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How long are Amazon gift cards valid?

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Like many other stores and online shops, Amazon offers the option to purchase gift cards online and redeem them on the pages of the e-commerce giant. Customers have the luxury of choosing between various designs and delivery methods for their Amazon gift card – from digital delivery to self-printing to postal delivery.

Where can you buy an Amazon gift card?

The online warehouse offers a dedicated page where Amazon customers can purchase gift cards. The amount is flexible. Interested parties must first choose a delivery method:

  • The digital option can be sent to one’s own email address or phone number as well as directly to the recipient. The delivery date is flexible, and a personal message can also be added. Additionally, customers have the option to choose from preset designs and animations or personalize the Amazon gift card with their own image. The advantages of the digital gift card include secure delivery and quick availability within minutes.
  • Customers can also have the digital option delivered as a PDF to their email address and then print the Amazon gift card themselves. For personal delivery, they can choose from various standard designs or upload their own image.
  • As a third option, customers can also order a gift card. This is available in an envelope, a sleeve, or a box, as well as in the form of a greeting card, and is sent free of charge by post. Through the “This is a gift” option in the ordering process, delivery with a personal message directly to the recipient is also possible.
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How long are Amazon gift cards valid?

For many gift cards, the statutory limitation period of three years applies, unless other conditions are agreed upon. After that, they are usually no longer redeemable. A period of only one year, as set by many providers, is generally not permissible in most cases. Instead, the statutory limitation period applies here as well. But does an Amazon gift card also have a validity of only a few years?

No, because Amazon is more lenient in this regard: Generally, Amazon gift cards are valid for ten years from the date of issue. If there is still a remaining balance after that, it expires and can no longer be used for purchases.

Additionally, there are some restrictions on the general validity of Amazon gift cards. For example, they cannot be

  • be used for the purchase of other gift cards.
  • be redeemed for cash.
  • be reloaded, resold, transferred for value, or used for unauthorized commercial purposes.
  • be loaded onto another account after being transferred to an Amazon account.

In the rare case that a gift card does not work, Amazon usually replaces it. There is no minimum order value for Amazon’s digital gift cards – however, for gift packaging and greeting cards, the gift card must have a value of at least 10 euros.

Where can you redeem an Amazon gift card?

As long as the validity of the Amazon gift card is still intact, gift cards can be added during the ordering process or used to load an account.

Unfortunately, an Amazon gift card is not redeemable everywhere. Gift cards purchased on amazon.de can only be redeemed there and on amazon.at. If a customer wants to use an Amazon gift card on other marketplaces of the online giant, they can only do so by purchasing the gift card through that marketplace.

Within a marketplace, however, the gift cards are widely usable. Typically, this is possible not only for products purchased from Amazon but also for products from third-party sellers that sell through the Amazon marketplace. Additionally, Amazon Prime can also be combined with a gift card.

How do you redeem an Amazon gift card?

For both the digital option and the gift card, redemption on Amazon works via a gift card code. Customers or recipients can find this code either in the email or directly on the gift card. After the customer has added an item to the cart and proceeded to checkout, they can enter or change their information during the ordering process. Under “Payment method,” they can then enter the gift card code. Amazon will then deduct the total amount displayed in the right column by the value of the gift card.

If the total amount of the order exceeds the Amazon gift card, the customer must provide an additional payment method. If there is still a balance remaining, the gift card code can also be used for future orders. The gift card can also be redeemed through the Amazon app.

Redemption without an order: Load Amazon account

Anyone who is unsure whether their Amazon gift card is still valid or wants the balance to be automatically deducted during the next order can also load their account with the code.

To do this, customers enter the respective code under “My Account – Your gift card balance is – Redeem your gift card”. If the Amazon gift card code is not readable, the code is no longer valid. Otherwise, the account will be loaded with the balance.

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If the Amazon gift card is not readable, even though the customer is sure that it should still be valid, they can check the help pages or contact customer service directly.

Creation of gift card codes in Seller Central

In addition to gift cards, Amazon sellers also have the option to issue discount codes and discounts for their products. This action is possible directly through Seller Central.

Unlike the classic Amazon gift card, these are more like marketing measures that allow customers to purchase a product from a specific seller on Amazon at a discounted price. Discounts are not traditional gift cards; rather, they provide customers with a way to save and thus create a purchasing incentive. Many sellers use such promotional codes, for example, before holidays or other special events like Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. Discounts can also boost sales during product launches or as one-time flash offers.

To create an Amazon discount code, sellers go to the “Inventory” menu item in Seller Central and then to the subcategory “Manage Promotions.” In this overview, the ASINs for which Amazon should apply a discount can be entered under “Manage Product Selection.” Subsequently, a discount can be granted for the newly created ASIN list by selecting “Create a Promotion.” The amount to be deducted and the start and end dates must be specified. Additionally, to generate individually usable discount codes, the Single Use option must be selected.

Afterwards, the seller can view their newly created promotion through “Manage Promotions.” The function “Manage Redemption Codes” now allows them to generate and download the desired number of codes. Each discount code can be redeemed once on Amazon as a gift card for the respective product or offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are Amazon gift cards valid?

Amazon typically grants a validity of ten years for gift cards from the date of issue.

Can Amazon gift cards be refunded?

Amazon gift cards cannot be refunded or exchanged for cash once purchased, unless required by law in the region. If a gift card is lost or stolen, Amazon can replace it if it has not yet been redeemed.

Can customers check the validity of their Amazon gift card?

Yes, to check the validity of an Amazon gift card, it is sufficient to load it onto an Amazon account. If there is still a balance, it will be transferred. Otherwise, Amazon will simply not recognize the gift card.

Where and how can Amazon gift cards be redeemed?

Amazon gift cards can be applied during the ordering process or transferred to an Amazon account for later use. Customers use the code found on the gift card for this purpose.

Image credits in the order of the images: © Screenshots @ Amazon.de

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