellow.

Chao, L. (2015, June 8)  Amazon Puts Minions to Work.  The Wall Street Journal.  pB7.