41–50 of 206 posts
Hmm, I doubt this can compete with Bitcoin, the incumbent online currency.
This is another round of the "Amazon vs Walmart" war. People without banks or credit cards currently shop at Walmart. Now it is much easier for them to shop at Amazon.
"Much easier than before" or "much easier than at Walmart"? I buy the former, but I doubt that many of the cash-only customers shopping at Walmart live in locations or lead lifestyles conducive to receiving regular package deliveries easily. I'm skeptical that payment logistics are their biggest barrier to Amazon shopping. I suspect many of us on HN have a distorted view of how hassle-free online shopping is because…
That's what Amazon Locker is for. Not sure how widespread this is though.
I view this less as Amazon competing directly with Walmart than a Safeway or CVS using Amazon to provide more value to its current customer base.
This is another round of the "Amazon vs Walmart" war. People without banks or credit cards currently shop at Walmart. Now it is much easier for them to shop at Amazon.
"Much easier than before" or "much easier than at Walmart"? I buy the former, but I doubt that many of the cash-only customers shopping at Walmart live in locations or lead lifestyles conducive to receiving regular package deliveries easily. I'm skeptical that payment logistics are their biggest barrier to Amazon shopping. I suspect many of us on HN have a distorted view of how hassle-free online shopping is because…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it's more about getting to the segment of customers who do not have credit cards. There's no way amazon is paying the same fee as anyone else in the world for credit card fees, they're the single biggest e-commerce site and have almost certainly negotiated some substantial deals.
> There's no way amazon is paying the same fee as anyone else in the world for credit card fees I'm not so sure. Is there any actual evidence of large retailers negotiating down interchange fees? Even Walmart resorted to legislative pressure to regulate fees. The power of network effects is strong. Retailers are reluctant to drop support for consumer-preferred payment methods and lose that business. That gives card n…
Hmm, I doubt this can compete with Bitcoin, the incumbent online currency.
If this is implemented as an in-store pickup location with a little terminal that allows you to buy items with cash anonymously, I'd love the concept.
I am surprised that they didn't use Amazon Locker as a logical hub for adding cash credit.
Is there any way to go back to cash? It references the transcations as being non-refundable. Does that mean it's more of a "purchase" of Amazon.com fun bucks (i.e. scrip) rather the depositing a balance?
Why wouldnt you just buy a gift card with cash at these stores?
Yeah, I don't get it either. Maybe if you want a smaller denominatioin? I think gift cards start at $25.
Why wouldnt you just buy a gift card with cash at these stores?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Unbanked use prepaid visa cards to purchase things online. This just gets rid of the "tax" incurred when buying prepaid visa cards. Stat that would be interesting to see is smart phone penetration into this group of people. Also unbanked can purchase amazon gift cards with cash.
I don't know about the US but here in the U.K. prepaid credit cards have all but disappeared.