JAKARTA Policy on limiting free shipping costs (postage) raises concerns from various circles, although the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) ensures free shipping to protect couriers.
The government through Komdigi has officially issued Ministerial Regulation Number 8 of 2025 concerning Commercial Post Services. In the regulation, Komdigi limits the free shipping feature to only valid for three days a month.
Director of Posts and Broadcasting of Komdigi Gunawan Hutagalung said that the free shipping restrictions were carried out only for products that were below the cost of goods sold (HPP) or if the price cut resulted in the amount of commercial post service tariffs below the cost of basic services.
However, the free shipping restrictions for three days could be extended if e-commerce felt it needed to be evaluated.
"Yes (it is limited), but the subject can be extended based on the evaluation results. For example, for three days it is applied, but they ask for an extension, that can be done, now we will evaluate it later," said Gunawan at a press conference in Jakarta, Friday (16/5/2025).
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Trade, Angga Raka Prabowo, emphasized that this regulation was made as a protection aspect for couriers who spearheaded postal and logistical services.
"We as regulators must be present to protect also friends who become couriers. Sometimes promotions are used as an excessive means of attracting, but we also have to protect our courier friends," he said.
This policy is in the spotlight of many parties, along with changes in the competition landscape in the e-commerce sector and its potential impact on people's purchasing power.
Free shipping restriction regulations have the potential to affect consumer behavior in online shopping. That's because consumers place free shipping programs as an important consideration before shopping in marketplaces or marketplaces.
Director of Economic Digital Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Nailul Huda was among those who criticized the policy of restricting free shipping. Huda assessed that this policy was detrimental to the community.
Because with the elimination of postage incentives that have been available almost every day, it will make shipping costs more expensive and the market becomes inefficient.
People who will be harmed because they cannot get cheaper rates. The rules regarding shipping cost rates also make the market inefficient," said Huda.
SEE ALSO:
He added that Komdigi's understanding of the e-commerce business ecosystem is also questionable. Because according to him, the free shipping incentives come from e-commerce players as part of a business strategy, not from logistics service providers.
"The free delivery of shipping costs is on the side of the e-commerce platform, not a logistics service provider. The one who burned the money was the e-commerce actor, not the logistics service actor," said Huda.
"So Komdigi is not in the realm that can manage e-commerce companies. I think Komdigi is in the wrong room in arranging this postage discount," he added.
Research We Are Social & Melweter entitled Digital 2024: Indonesia found that free shipping is included in the three main driving factors for Indonesians in online shopping. It was reported that 47.4 percent of users stated that free shipping is the main reason for shopping online. Meanwhile, 28.5 percent chose delivery speed as an important factor.
Meanwhile, other research from Populix shows that 72 percent of respondents call shipping free as a motivation for online shopping. This figure is only less than energy and time saving, which 79 respondents choose as reasons for online shopping. Other factors such as cheaper prices (62 percent) and discounts on spending (61 percent) also have a big influence.
The PArcel Monitor report with the title Southeast Asia Ecommerce Logistic Market Report which focuses on the regions of Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia even reveals that 91 percent of buyers are willing to spend more in order to meet the minimum requirements for free shipping shopping to enjoy the facility.
Another finding from Kentar revealed that Indonesian e-commerce consumers are now more focused on speed and delivery accuracy, with various service options such as Instant, Regular, Same Day, and Kargoyang being offered by the platform.
The existence of free shipping features is recognized by many who pamper buyers. However, the Executive Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Institute Heru Sutadi emphasized that the free postage program not only benefits buyers, but also sellers.
The free shipping program, said Heru, can be said to be a long-term investment in encouraging sales transactions.
The current competition for E-commerce is quite tight. If we look at it, one of the competitions for getting buyers for the same goods and the same quality is what the shipping costs are. On the way, this shipping cost is a competition factor for the sellers," said Heru.
Heru added that investment in free shipping promotions will be the mainstay of sellers to maintain buyers' loyalty and increase sales.
"Because there is no problem if there must be a minimum value to get free shipping, the important thing is that there is free shipping because people like it will be free of charge," he said.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
