Categories: Tips

How to Use VISA Gift Card on Amazon

I googled and didn’t find anything useful so I thought I’d share this. If you have a VISA gift card and want to use it on Amazon.com in conjunction with a credit card (to pay for any amount over the gift card value), the trick is to use the VISA gift card to purchase an Amazon gift card of the same value for yourself (search for “gift card” on Amazon.com).

Once you have the Amazon gift card, you can then use it to pay for part of your order, with the remaining balance being charged to another credit card.

I am sure this trick works with most other online merchants too.

Chinh Do

I occasionally blog about programming (.NET, Node.js, Java, PowerShell, React, Angular, JavaScript, etc), gadgets, etc. Follow me on Twitter for tips on those same topics. You can also find me on GitHub. See About for more info.

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  • Adam: I don't remember having to leave $1 on my gift card so perhaps that's specific to the gift cards or recent policy change by Amazon. Chinh

  • I just want to say thank you so much for the great idea. Unfortunately, it's been the habit of many companies offering mail-in rebates to provide the funds in a pre-paid card form, which I personally loath. Thanks to your advice I'm now able to apply the funds to Amazon.com and save on my next purchase!

    So thank you, thank you and thank you for the great idea! =)

  • I recently tried using my visa giftcard to buy an amazon giftcard, and it was declined. I had multiple visa and it wouldn't go thru! Any suggestions?

  • Hey Kim (and whoever is curious),

    I found this site when my Visa giftcards kept being declined when trying to purchase an Amazon giftcard.
    I was able to get one of my Visa giftcards (out of 3) to work.

    What worked ->
    Selecting an Amazon Giftcard for $1 less than my total Visa Giftcard amount ($49 out of $50).
    Entering my name as the credit card holder.

    There were some differences between the card that worked and my two other Visa giftcards that didn't work.

    The card that worked had a raised credit card number on the front (like a real credit card).
    The card that worked was issued by The Bancorp Bank.

    The card that didn't work had a flat/smooth credit card number on the front.
    The card that didn't work was issued by MetaBank.

    Hope this helps.

  • I am also having a problem buying a GC. I have a Visa Debit card that is flat - no raised numbers. It's a $25 card.

  • Thanks for this tip. By the way, I bought a $25 Amazon Gift Card with a $25 Visa Gift Card - it worked fine without leaving one dollar.

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Chinh Do

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