Amazon announced this morning that it is launching a new service called Amazon Cash. It will allow Amazon shoppers to add cash to their Amazon.com balance just by showing a barcode at a participating retailer. The service will support adding any amount between $15 and $500 in a single transaction. Some daily limits my also be imposed depending on the retailer you use.
Amazon Cash is similar to PayPal’s My Cash Card, which works with retailers including 7-Eleven, CVS, Family Dollar and Rite Aid. Customers can purchase one of the cards with cash at the register and apply the funds to their PayPal accounts using the PIN printed on their card. Amazon Cash will be available at a ton of different retailers including CVS Pharmacy, Speedway, Sheetz, Kum & Go, D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare Supermarkets, and VG’s Grocery. Plus, other stores will be added in the future.
This new service is aimed at those who may not yet be shopping online or those who get paid in cash and don’t have a bank account or debit/credit card. It also may appeal to those who merely want to add cash to their Amazon account without hassle or fees.
To get started, you just visit Amazon.com/cash to get your unique bar code. That same barcode can be reused any time you want to add more cash to your Amazon account. It can also be added to your Wallet app on iOS or as a shortcut on Android.
When you’re ready to add cash, just show the barcode to the cashier and tell them how much money you want to apply to your account. The cashier then scans the barcode and you pay with cash. If you don’t have a smartphone available at the time, you can print out the barcode at home and bring that paper to the store instead.
The funds are available instantly and can be used anywhere on Amazon’s site. You get alerted to this by a notification sent to your email or phone number with Amazon – or, if the mobile app is installed, it will be sent as a push notification. Also, cash cannot be pulled out from an Amazon account balance during these in-store transactions.
Also, as an added incentive to try out Amazon cash from now until May 31st when you add $50 or more you get a $10 digital credit. Amazon cash is now available to try in the U.S.
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