Amazon has launched a new mall called Amazon Access, which is still about shopping but, in a twist, is designed to help those living on government assistance.
Amazon Access (opens in a new tab) kicks off with new features and support for additional payment methods. This means customers can now buy food on the website with SNAP EBT (better known as food stamps) and several higher-priced items through Amazon Layaway. The latter allows people to pay 20% of the total cost of an order in advance and then pay the rest over time without interest or additional charges.
Amazon is also changing the name of its discounted Prime tier to Prime Access and keeping its monthly subscription cost at $6.99. The company says the reason for the name change is to give Prime Access a unique identity, making it more visible to customers who need it.
As long as you're eligible, the tier gives you all the benefits of a regular Prime account, like free games through Prime Gaming plus and "free fast delivery."
Features
Each of the three main features of Amazon Access has its own purpose. The SNAP program (opens in a new tab), for example, focuses primarily on food items, including vegetables, meat, and soft drinks. Not all food items found on Amazon can be purchased with food stamps. The company says you'll need to "look for items labeled as SNAP EBT eligible."
Amazon Layaway (opens in a new tab) is designed for electronics (like computers and TVs) and various household items, including furniture, tools, and appliances. To reserve something, you'll need to check the box next to "Reserve with Layout" on the checkout page. Once you place the order, the lay-off begins and you have eight weeks to make four payments to fully refund it. But you can always pay it in full upfront if you can afford it.
And as mentioned above, Prime Access gives you the same benefits as a basic subscription of exclusive discount offers, unlimited Amazon Photos storage, and access to the platform's streaming service.
Other shopping features were also highlighted in the announcement, but they're not locked behind a plan, which means anyone can use them. These include coupons, which have their own page (opens in a new tab) where you can "clip" them, and support for Amazon Cash. The company notes that you can also, if necessary, change the language of the site to Spanish (opens in a new tab).
exclusive american
According to a company representative, Amazon Access and Prime Access are exclusive to the United States. This is not surprising given that the ad specifically mentions US-only shows.
When asked about expanding into other countries, they said there was no information to share, but that Amazon was looking into the matter. Eligible customers can try Prime Access as a 30-day free trial - opens in a new tab. All they have to do is upload an image showing "valid proof of or government assistance documents."
Amazon says it created Access Hub to provide "accessible deals" during these tough economic times. Although the company is not afraid to raise prices when it wants. In February, Amazon raised the price of a Prime monthly subscription to €14.99 (opens in a new tab) in the United States. And a few months ago the UK saw the same thing happen without any new benefits.
You may be interested to know that Amazon will hold a second Prime Day from October 11 to 12. Be sure to read our coverage and check out our predictions on what could be coming up for sale.