First Amazon Payout - Advice for those outside the US?

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  1. Rik Ravado profile image82
    Rik Ravadoposted 16 years ago

    I was surprised to get a $59 gift voucher from Amazon today.  I wasn't aware I'd sold anything.  Checking my account I found a wood burning stove which was out of stock had finally shipped and the 4% commission was the $59 (my first payment from Amazon).  The advert was posted on one of my hubs on wood burning stoves.

    As I understand it the only way you can get paid outside the US is by voucher.  It also appears I can't use it at my local Amazon (amazon.co.uk).  This seems crazy as it means I have to pay to ship the items to the UK.  How do other Hubbers outside the UK handle amazon earnings?  Any tricks to make best use of the cash?  One thought is to buy downloads to eliminate shipping costs.  Any advice welcome.

  2. SweetiePie profile image78
    SweetiePieposted 16 years ago

    Congratulations Rick!

  3. Rik Ravado profile image82
    Rik Ravadoposted 16 years ago

    Thanks SweetiePie - I have to admit I didn't expect I'd ever get a payout - and certainly not $59!

  4. NDBEES profile image61
    NDBEESposted 16 years ago

    I have just started my Amazon account. They say they will pay by cheque and waive the fifteen dollar processing fee they seem to charge anyone within the states, which is a bit odd. I could have misread this, but I don't think so.

  5. rancidTaste profile image63
    rancidTasteposted 16 years ago

    Congratulation...

  6. bhoge profile image59
    bhogeposted 16 years ago

    Congratulations!! big_smile

  7. jimmythejock profile image79
    jimmythejockposted 16 years ago

    you can get an amazon pay out in the UK, but you must set your minimum payout to at least $100, I got paid in vouchers a while back and was not able to use them because they are only valid on amazon.com not co.uk, and they refused to ship my order.....jimmy

  8. Rik Ravado profile image82
    Rik Ravadoposted 16 years ago

    Jimmy

    Thanks for this. Maybe the rules have changed.  They now say they payout vouchers on anything over $10.  I've got my $59 in vouchers OK, credited to my account, but if they won't ship to the UK they appear to be worthless!

    Anyone else outside the US have any experience of spending Amazon vouchers?

    1. Mark Knowles profile image58
      Mark Knowlesposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      I have always been paid with a cheque so I have no idea about the vouchers. But you do need a dollar bank account to be able to pay it in, and you do have to set it at a minimum payment of $100. Fortunately this is not a problem for me as I usually make several hundred a month, but I can see how it would be a pain if you only make the occasional sale. sad

      Although, I do have friends and family in the US, so if they are transferable I might be able to sell them for you?

      Might be an idea if there are a bunch of people with wasted vouchers - Does any one know if they are transferable?

  9. Dame Scribe profile image56
    Dame Scribeposted 16 years ago

    I thought they gave a choice how you wanted to be paid yikes can you ask to exchange for gift card instead? or just plain EFT ... ? let us know huh sad that's silliest thing I ever heard.

  10. Rik Ravado profile image82
    Rik Ravadoposted 16 years ago

    Dame Scribe

    Not sure what the situation is in Canada.  In Europe the only form of payment appears to be an electronic voucher which you can add to your Amazon.com account.  This means you have to buy goods from the US.  At best this involves expensive shipping and potentially payment of customs duties.  They specifically exclude the use of Amazon.co.uk - my local Amazon site.

    If Jimmy is right then they may not ship anyway.  I'm currently waiting for a response from Amazon on this.

  11. Rik Ravado profile image82
    Rik Ravadoposted 16 years ago

    Mark

    Thanks for this.  I don't think they are transferable.  For example they exclude buying gift vouchers with the e-voucher.

    1. Mark Knowles profile image58
      Mark Knowlesposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, so they are not even paper vouchers? That sux.....

      I have similar issues with ebay - Because I am in Europe - they pay me in Euros. I make a sale in dollars and they transfer the money in Euros after taking a commission. They then pay the money onto my dollar paypal account and I pay another commission to transfer the money back into dollars.

      Oh well - At least we are safe from terrorists wiring money around the world........ lol

  12. rmshdc profile image56
    rmshdcposted 16 years ago

    great and congrats!

  13. Rik Ravado profile image82
    Rik Ravadoposted 16 years ago

    The following article on Problogger and the 93 comments from non-US associates neatly sums up the problem:

    http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008 … /#comments

    I understand they only ship small items to Europe so you can only take payment in items such as books, CDs etc.  Not really a practical business payment method.  This is the problem Jimmy mentioned earlier. 

    What I can do is open a separate account with Amazon.co.uk.  But if I want to reach a global audience then I need many national accounts and each is operated and pays separately.

    This is very different quality of service to AdSense who allow me to advertise globally, all the earnings appear in dollars and are then paid to my UK bank account in £ Sterling. 

    All in all, I don't see Amazon as a very attractive option for those outside the US (unless like Mark you have a dollar bank account) - any comments from the HubPages team?

    1. Mark Knowles profile image58
      Mark Knowlesposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      It is not hard to open a dollar account Rik - All the anti-terrorist banking rules BS are exactly that - BS. Open a trading account with one of the online stock brokers based in the US - it is effectively a bank account with a cheque book.

      Then you can gamble it away on the stock market instead of donating it to Amazon. big_smile

      I am pretty sure Hubpages has no control over how Amazon choose to set up their rules.

  14. Rik Ravado profile image82
    Rik Ravadoposted 16 years ago

    Thanks for this Mark

    I thought you needed a US social security number to set up an account.  I'll look into your suggestion as a dollar account would be useful - If only to protect me from the falling £!

 
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