Surveys and Amazon musings

I started doing surveys online a month or so ago.  They pay you little bits of money, or give you points to redeem for e-gift cards.
Finally, I had done enough of them to be able to redeem some points, from two of the survey sites!
I rushed to get Amazon e-gifts, after finding lots of stuff that I wanted from there!  Got $40.00 in total!
Wowee!
I built up an order.  It didn't go through.  Open live chat.  Found out I had to re-enter my credit card. 
Put in the order again.  I was trying to get the advertised "Free shipping on orders $25.00 or more."  
Total came up...$85.00!!!  Whaaaa??!
$55.17 was shipping charges!!
Aaack!
Another live chat.
It had to be labelled as from Amazon only, to get free shipping.  I changed the order.
I now am the proud owner of a lot of organic brown rice, a bag of quinoa, and two packages of fish cat treats for Tarene.
  I have $7.60 left in Amazon credit, and am wondering if next time, I should just go for the Chapters/Indigo e-gift, and get a lot of books.  They do have honey, cookies and candy there, though...aaand... free shipping to any store near to you for any order amount...
There is a Coles near me!!!  Walking distance!!!