Where to Buy Amazon Gift Cards: The Tech-Focused Guide

As one of the world‘s largest online retailers, Amazon has come to dominate the gift card industry right alongside brick-and-mortar behemoths like Walmart and Target. With over $200 billion in gift card transaction volume across retail, Amazon competes for a growing portion of gift card purchases year after year.

In fact, Total Retail projects U.S. gift card sales alone will reach $200 billion by 2027, indicating significant room for expansion in this market.

As more consumers opt for the convenience of an Amazon gift card as a foolproof gift idea, where and how people buy gift cards continues evolving alongside technology innovations and customer preferences.

This comprehensive guide examines the best places to buy Amazon gift cards today, from traditional retail stores to online-only options. You‘ll also gain key insights on the technology, security, fees, and innovative functionality to consider during Amazon gift card purchases in 2024 and beyond.

The Rising Popularity of Amazon Gift Cards

In the last five years alone, Amazon has cemented itself as a force in the gift card industry. According to Mercator Advisory Group‘s Gift Cards Benchmark Report, consumers surveyed plan to purchase even more Amazon gift cards than ever this year:

This rapid growth shows no signs of slowing. What makes Amazon gift cards so uniquely appealing compared to other retailers?

For starters, Amazon‘s sheer scope and variety of merchandise attracts shoppers interested in everything from streaming entertainment to life essentials to specialty hobbies. An Amazon gift card empowers recipients to browse and self-select what they truly want or need.

Additionally, Amazon‘s dominance as the #1 online retailer makes it a convenient one-stop shop. Rather than researching products across niche websites, recipients can simply log into their Amazon account and instantly redeem their gift credit across Amazon‘s catalog in just a few clicks.

Let‘s explore where tech-savvy shoppers can securely buy these popular Amazon gift cards while optimizing their budget, customization options, and ease of use.

Where to Safely Buy Amazon eGift Cards Online

Purchasing gift cards online provides convenience, more flexibility in delivery options, and the chance to save more money through discounted third-party sellers.

When buying an Amazon eGift Card digitally, you‘ll want to ensure whichever website you use follows best practices for security and your personal data privacy.

Buy Amazon eGift Cards Directly from Amazon

Purchasing directly from Amazon‘s eGift Card hub ensures a seamless, secure transaction through one of the world‘s most sophisticated retail web infrastructures.

Amazon‘s platform supports setting a future gift card delivery date up to a year in advance, adding animated gift boxes and personal messages, and choosing emailed or SMS text delivery. Their gift cards never expire and come with no additional fees.

As a technology company operating cloud servers, databases, APIs, and complex machine learning capabilities globally, Amazon has industry-leading security teams and measures in place to safeguard transactions and user data.

Vet Other Online Gift Card Marketplaces

Beyond Amazon, many dedicated online gift card marketplaces have emerged, allowing shoppers to buy discounted Amazon gift cards at lower than face value while the marketplace takes a small commission.

However, gift card scams rose 70% from 2020 to 2021 alongside this discount gift card boom. When assessing third-party sites, check for the following security practices and transparency measures:

• Secure checkout with HTTPS, SSL encryption, PCI DSS compliance
• Clearly listed terms, fees, and redemption policies
• Strong data privacy protections and commitment not to share or sell user data
• Longstanding reputation with positive independent reviews

Some examples of vetted sites known for secure checkout and satisfied customer experiences:

• CardCash – Rated A+ by BBB with 256,000+ positive reviews
• Raise – Over 850,000 members and $630 million paid out

Ultimately, be wary of unrecognized brands offering steep discounts on gift cards without transparency around where they acquire them. Secure sites invest heavily in cybersecurity and source legitimate inventory.

Physical Amazon Gift Cards In-Store: Retailer Comparison

Beyond digital purchases, buying physical Amazon gift cards in-store allows you to immediately have a gift card in hand to give directly to recipients. It also avoids the need to print eGift codes or rely on email/text delivery logistics.

Here is a data comparison of the major big box stores, grocery chains, pharmacy retailers, and other physical merchants that carry Amazon gift cards in 2024:

As shown above, major chains like Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Kroger, CVS, Walgreens and more all carry wide varieties of the popular Amazon gift card. Most offer standard or variable denominations from $10 up to $500+ with no purchase fees.

Sam‘s Club and Albertsons have more limited availability, focused on select regional areas. So when buying in-store, first check if your nearest locations carry Amazon gift cards to avoid unnecessary trips.

Buying Discounted Amazon Gift Cards In-Store

For even greater in-store value, shoppers should monitor discounts and bonus rewards opportunities when purchasing Amazon gift cards:

• Sam‘s Club and Costco – these membership warehouse chains sell gift cards at lower member-only prices year-round
• Albertsons – monitors local competitor pricing and does price matching on select gift cards
• State tax holidays – a few states offer 1-2 week annual holidays waiving sales tax on all gift cards
• Retailer promotions – chains like CVS, Rite Aid, Kroger and more run occasional promotions taking dollars off select gift card orders
• Credit card bonuses – some travel/points credit cards give 5-10x rewards points on all gift card purchases

Savvy shoppers stand to maximize savings by tracking discounts across the major gift card sellers online and in-store.

Innovations in Gift Card Technology Expanding Functionality

Beyond standard plastic gift cards, Amazon stays on the cutting edge of gift card technological innovations that add security, convenience, and flexibility:

QR Code Scanning

Rather than struggling to read tiny card numbers, Amazon gift cards now utilize scannable QR codes. Both online and in-store, recipients can scan the unique QR code using iPhone, Android, or any device‘s camera. This instantly adds the gift card value to their Amazon balance for convenient, contactless redemption.

