Amazon deposits millions of dollars in Kindle Fire owner's accounts

6charlong · 05-13-2013, 11:30 AM

Amazon.com announced that Amazon Coins went live today with the deposit of $5 worth of coins in the Amazon accounts of every Kindle Fire owner in the US.

Quote:

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 13, 2013-- —(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon today announced that customers can now use Amazon Coins to purchase apps, games and in-app items in the Amazon Appstore and on Kindle Fire. To celebrate the launch, existing and new Kindle Fire customers in the U.S. have had 500 free Coins—a $5 value—deposited into their Amazon accounts today. For customers, Amazon Coins is an easy way to purchase apps and in-app items on Kindle Fire, and for developers it’s another opportunity to drive traffic, downloads and increased monetization. With discounts of up to 10% for purchasing Coins in bulk, it’s also an opportunity for customers to save money on their app and game purchases. Customers can purchase Coins by visiting amazon.com/coins.

The press release is here:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....564&highlight=

BeccaPrice · 05-13-2013, 12:36 PM

are they trying to come up with an alternate currency like bitcoins? I'm not sure what the intent of Amazon coins is.

DiapDealer · 05-13-2013, 01:13 PM

They told me I have 500 coins, but I can't find them anywhere. I'd like to let them run through my virtual fingers--maybe take a virtual bath in them, but where are they? Where are my virtual coffers?

ApK · 05-13-2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

They told me I have 500 coins, but I can't find them anywhere. I'd like to let them run through my virtual fingers--maybe take a virtual bath in them, but where are they? Where are my virtual coffers?

Not only can't I see where I'd see coins, but I saw some posts that say the offer really only applies to new Fire purchases, not to existing owners.

This is confusing.

Also, since I recently decided to let my daughter use my Fire, and so put it under the account I set up for my son'a Fire, am I still considered a Fire owner? Is my daughter?

Weird.

Anythehoo, I have little use for programs like this. I prefer my money kept as money...the kind that's good anywhere and doesn't expire (excepting for the collapse of governments, of course).

tubemonkey · 05-13-2013, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

are they trying to come up with an alternate currency like bitcoins? I'm not sure what the intent of Amazon coins is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

I prefer my money kept as money...the kind that's good anywhere and doesn't expire (excepting for the collapse of governments, of course).

Amazon is gearing up for world domination and Amazon Coins will be the new currency

fjtorres · 05-13-2013, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

are they trying to come up with an alternate currency like bitcoins? I'm not sure what the intent of Amazon coins is.

Not exactly.
It is more like Microsoft points; you buy the Coins in bulk and then spend them on micropayment digital purchases at *their* digital stores only.
It is both a loyalty program and a cost-reduction measure (it'll reduce the credit card charges on those $0.99 or smaller buys. Thus it opens the door to them selling even cheaper digital content.

It opens the door to a Green Stamp-style rewards program, too.
(Spend x-amount on the merchandise stores and get rewarded in Coins to spend on Digital content.)

Edit: Note the bolded statement:

Quote:

“Today we are giving Kindle Fire owners $5 worth of Coins to spend on new apps and games, or to purchase in-app items, such as recipes in iCookbook, song collections in SongPop or mighty falcon bundles in Angry Birds Star Wars. And with discounts of up to 10% when you buy Coins, this is a great way for customers to save money when they buy apps, games and in-app items,” said Mike George, Vice President of Apps and Games at Amazon. “We will continue to add more ways to earn and spend Coins on a wider range of content and activities—today is Day One for Coins.”

That is what has me thinking of Green Stamps and airline Miles.
They want to reward you for shopping with them with incentives to buy some more.

exscentric · 05-13-2013, 02:08 PM

For all fire owners, when I went to amazon.com I got this "Dear Customers,

If you own a Kindle Fire, you'll find a little unexpected something in your account right now — 500 Amazon Coins, worth $5. You can use the coins to buy apps and games, as well as items inside apps and games. And if you want to purchase additional coins for yourself or your family, you get to do so at a discount. "

Clicked on the coin and got a page where I could "see terms"

Probably find the coins when you go to buy an app but don't know.

eumie · 05-13-2013, 04:13 PM

For those looking for them, when you enter the app store on the Fire, you get a message about your free coins. The amount shows up in the lower right corner of the screen while you're in the app store. When buying an app, you're given the choice of using coins or cash.

