Amazon doesn't directly let you use Visa gift cards. To use a Visa gift card on Amazon, you essentially have to trick the site into thinking you're adding another credit or debit card onto your account, and not using a gift card at all. First, make sure the gift card has been activated. This should have happened at the time of the sale. You might have received a gift receipt or a card holder
confirming its activated status, but you can also call the phone number on the back of the card. Next, check the card's balance. This is especially important if you have already used it, as gift cards often have activation fees. That $50 card may actually have a $49 balance. You'll need to know the exact dollar and cent number, so don't skip this step. To get started, go to
Amazon's homepage on your computer. 1. Click Accounts and Lists, located toward the top-right corner of the screen. 2.
Click Your payments. 3. Under the words Add a payment method click the button labeled Add a credit card or debit card, located under Credit or debit
cards. 4. Add the info exactly as shown on the card, meaning the card number, expiration date, and the name, which may be A Gift for You or some other short statement. 5.
Enter your address when prompted even though the card is not technically associated with any location. 6. The next time you shop on Amazon, make sure to select the gift card you loaded as your payment method — you can identify it by the last four digits of the card.Make sure your Visa gift card is activated and ready
Loading a Visa gift card on Amazon
Other hacks for using Visa gift cards on Amazon
It's kind of annoying that you can't use a gift card along with another mode of payment, right? To get around this you can use your card's balance to buy an Amazon gift card that you give to yourself, and that can be used for anything on the site and combined freely with another payment method.
You can also reload gift cards on Amazon, which can make them easier to use on the site. To do that, you'd go to the Accounts and Lists tab on the homescreen, followed by Gift Cards.
Select Gift Cards. Devon Delfino/InsiderFrom there, you can select the yellow Reload your Balance button, located toward the top of the page.
Click Reload your Balance. Devon Delfino/Insider
Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at @devondelfino.
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Steven John
Freelance Writer
Steven John is a freelance writer living near New York City by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, four in Boston, and the first 18 near DC. When not writing or spending time with his wife and kids, he can occasionally be found climbing mountains. His writing is spread across the web, and his books can be found at www.stevenjohnbooks.com.
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Employee rewards and incentives have become increasingly popular over the past few years. According to the Incentive Federation, Inc. (IFI), 70% of companies with at least $1million in sales have an employee incentive program. This also means many employees are receiving incentives. Whether it was that extra project you took on at work, the lunch and learn you attended, or the health goals you meticulously tracked in your insurance company’s phone app, there are many opportunities to earn digital incentives. Some of the most popular and flexible digital incentives are digital Visa® or Mastercard® prepaid cards.
If you’ve already claimed your Visa or Mastercard prepaid card, you may be wondering what exactly you can spend it on. The most important thing to know is that prepaid cards work a lot like debit cards. They can be used at any location, but only for the amount they have loaded.
Check out our list of ten of the most popular ways to spend a Visa or Mastercard prepaid card to get started:
- You can use your prepaid card to reload any gift card you already have—Amazon, Starbucks, and Target for example.
- Donate to your favorite nonprofit organization. Every dollar counts!
- Buy birthday gifts for friends and family throughout the year.
- Add your prepaid Mastercard to your Apple wallet (not available for Visa).
- Save it to give yourself extra spending money during the holidays.
- Spend as you go: Coffee and a donut at Dunkin‘ Donuts or Starbucks, errands at Target and Best Buy, or dinner and a movie with Maggiano’s and Fandango. Just remember to use it before your expiration date!
- Forgot to pick up pet food? Spend it at Petco to get an extra treat for your pet.
- Use it online to order delivery from your favorite restaurant.
- Use it to pay for necessities like public utilities, doctor visits, and vet visits.
- Need gas for your next road trip? Choose the physical card, making sure to order it a few weeks before your trip to ensure it arrives on time.
The possibilities for spending your prepaid cards are truly endless, but here are some things you should consider before using them.
- Prepaid cards cannot be used for credit card payments or car payments.
- You cannot split payments online so you can only spend the amount that is on your card.
- You should keep your prepaid cards until they expire in case you receive any refunds to your cards.
- Virtual cards are meant to be used online or over the phone. Physical cards are best for in store or in person.
No matter how you choose to spend your reward, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you can spend stress-free using an awesome digital reward.
If you’re interested in offering a Visa Prepaid Card as part of your employee or customer rewards or incentives program you can request a demo here.
Written by Carie Esquenazi: For the past four years, Carie Esquenazi, a Customer Support Specialist at Tango Card, has been on both the English and Spanish support lines. She helps our recipients and customers send and receive our rewards in the easiest way possible. She’s passionate about customer service, diversity, and inclusion and currently serves on our DEI committee. When she’s not working she enjoys acting, writing, photography, dancing, and baking. Carie was kind enough to lend her support and expertise to write this blog.
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Written by Ellen Rex
Ellen has called many states and a few countries home but has resided in southern California for the past year. She is the Content Marketing Specialist at Tango Card, where she spends her days creating the latest blog, video, or social content. When she isn't writing, Ellen enjoys hiking in the southern California mountains, reading the latest #BookTok find, and playing with her dog, Koda.