Amazon brings new cash payment option to U.S.
Amazon shoppers in the U.S. can now pay cash without advance preparation.
The e-tail giant is partnering with Western Union to introduce PayCode, a service that allows consumers to make purchases using cash, in the U.S. To use PayCode, customers select the PayCode payment option on eligible purchases at checkout.
Customers then provide additional information used by Western Union to process their payment, and are sent a QR code with instructions on how to pay for their purchase at a local participating Western Union office. Payments must be made at the office within 24 hours of receiving the code, or the order is canceled. Customers must provide their code as well as a valid photo ID. The Western Union agent will take payment and provide a receipt. Amazon will also send a confirmation email, and purchases will then ship normally.
In the event of a return, customers will receive a cash refund at a participating Western Union agent once the return is received. Initially launched in February 2019 in 10 developing nations, PayCode is now available in 20 countries, including the U.S.
“We’re constantly innovating to improve the shopping experience on behalf of our customers, and are proud to expand Amazon Paycode to customers in the U.S.,” said Ben Volk, director, payments at Amazon. “Customers have told us they love the convenience of paying in cash. Together with Western Union, we’re able to offer customers more shopping choices, enabling them to pay for their online purchases in a way that is convenient for them.”
In addition, Amazon is expanding the availability of its existing Amazon Cash service that allows customers in the U.S. to make online purchases with paper money. Also introduced in February 2019, Amazon Cash is now available at more than 100,000 cash-processing locations across the country.
To use Amazon Cash, consumers bring cash to a participating location, which includes select CVS, GameStop, and 7-Eleven stores. They then verify their Amazon account by having a unique identifying barcode provided by Amazon scanned by an associate or at a kiosk, or by providing the mobile phone number linked to their account to an associate or entering it into a kiosk. The cash value is added to their account balance in the form of an Amazon gift card, and is available to spend digitally on Amazon.
The e-tail giant is partnering with Western Union to introduce PayCode, a service that allows consumers to make purchases using cash, in the U.S. To use PayCode, customers select the PayCode payment option on eligible purchases at checkout.
Customers then provide additional information used by Western Union to process their payment, and are sent a QR code with instructions on how to pay for their purchase at a local participating Western Union office. Payments must be made at the office within 24 hours of receiving the code, or the order is canceled. Customers must provide their code as well as a valid photo ID. The Western Union agent will take payment and provide a receipt. Amazon will also send a confirmation email, and purchases will then ship normally.
In the event of a return, customers will receive a cash refund at a participating Western Union agent once the return is received. Initially launched in February 2019 in 10 developing nations, PayCode is now available in 20 countries, including the U.S.
“We’re constantly innovating to improve the shopping experience on behalf of our customers, and are proud to expand Amazon Paycode to customers in the U.S.,” said Ben Volk, director, payments at Amazon. “Customers have told us they love the convenience of paying in cash. Together with Western Union, we’re able to offer customers more shopping choices, enabling them to pay for their online purchases in a way that is convenient for them.”
In addition, Amazon is expanding the availability of its existing Amazon Cash service that allows customers in the U.S. to make online purchases with paper money. Also introduced in February 2019, Amazon Cash is now available at more than 100,000 cash-processing locations across the country.
To use Amazon Cash, consumers bring cash to a participating location, which includes select CVS, GameStop, and 7-Eleven stores. They then verify their Amazon account by having a unique identifying barcode provided by Amazon scanned by an associate or at a kiosk, or by providing the mobile phone number linked to their account to an associate or entering it into a kiosk. The cash value is added to their account balance in the form of an Amazon gift card, and is available to spend digitally on Amazon.