21.   Started last year by former Barrett-Jackson executive Drew Alcazar, the auction has drummed up interest by offering free shipping as well as insurance and financing inducements.

22.   That is because the company offered free shipping for much of the holiday season and has been heavily discounting its electronics items.

23.   That may be why Ashford.com, which sells luxury items like jewelry and hand-detailed vases, abandoned its policy of free overnight shipping shortly after Christmas.

24.   The free shipping will take a toll, and Amazon also pays its holiday vendor bills in January.

25.   The site also has a chat feature to get help from the shop and offers free shipping not only on purchases, but on returns as well.

26.   This is the first time Amazon has offered free shipping across all product categories.

27.   With promises of discounts and free shipping, the ads drove consumers to the Internet, but not all Web sites were prepared to handle the crowds.

28.   Amazon chief financial officer Warren Jenson said a combination of price cuts and free shipping attracted more business, while the company was able to fill orders more efficiently.

29.   In countries with fixed-book prices such as Germany and Japan, Amazon uses its savings to offer such conveniences as free shipping, Fuhrwald said.

30.   Last month, Amazon.com moved to offer free shipping for two or more items.