DiapDealer · 05-13-2013, 04:26 PM

Ahhh... now I see them. Thanks!
I had to be actually USING the Fire to see them. I'm a little let down, to tell the truth. I wanted a bit of bling.

shalym · 05-13-2013, 04:39 PM

Hmmm...maybe the Amazon coins won't work on the original Fire? I looked on mine, and I don't see it.

Shari

kennyc · 05-14-2013, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalym

Hmmm...maybe the Amazon coins won't work on the original Fire? I looked on mine, and I don't see it.

Shari

Me Either. No banana.

ApK · 05-14-2013, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Me Either. No banana.

My son's account got an email about receiving the coins, but there is nothing indicating it on our Fires. Ours are all original models.

I'll call support later and find out 'sup.

ApK

DiapDealer · 05-14-2013, 08:47 AM

Do your original Fires have the latest firmware updates? Just a guess, mind you, but I could easily see older versions of the integrated appstore not displaying/supporting the coins. Or perhaps you just won't encounter them until the point of purchase. But still, if you can purchase coins, I'd imagine there'd be a away to check your balance.

booklover6 · 05-14-2013, 09:01 AM

I wonder how it works with in-app purchasing? Would one have to re-enable that, if it was disabled in parental controls, or does it work if there are coins on-account? I briefly looked at that last night, and the app my daughter was using showed things you could buy for real money. We went no further.

ApK · 05-14-2013, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Do your original Fires have the latest firmware updates? Just a guess, mind you, but I could easily see older versions of the integrated appstore not displaying/supporting the coins. Or perhaps you just won't encounter them until the point of purchase. But still, if you can purchase coins, I'd imagine there'd be a away to check your balance.

We have the latest of everything that's offered, system and app-wise.
I also checked online in the place where you can see gift card and digital credit balances, and there was nothing new there either.

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05-13-2013, 12:36 PM	#2
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	are they trying to come up with an alternate currency like bitcoins? I'm not sure what the intent of Amazon coins is.

05-13-2013, 01:13 PM	#3
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,421 Karma: 203720150 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	They told me I have 500 coins, but I can't find them anywhere. I'd like to let them run through my virtual fingers--maybe take a virtual bath in them, but where are they? Where are my virtual coffers?

05-13-2013, 02:08 PM	#7
exscentric Addict Posts: 379 Karma: 1033424 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: WY Device: Kindle keyboard	For all fire owners, when I went to amazon.com I got this "Dear Customers, If you own a Kindle Fire, you'll find a little unexpected something in your account right now — 500 Amazon Coins, worth $5. You can use the coins to buy apps and games, as well as items inside apps and games. And if you want to purchase additional coins for yourself or your family, you get to do so at a discount. " Clicked on the coin and got a page where I could "see terms" Probably find the coins when you go to buy an app but don't know.

05-13-2013, 04:13 PM	#8
eumie Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 681984 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: iPad Air 4, Onyx Boox Nova 2, Kindle Oasis 2	For those looking for them, when you enter the app store on the Fire, you get a message about your free coins. The amount shows up in the lower right corner of the screen while you're in the app store. When buying an app, you're given the choice of using coins or cash.

05-13-2013, 04:26 PM	#9
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,421 Karma: 203720150 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Ahhh... now I see them. Thanks! I had to be actually USING the Fire to see them. I'm a little let down, to tell the truth. I wanted a bit of bling.

05-13-2013, 04:39 PM	#10
shalym Wizard Posts: 3,056 Karma: 54671821 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: New England Device: PW 1, 2, 3, Voyage, Oasis 2 & 3, Fires, Aura HD, iPad	Hmmm...maybe the Amazon coins won't work on the original Fire? I looked on mine, and I don't see it. Shari

05-14-2013, 08:47 AM	#13
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,421 Karma: 203720150 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Do your original Fires have the latest firmware updates? Just a guess, mind you, but I could easily see older versions of the integrated appstore not displaying/supporting the coins. Or perhaps you just won't encounter them until the point of purchase. But still, if you can purchase coins, I'd imagine there'd be a away to check your balance.

05-14-2013, 09:01 AM	#14
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,545 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour	I wonder how it works with in-app purchasing? Would one have to re-enable that, if it was disabled in parental controls, or does it work if there are coins on-account? I briefly looked at that last night, and the app my daughter was using showed things you could buy for real money. We went no further.

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