Amazon Local Register Secure Card Reader
CUSTOMER REVIEW
I've been waiting for Amazon to come out with their version of a credit card reader ever since I switched from PayAnywhere to Square a few years back. It makes perfect sense, since I do about 80% of all my non-food purchases from Amazon, I might as well make some of the money I spend on Amazon.com back.
Here are my first impressions:
*To use the card reader, you'll have to download the Amazon Local Register app. You can use it on iOS, Android, and Amazon interfaces(Amazon Apps, Kindle tablets, Kindle Fire phone).
*I had to create a new account to use this app because it said my regular Amazon email/account was already in use. It keeps saying "This email address is already associated with an Amazon Payments account. Please provide a different email address and password." What does that mean? Well, it seems like you cannot use your regular Amazon account to set up your seller's account for this app. Even after I did the conversion from personal account to business account as another reviewer stated, the Register app still does not allow me to log in with my main account. This is very counter-intuitive. I feel this is just an oversight on Amazon's side, but they do need to correct this as soon as possible, or they will lose many potential clients. What's even worse, the setup portion from the app is not explained clearly and precisely.
**UPDATE: This issue still holds true as of August 14, 2014.
**UPDATE: 8/15/14 - I completed the bank account verification process, but still cannot log in with my main Amazon account.
*The app still feels like it's in beta form. It is slow and clunky, definitely not as quick, easy, and simple as the Square app.
*The card reader is more robust than Square's. It is longer to accommodate the card-swiping process easier. The one thing I didn't like about Square is trying to get the proper swipe would usually take 2-3 swipes. With Amazon's reader, the success rate is higher.
*For those who register before October 31st, your transaction fee will only be 1.75%, compared to 2.75% with Square, and 2.7% with PayPal. On January 1st, 2016, the Amazon rate will go up to 2.5%, but that's still the lowest currently.
*If you have issues and want to talk to someone live - if you need help setting up your account, or help using the app - you can reach the Amazon call center at (877) 345-0975.
I'll update more once my deposits come through and I have more history to play with the different functions from within the app. And yes, I have purchased the card reader, and no, I am not a Square employee or paid reviewer.
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