Online shopping has become a trend not only in the US, but also in different parts of the world. Admittedly, getting what you need without spending long hours at the mall has distinct advantages. And for busy people like startup owners who barely have time for anything, much less shop for office furniture shopping online is just really nothing less than pure bliss. Unfortunately, not all of those who are eager to go online shopping can actually do so.
The demand for card-free transactions
You may or may not be aware of this but there are some people who do not engage in online shopping because they do not own a credit card. They have cash, yes, but they don’t put their money in the bank, much less in a debit card. You can judge people and say they are security freaks, but with the volume of online scams piling up, you can’t really blame them. So yeah, they exist. Now you know. Apparently. Amazon does, too. Hence, the birth of Amazon Cash.
Amazon Cash
As a Tech Crunch article puts it, Amazon Cash is basically a way to shop online at Amazon even without a credit card. While this online shopping option is not unique to Amazon (PayPal has its own version, too!), a lot of people are definitely welcoming this new shopping method. Amazon Cash makes it easy for consumers to make an online purchase by simply loading balance into their Amazon account. And unlike typical Amazon transactions where the bank makes automatic deductions, this method is pretty much free from those unwanted charges.
How it works
Amazon teamed up with retailers such as CVS Pharmacy, Speedway, Sheets, Kum & Go, D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare Supermarkets and VG’s Grocery. These are the designated retailers where you can add cash to your Amazon account. According to an article published recently by the CNBC, all you have to do is show them the barcode that you will get when you sign up to Amazon Cash.
The fine print
Amazon Cash supposedly bridges the gap between online shopping and convenient, cardless transactions. For the most part, it is relatively easy to get a barcode when you sign up at Amazon. And since you can reuse the same barcode if you want to reload balances to your Amazon account, that is indeed hassle-free right there. Note, though, that Amazon does not offer an option where you can buy gift cards for Amazon Cash. What are we saying? Simple. Unless you sign up to Amazon Cash and get your barcode, there is no way for you to shop via Amazon Cash.
While we’re not expecting Amazon Cash to be a big hit, we’re pretty sure it has a number of fans eager to give it a go. Whether you are someone who couldn’t care less about getting a credit card or someone who has one but would rather not use it for shopping online, the good news is that Amazon Cash is here and it lives and breathes your language. Obviously, this shopping method could use a boost, like more retailers and such. But with that out of the way, this one seems a good deal for startup owners who are on the lookout for office furniture, supplies and the like.
