Amazon are tapping into the ‘cash-reliant society’ with the launch of Amazon PayCode in the US to enable customers to pay for their purchases in cash at one of 15,000 Western Union locations. Amazon PayCode will be rolling out to the US customers over the coming weeks.
The move builds on the wider introduction of the service in 19 countries to deliver the flexibility of payments to shoppers in the US. Merchants in the US will be able to offer shoppers to pay for their items with cash and then ship goods after the customers pay.
The service was originally designed for unbanked countries such as Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Peru, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand where consumers are typically paying in cash.
It also complements Amazon’s similar offering, Amazon Cash which allows shoppers to visit participating locations to load between $5 and $500 in cash to their Amazon Balance – which they can then use to make future purchases on the marketplace.
“We’re constantly innovating to improve the shopping experience on behalf of our customers, and are proud to expand Amazon Paycode to customers in the US.”
“Customers have told us they love the convenience of paying in cash. Together with Western Union, we’re able to offer customers more shopping choices, enabling them to pay for their online purchases in a way that is convenient for them.”
– Ben Volk, director, Payments at Amazon.
“As one of the world’s largest digital and physical money movers, we’re innovating our service to give customers more access and choice.”
“We’re embracing the complexity of a world where cash and digital payments are likely to coexist far into the future. We are providing easy solutions for customers who want access to the convenience of online shopping but prefer to pay in-person.”
– Khalid Fellahi, president, consumer money transfer, Western Union.
