Black Friday shopping? Heres how to use your Visa gift card on Amazon.
As the holiday shopping season approaches, many are looking for ways to maximize their savings, especially during the highly anticipated Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. With Amazon’s Black Friday event kicking off on November 20 and extending through December 1, now is the perfect time to dust off those forgotten Visa gift cards. While these cards can provide a convenient way to shop, using them on Amazon isn’t as straightforward as it might seem.
To use a Visa gift card on Amazon, you must register it as a payment method rather than treating it like a standard gift card. This process requires you to add the card to your Amazon account similarly to how you would add a debit or credit card. Start by navigating to the Account tab on Amazon, either through the mobile app or a web browser. From there, head to the “Your Payments” section and select “Add a payment method.” Here, you can input your Visa gift card information, including the card number and expiration date. Since prepaid Visa gift cards aren’t linked to a specific name or address, you can either use your own billing address or contact the card issuer for guidance.
However, it’s important to keep in mind some limitations when using Visa gift cards on Amazon. Not all cards may function as expected; some might require a CVV code that Amazon does not request during the payment setup. Additionally, Amazon does not allow the combination of multiple payment methods for a single purchase, meaning you can’t use two gift cards to cover one transaction or apply a remaining balance from a gift card to a purchase alongside another payment method. To manage your gift card balance effectively, you can use your Visa gift card to purchase an Amazon gift card, which allows you to apply the funds toward future purchases. This strategy can help you navigate the sales and ensure you make the most of your holiday shopping budget.
Have a Visa gift card that you keep forgetting to use? ‘Tis the season to break that bad boy out. You’ll be able to squeeze way more out of those free funds when just about
everything is discounted for Black Friday
and Cyber Monday. It’s a perfect time to get started on your holiday shopping for less. And BTW,
Amazon’s Black Friday event
officially kicks off on Thursday, Nov. 20, and runs all the way through Cyber Monday on Dec. 1.
Adding a Visa gift card on
Amazon
isn’t the process that you’d expect. While it is
technically
a gift card, it can’t be registered as a gift card like an official Amazon gift card would. Instead, you’ll have to register the gift card like you would register a legit Visa debit or credit card to start using it as a payment method. If you’re unsure how to go about it, we’ve got your back.
SEE ALSO:
How to check or reload your Amazon gift card balance
How to add a Visa gift card to make purchases on Amazon
The process might seem complicated, but follow these simple steps and should have no issues:
Go to
Amazon
on your phone, tablet, or computer and find your Account tab. On the mobile app, your Account lives in the little person icon at the bottom of the screen and in the three horizontal lines at the bottom right side of the screen. On a web browser, hover over
Accounts & Lists
at the top right corner of the webpage, then select
Account
from the dropdown menu that appears.
Once there, scroll to find the
Your Payments
tab. This option will take you to your digital wallet where you can view your added payment methods.
Click on
Add a payment method
. Because the gift card is a Visa, it functions like a regular debit or credit card, so scroll down to the credit or debit cards category to add the new card.
You’ll then be prompted to
add the necessary card information
like the card number and expiration date.
Then, it’ll ask for the
Billing Address
. Prepaid Visa gift cards aren’t tied to a name or address, so you won’t actually receive a billing statement. You can add your own address to be quick, or call the customer service number to get the card issuer’s address.
SEE ALSO:
Walmart vs. Amazon: Which retail giant has the best deals?
There are a few caveats to consider when using a Visa gift card on Amazon. First, not all Visa gift cards may work as debit or credit cards on Amazon. Some may require users to use a CVV to authorize a purchase. Since Amazon doesn’t ask for this information while adding payment methods, these Visa gift cards might not go through.
Also, Amazon doesn’t allow users to combine multiple cards for a single transaction. This means that you can’t cover your total with two Visa gift cards, or use up the remaining gift card balance as a partial payment and cover the rest with another credit or debit card. Be sure to keep an eye on your cart total as you chip away at it during your Black Friday shopping. Your total order cost (including shipping and taxes) can’t exceed the account balance.
There is, thankfully, a workaround for tracking that Visa gift card balance. You can use the Visa gift card to add or reload funds on an
Amazon gift card
, which you can then apply toward future Amazon purchases. Once you add a Visa gift card as an Amazon payment method to your account by following the steps above, you can purchase an Amazon gift card for the full amount of the Visa gift card balance (taking into account any fees the Visa card may deduct upon use), or
follow these steps
to access your existing Amazon gift card balance and reload funds.
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Credit: Visa
Add a Visa gift card to your Amazon account
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