Amazon is one of the few places online where you can easily use American Express, Visa and Mastercard gift cards for purchases. Here's is how I've done it in the past.
1. Place the merchandise you want to order in your Amazon cart. Go to the place your order screen. Click the "change" circle under payment method.
2. On the payment method screen, under "Other Payment Options", click on the add a new card circle.
3. Enter your gift card number, card type and expiration date as shown on your card. (You may need to activate your card first, depending on the instructions that came with your card.) Under the name on card field, type in whatever name is printed on your gift card. The one I have commonly used in past is "GIFT CARD RECIPIENT". Yours might also say something like "A gift card for you" or "Gift Card Holder". Whatever is on your gift card for name should go into the name field on the Amazon payment options screen.
4. Select this new payment option to make your Amazon purchase. If your purchase is equal to or less than the balance on your card, that should do it. Otherwise you will need to add the step below
4A. If your purchase is MORE than the balance on the gift card, send your self an Amazon gift card for difference prior to finalizing your checkout. Then at check out time, apply your Amazon gift card number FIRST. This will reduce your total due by the amount on the Amazon gift card. Next, select your American Express/ Visa/Mastercard for the remainder of the purchase. This way you can use up your gift cards to the penny before they expire or incur service charges.
For example, if your American Express/Visa/Mastercard gift card is for $50 and you buy something at Amazon for $21.50, including taxes and shipping, then just follow steps 1 through 4 above. You should still have $28.50 left on your card when you are done with your purchase.
However, if you have a $50 Am Ex/ Visa/ MC gift card and your Amazon purchase totals $61.50, then you will need to add step 4A above. In this case, before you finish your purchase send yourself an online Amazon gift card for $11.50. Then at checkout apply this Amazon gift card to your purchase first and pay for the remainder with your Am Ex/ Visa/ MC gift card. That way you use up your $50 gift card to the penny.
If you have any questions, please feel free to add them to the comments below and I'll try to answer them. You can also visit my main site for more ideas on how to make money by rounding up your old gift cards.
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