NFC Tap-to-Pay

Select retailers now offer NFC-enabled Amazon gift cards allowing contactless tap-to-pay functionality for near-instant value redemption. Rather than fumbling with codes or scanning, recipients can simply tap the NFC gift card on payment terminals for a smooth one-touch experience, no smartphone required.

eGift Card Scheduling

Instead of last-minute messaging at midnight to deliver a gift card on someone‘s birthday or holiday morning, Amazon eGift scheduling allows consumers to pick specific delivery dates and times up to a full year in advance down to the minute. This takes the stress out of important date gift deliveries.

Flexible Reloading

Rather than buying endless single-use gift cards, Amazon offers reloadable gift cards that allow additional funds to be added over time at the buyer or recipient‘s convenience. This helps manage ongoing gifting like allowances or employee rewards programs.

As QR codes, NFC payments, and internet-connected tech increasingly reshape commerce, expect Amazon‘s gift cards to continue pushing the boundaries of function and convenience with future innovations.

Checking Gift Card Balances

Wondering how much remains on that Amazon gift card received for the holidays? Checking the balance requires different approaches depending on physical or digital formats.

For physical plastic gift cards:

• Bring the card in-store to any retailer that sells Amazon gift cards and ask an associate to scan for a balance
• Enter the gift card number manually on Amazon‘s website
• Call Amazon customer support to speak with a representative who can provide the latest balance

For eGift cards:

• Log into the original Amazon account that received the gift card and navigate to "Your Account > Gift Cards" to see the balance
• View the balance in the original Amazon eGift notification email

Amazon also providesgift card owners a link and redemption code to check or reload card balances online as needed. It‘s always a smart idea to record gift card confirmation numbers somewhere secure as a backup reference.

Security: Physical vs. Digital Gift Card Differences

Consumers choosing between physical and eGift cards may wonder if one format carries more inherent security risks in terms of fraud, hacking, unintended use by others if lost/stolen or otherwise compromised.

According to cybersecurity firm Veriff, the security advantage lies with eGift cards because no physical card can be accessed, copied or stolen outright. However, if a recipient‘s email itself is hacked and eGift card numbers stolen, those digital codes can still be used by other parties.

So in reality, both formats carry comparable minor security risks mainly dependent on how the owner handles their access information:

Physical Security Risks

• Gift cards can be lost, stolen from mail, or used by others if unsecured
• Numbers can be copied or photographed then used by thieves
• Cards can suffer wear/damage over time rendering numbers illegible

eGift Security Risks

• Email accounts can be hacked exposing numbers
• eGift codes can be intercepted if email security is weak
• Numbers are exposed digitally if recipients save to unsecured files/drives

While no payment method is absolutely foolproof against determined fraudsters, common sense handling goes a long way to protecting both physical and digital gift cards:

• Check gift card balances routinely for unauthorized charges
• Store physical cards securely like cash, don‘t carry unecessarily
• Delete emails with eGift codes after redeeming
• Beware phishing attempts asking for gift card security codes

Responsible usage minimizing exposure of gift card numbers helps mitigate external digital threats. However, online shoppers with stronger security orientation may prefer added physical control over plastic cards.

Minimizing Fees When Buying Amazon Gift Cards

A top priority for any budget-focused shopper is avoiding unnecessary fees that erode savings. Fortunately, Amazon gift cards carry no purchase, usage or redemption fees inherently. Even unused gift card balances never expire with Amazon.

However, specific retailers selling Amazon gift cards may tack on small purchase fees, especially for higher denominations. Based on WalletHub‘s gift card fee study, the worst offenders include:

Meanwhile, contenders like Walgreens, CVS, Best Buy and more sell Amazon cards completely fee-free regardless of denomination. So shop selectively when purchasing in-store.

Saving on Sales Tax

For most US shoppers purchasing Amazon gift cards, no exemptions from paying any sales taxes owed to their state exist. Only a handful of states offer tax holidays waiving sales tax on gift card purchases.

However, when buying Amazon gift cards online from third-party discount marketplaces, some remote sellers don‘t collect sales tax on gift card orders depending on business nexus regulations. This gives savvy buyers another avenue to minimize extra costs.

Ultimately taxes make Amazon gift cards cost 1-10% more relative to states‘ differing rates. But the convenience and standalone value still keep these bestselling gift cards attractive all year long.

Predicting the Future of Amazon Gift Cards

Based on current sales momentum and innovations in expanding gift card functionality through technology, what might the future hold for Amazon gift cards?

According to projections by research firm Coresight Research, the digital gift card market alone is set to hit $162 billion in the next two years as millennials and Gen Z consumers drive adoption of mobile technology and data-connected commerce.

Additionally, 73% of shoppers want gift cards that offer loyalty program integration to earn bonus points on top of card value. With Amazon expanding its branded credit card ecosystem and Prime subscription perks, expect deeper experience personalization through gift cards.

Technologically, the biggest leap mayderive from growing cryptocurrency and NFT integration making digital assets more central to vouchers.imagine tokens unlocking experiential gifts beyond just products. Or QR codes giving way to biometric authentication like fingerprints or face ID on gift cards.

For 2025 and beyond, consumers want frictionless, deeply customized gift card experiences blending the digital and physical worlds. And with Amazon‘s cloud computing power and AI advancements, they have the resources to lead future innovations.

While the humble gift card has room for improvement, don‘t expect the convenience and flexibility of Amazon credit to fade any time soon. The company sits poised to take advantage and shape gifting ecosystems for decades ahead.