Amazon announced the launch of Amazon PayCode, which allows cash paying customers to shop on the Amazon website and pay in person at one of 15,000  Western Union money transfer locations to complete their purchases. 

"Customers have told us they love the convenience of paying in cash," Ben Volk, director, payments at Amazon, told Mobile Payments Today via email. "The focus with Amazon PayCode is providing customers another option to pay in a way that is most convenient for them."

Amazon has many customers who choose to pay in cash or do not otherwise have access to credit cards or other payment cards. The option for those type of customers has been Amazon Cash, which allows cash customers to add between $5 and $500 to their Amazon balances and pay for purchases. 

Amazon PayCode is already available in 19 countries. Customers using Amazon PayCode need to select the Amazon PayCode option to get their QR code and number. 

Amazon officials said that Amazon cash, which allows cash customers to reload prepaid cards, is available at more than 100,000 locations. 

Amazon did not disclose how many of its customers pay using cash, but noted Federal Reserve of San Francisco data showing 77% of purchases in the U.S. last year were made in person during 2018 and 39% of that volume was in cash. 

Cover image courtesy of iStock.