Best for
Online businesses, e-commerce, small businesses, and online wholesalers.
Specializes in
Amazon Payments is an online payment service where people can pay for other things using funds on their Amazon account. Customers can store their card details and use them to pay for all kinds of things by utilizing their Amazon account details.
Pricing Summary
Setup Fee: $0
Monthly Fee: $0
Swipe Rate: 2.9% + $0.30
Keyed-in Rate: 2.9% + $0.30
Early Termination Fee : None
Contract Terms:
Amazon is one of the world's largest companies, employing over two million workers. It has been in business since its founding in May 1996 by Jeff Bezos. Its headquarters is in Seattle, Washington, and Amazon Payments services all kinds of companies and customers.
Amazon has been around since 1996 and is a massive online shipping and streaming giant involved in nearly every kind of industry imaginable. Amazon Payments is an extension of that sheer size, using its capital and relationships with thousands of other businesses to create a whole new payment system of its own. Amazon’s industry focus is on no one single business type, but it excels in online commerce.
Its overall reputation is positive, with a few noticeable complaints existing about scams and ripoffs. Its pricing model is straightforward, with interchange plus being how Amazon makes money off this system.
Head Quarters
Seattle, WA
Year Founded
2007
CEO
Patrick Gauthier
Employees
250
Merchant Provider Risk Tolerance
No monthly fee.
Zero setup fee.
No early termination fee.
A contract is not required.
Easy to integrate into your business website.
High processing rates will be expensive for high volume businesses.
Poor customer service.
Customers complain that funds are frozen.
Customer accounts are closed.
Foreign transactions are charged at a higher rate.
Point 1: Online Checkout & Recurring Billing Support
One of the most vital points of Amazon Payments is the online checkout service and support for recurring billing. For many merchants, or even just someone selling something on a tiny scale, this can be useful as a way of repeatedly collecting money on an automated, easy-to-understand system. Independent merchants with small websites may appreciate this feature heavily.
Point 2: Fraud Protection Technology
Amazon Payments also offers fraud protection technology. This is more important online than anywhere else because fraud is rampant online and having protection against that is critical. Fraud protection is one of the most vital technologies for any online business to use as a first defense. It’s important enough to rate as one of Amazon Payments’ most essential services.
Point 3: Multiple Integration Options
Amazon Payments also offers multiple payment integration options. This is very useful for merchants who have customers who want to pay in different ways. You could have one person pay with a card, one person with PayPal, someone with a Visa Gift Card, and so on--and you want to be able to take all of these payments. The entire system is integrated into one easy-to-use option, so online merchants will appreciate this.
Discloses All Important Terms
Yes
Public Pricing Available
Yes
Amazon Payments charges 2.9% + $0.30 for any transaction that is domestic in the U.S. Foreign transactions are charged at a higher rate, incurring 3.9%+ $0.30 per transaction.
Amazon Payments lays out its pricing options visibly and openly for anyone on its site.
Pricing Model
Flat Rate
Swiped Rate
2.9% + $0.30
Keyed-in Rate
2.9% + $0.30
Mobile Payment Rate
2.9% + $0.30
Virtual Terminal Rate
Monthly Fee
$0
Payment Gateway Fee
$0
Batch Fee
$0
Early Termination Fee
None
PCI Compliance Fee
$0
Equipment Lease Terms
None
Address Verification Service (AVS)
Application Fee
$0
Account Setup Fee
$0
Gateway Setup Fee
$0
Annual Fee
$0
Monthly Minimum
$0
Statement Fee
$0
There is no real contract with Amazon Payments to speak of. There is no multi-year agreement, cancellation fees, PCI compliance fees, or any other standard fees associated with a merchant account provider. There have been a few noticeable complaints about Amazon Payments, but most don’t relate to the service rules and, as of such, do not apply.
Contract Length
No Contract RequiredMonth-to-month
Early Termination Fee
None
Amazon Payments is an electronic payment service. It is not a traditional merchant account provider. Because of this, Amazon Payments has an entirely different setup process. It will not require a lengthy application or a ton of information to get an account with Amazon Payments. It is a far more straightforward process.
However, your report will be limited until you add a verified card and bank account to it. Once that is done, certain limits and restrictions will be lifted, and you will get access to fully use the account.
Amazon’s customer service is regarded as excellent, and it's anticipated Amazon Payments will deliver the same level of quality.
Most of the complaints do not revolve around customer service, either, suggesting that Amazon usually resolves any complaints made.
Amazon Payments has several complaints against it. Most of the complaints revolve around frozen funds, and a scarce few name customer service as the issue they are complaining about. Amazon Payments is reviewed regularly at 4 to 4.5 stars or higher by most sites. Glassdoor has it at a 3.6 with 62,000 votes.
There are no current public outstanding lawsuits against Amazon Payments, class-action, or otherwise.
BBB
N/A
N/A
N/A
Yelp
N/A
Total Online Reviews
100+
Total Online Complaints
30+
Lawsuits
None
If you're in the market for a merchant account provider, be sure to check out our user reviews, our merchant accounts guide and our top popular merchant provider picks