(PaulBarwick)There’s no such thing as free shipping. What looks like free shipping from a shopper’s perspective is only subsidized shipping, and those subsidies come from shoppers. They could come in the form of higher prices, or higher spending thresholds to earn free shipping. This year, free shipping will cost you a little more. The Wall Street Journal explains this brave new world, pointing out that the average retailer now requires you to spend $82 in order to get free shipping.