Amazon Launches Amazon Cash

Amazon Launches Amazon Cash, another way to shop its site without a bank card

Amazon recently launched Amazon Cash, a new service that allows consumers to add cash to their Amazon.com balance by showing a bar-code at a participating retailer, then having the cash applied immediately to their online Amazon account. The service supports adding any amount between $15 and $500 in a single transaction.

Amazon Cash is now available at these brick-and-mortar retailers in the U.S. CVS Pharmacy, Speedway, Sheetz, Kum & Go, D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare Supermarkets, and VG’s Grocery. Amazon says that other stores will be added in the future.

Amazon Cash is really aimed at the cash customer. Yes, believe it or not, there’s quite a few folks out there who don’t have a bank account, credit cards or even a debit card. Many of these people don't even shop online and never have. Amazon Cash is just another way for people to experience online shopping without having to worry over issues with credit/debit cards.

More than a quarter of all consumers are still cash consumers, so this new program could be enticing to some of these shoppers.

The new service is for anyone who just wants to deposit some cash in their Amazon.com account, without hassle. The big advantage here is that, as soon as you checkout at the register, the funds are available in the customer’s Amazon account, and there are no fees!

You do need to have an Amazon account and from there go to manage funds and print out your bar-code that can be re-used anytime. I'd keep the barcode scanned in a photo or a file on my phone, but you can also print it out and keep it in your wallet or purse.

Customers only need to show their bar-code to the cashier, and tell them how much cash they want to apply to their account. The cashier then scans the bar-code and the customer pays with their cash.

The funds will be available instantly. Customers are alerted to this via a notification sent to their email or registered phone number with Amazon.

*This is not to be confused with Amazon's Gift cards.

The only bad thing here is the very limited number of retailers taking Amazon Cash. Hopefully it will expand to include many others, including the ones you frequently use.

Cheers!