How do you put a gift card on amazon

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Trying to use a Mastercard, Visa or Amex Gift Card on Amazon can cause several headaches. First, simply registering the card as a payment method can be tricky. Amazon requires a name and billing address to register a credit card as a means of payment. Since many gift cards aren’t personalized to you, there is no name or zip code to enter, and Amazon won’t be able to validate the card.

Even if you get through that first hurdle, Mastercard, Visa or Amex gift cards aren’t well-suited to online purchasing. Since Amazon doesn’t allow you to split a purchase among multiple cards, if your gift card is worth $50 and your order is $70, there’s no way to make up the difference, and your transaction will simply be declined. On the flip side, if your order is $47, you’ll be left with a $3 balance on your gift card, which isn’t useful for anything.

However, there are a couple of tricks that will make using a gift card on Amazon a breeze. In fact, there’s probably no better place to use one of these cards than Amazon. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Register your Mastercard, Visa or Amex gift card with the issuing bank

If your card doesn’t already have your name and zip code associated with it, you’ll need to do that through the financial institution that issued the card. Sometimes there will be a registration URL on the back of the card. If not, look for the name of the institution on the card and then Google “[institution name] gift card registration”. That should get you to the right site. If it's an Amex gift card, use this link. Once there, you’ll be asked to verify the card info, and then you’ll have the option of registering the card with your name and address. This is also a good time to confirm the available balance.

2. Add your gift card as a payment method on Amazon

Next, go to Amazon.com and click on the Account & Lists dropdown to go to Your Account.

Click on the Payment options box to add your gift card as a new payment source. If the box doesn’t appear, but you'll find “Payment options” under the Ordering and shopping preferences list below it.

3. Swap your Mastercard, Visa or Amex gift card for an Amazon gift card

At this point, you could start using your Mastercard, Visa or for purchases on Amazon. The problem is, though, that Amazon doesn’t let you divide purchases among multiple cards. So if you have a $30 gift card, you can’t make purchases for more than $30. And if you make a purchase for less, you’ll be stuck with a small remaining balance that is even more difficult to use.

The trick to get around this is to use your Mastercard, Visa or Amex gift card to buy an Amazon gift card. With Amazon gift cards, the full amount can be credited to your purchase, and any additional funds required can be paid with your regular credit card.

Click on the Gift cards box in Your Account then click the Reload Your Balance Button.

On the next screen, enter in the balance on your Mastercard or Visa gift card (if you don’t know it, you can get the remaining balance from the issuing institution (see Step #1 above) and select the gift card you added in Step #2 as the Payment method.

Assuming you properly registered your card and entered in the correct balance amount, the transaction should go through and you will see the full amount reflected in your Amazon Gift Card Balance. Now, you're all set, and when you make a purchase, your gift card balance will be applied automatically until it’s gone. Try it for yourself.

Updated on 12/29/2021

[Image credit: Josh Kirschner/Techlicious, American Express, Mastercard, Visa]

Josh Kirschner is the co-founder of Techlicious and has been covering consumer tech for more than a decade. Before founding Techlicious, he was the Chief Marketing Officer for Inform Technologies, a start-up provider of semantic technology to media companies. Prior to Inform, Josh was a SVP and Managing Director in the financial services industry. Josh started his first company while still in college, a consumer electronics retailer focused on students.

If you’re someone who is in the habit of hoarding products in your online shopping cart, you’re not alone. We all have been there, wishlisting items and waiting for the next big sale to purchase them. Doesn’t it hurt to drop that breezy skirt or the much-needed blender because you can’t afford to buy them together? Well, what if we told you there’s a solution that will not only let you buy the products you like but also reduce your total bill? We’re talking about Amazon gift cards that offer great deals on various brands and categories.

What are Amazon gift cards?

It is a prepaid gift voucher that you can redeem to buy eligible products sold by the e-commerce website and its merchant partners. You may avail them in the form of physical cards or via email or share links of the cards.

How to buy Amazon gift cards?

You may buy an Amazon Pay gift card just like you buy products online. All you need to do is go to the ‘Gift Card’ section on Amazon, select the type of card and desired amount, add it to your cart, and make the final payment.

How to redeem Amazon gift vouchers?

It’s pretty easy to redeem gift vouchers from Amazon. You can either add them to your account or directly enter the code of the gift card during checkout. When you add a gift card to your account, the fund will automatically reflect in your Amazon Pay balance. You will have to tick the box next to the Amazon Pay balance to use the amount. Then, the amount will be applied to your purchase. If you wish to save the balance for later, you can simply uncheck the box.

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Where to avail the best Amazon gift vouchers?

Open the official website of Amazon and go to the main menu. Scroll down until you see the ‘Programs & Features’ section and select the option that says ‘Gift Cards & Mobile Recharges’. You will come across different gift cards to explore and pick.

Here is a list of the various categories from which you can choose an Amazon gift card

(Hero and featured image: Courtesy Amazon)

Gift cards as per occasion

Birthday gift card

Wedding gift card

Anniversary gift card

More gift cards by occasion

Corporate gift card

Other gift cards by occasion

Fashion gift cards

Fabindia gift card

Vero Moda gift card

Shoppers Stop gift card

More fashion gift cards

Lifestyle gift card

Max gift cards

Jewellery gift cards

Kalyan Jewellers gift card

Tanishq gift card

Bluestone gift card

Essentials gift cards

Spencer’s gift card

Reliance gift card

Travel and hospitality gift cards

Vistara gift card

Taj Experiences gift card

Sterlings Holidays gift card

Entertainment gift cards

Google Play gift card

SonyLIV gift card

BookMyShow gift card

More entertainment gift cards

Disney+ Hotstar gift card

Restaurant gift cards

Barbeque Nation gift card

Starbucks gift card

ITC Hotels gift card

More restaurant gift cards

Blue Tokai gift card

Mariott Bonvoy gift card

Hyatt gift card

Personal care gift cards

Titan Eyeplus gift card

Kama Ayurveda gift card

The Body Shop gift card

Electronics gift cards

Reliance Digital gift card

Croma gift card

Gift cards for premium brands

The collective gift card

Aldo gift card

Charles & Keith gift card

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: Do stores sell Amazon gift cards?

Answer: No, stores do not sell gift cards in India. You can avail Amazon gift cards on its website.

Question: Can I convert Amazon gift cards into cash?

Answer: No, you cannot convert Amazon gift cards into cash.

Question: Do Amazon gift cards have a fee?

Answer: No, Amazon gift cards do not require any fee to redeem the same.

Question: How to check my Amazon gift card balance?

Answer: Open the Amazon shopping app on your phone, tap the profile icon at the bottom of the screen, select ‘Your Account’ and scroll down to the ‘Add Gift Card to Your Balance’ option. Click on it and you’ll be able to view your remaining balance.

Question: Can I transfer my Amazon gift card to someone else's account?

Answer: No, you can’t transfer your gift card balance to anyone else’s account. You can, however, send a new gift card via email or text to someone.

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