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Privacy aside, this whole concept seems like it will flop. This is a great move for Amazon, but I don't really understand the benefit to renters or landlords.

Privacy aside, this whole concept seems like it will flop. This is a great move for Amazon, but I don't really understand the benefit to renters or landlords. "Luxury" apartments in NYC used to have ipod/iphone docks in the wall the connected to the speaker system. Every single agent talked about this great feature, but it just looked awful. Besides the fact that I'm an Android user, the connector was pre lightning so at some point I'm sure the landlord has to upgrade everyone's wall dock. A feature that only some can use, and fewer will use. Only so they can seem extra fancy to a select crowd. The point of that antidote is that this Amazon "feature" will likely only be in "luxury" buildings as well. Most landlords don't even allow their rent to be paid online. I doubt they will get "alexa pay my rent" to work reliably. About half the people I know will not stand have any home spy devices in their home on principal alone, and the other half already have one. Putting this in you're building seems like a way to make half your renter base dismiss you, and redundant for the other half.

carlmr 6y ago
>Most landlords don't even allow their rent to be paid online. I felt like I traveled back to 1990 when I moved to Canada. In Germany I've never paid anything with cheque. We've always had free wire transfers. Online or offline is not visible even to the landlord. When I found out this doesn't work with Canadian banks I was flabbergasted. I moved back 10 years ago. Is this still the case in US/CAN?
- JeremyBanks 6y ago
  For what it's worth, my last several landlords in Canada have accepted Interac E-Transfers (free instant domestic transfers up to $3000) for rent instead of post-dated cheques when I asked, and many of my friends say they do the same thing. I've only rented in America once, but in that case the property management company had their own online system that accepted (slow non-instant) bank transfers or (with a surcharge) credit cards.
- BlueTemplar 6y ago
  Covid might have changed things? A few months ago my landlord declared that cheques and cash were now forbidden.
- owenwil 6y ago
  When I moved to Canada last year, no landlords I talked to took cheques, thankfully. They all required E-transfer, which is free, and near instant. This is in Toronto.
  - nogabebop23 6y ago
    e-transfer is not always free; it's often included in your monthly plan or capped or fee per use. Banks / plans vary wildly
    - masklinn 6y ago
      The US banking system will never fail to underwhelm I guess.
    - owenwil 6y ago
      Almost all of the banks include it for free at this point on all but the most basic plans.
- nkrisc 6y ago
  It depends, really. My first apartment was in a three unit building managed by a small management company. We mailed checks. My next apartment was a condo we rented directly from the owners. We paid by bank transfer. Then the third place I rented years later after moving across country was managed by a large management firm and they had an online portal with rental payment, maintenance tickets, and all that. We weren't in large building, it was a townhouse, but they had properties all over the region they managed.
- quickthrowman 6y ago
  US: My landlords accept checks and money orders, I have my banks bill pay service send my landlord a check every month, so I never actually have to mail or write a check myself.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- jjcon 6y ago
  > I felt like I traveled back to 1990 when I moved to Canada. In Germany I've never paid anything with cheque. I’m sure the reich likes the nationalism but that sort of flame bait isn’t allowed on HN
aden1ne 6y ago
> Most landlords don't even allow their rent to be paid online. This just completely flummoxes me. The US really is a third world nation sometimes. Here in the Netherlands it is unthinkable to pay your rent in cash. Most people pay their rent via standing order, or for the few people who haven't automated their payments, via direct wire transfer.
- stanfordkid 6y ago
  This is done in America mostly for tax evasion purposes. Most larger buildings run by a real entity allow for bill pay, it's mom & pop landlords that usually ask for cash.
  - bananaface 6y ago
    It's also done to avoid payment processing charges.
    - ghaff 6y ago
      What seems to often happen in cases like my town is that they've farmed out online payment to some third party processor. I'm guessing they do this for free or a reduced charge in exchange for a fairly hefty processing fee. As a result, it's cheaper for me to pay town bills via check even if they're usually online check via my bank.
    - kwhitefoot 6y ago
      What payment processing charges? My bank doesn't charge me anything to pay a bill. Do you mean that the landlord has to pay to receive the money?
      - coronadisaster 6y ago
        Only if you pay by credit card but I dont know if they allow that
      - bananaface 6y ago

carlmr 6y ago

>Most landlords don't even allow their rent to be paid online. I felt like I traveled back to 1990 when I moved to Canada. In Germany I've never paid anything with cheque. We've always had free wire transfers. Online or offline is not visible even to the landlord. When I found out this doesn't work with Canadian banks I was flabbergasted. I moved back 10 years ago. Is this still the case in US/CAN?

JeremyBanks 6y ago
For what it's worth, my last several landlords in Canada have accepted Interac E-Transfers (free instant domestic transfers up to $3000) for rent instead of post-dated cheques when I asked, and many of my friends say they do the same thing. I've only rented in America once, but in that case the property management company had their own online system that accepted (slow non-instant) bank transfers or (with a surcharge) credit cards.
BlueTemplar 6y ago
Covid might have changed things? A few months ago my landlord declared that cheques and cash were now forbidden.
owenwil 6y ago
When I moved to Canada last year, no landlords I talked to took cheques, thankfully. They all required E-transfer, which is free, and near instant. This is in Toronto.
- nogabebop23 6y ago
  e-transfer is not always free; it's often included in your monthly plan or capped or fee per use. Banks / plans vary wildly
  - masklinn 6y ago
    The US banking system will never fail to underwhelm I guess.
  - owenwil 6y ago
    Almost all of the banks include it for free at this point on all but the most basic plans.
nkrisc 6y ago
It depends, really. My first apartment was in a three unit building managed by a small management company. We mailed checks. My next apartment was a condo we rented directly from the owners. We paid by bank transfer. Then the third place I rented years later after moving across country was managed by a large management firm and they had an online portal with rental payment, maintenance tickets, and all that. We weren't in large building, it was a townhouse, but they had properties all over the region they managed.
quickthrowman 6y ago
US: My landlords accept checks and money orders, I have my banks bill pay service send my landlord a check every month, so I never actually have to mail or write a check myself.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
jjcon 6y ago
> I felt like I traveled back to 1990 when I moved to Canada. In Germany I've never paid anything with cheque. I’m sure the reich likes the nationalism but that sort of flame bait isn’t allowed on HN

aden1ne 6y ago

> Most landlords don't even allow their rent to be paid online. This just completely flummoxes me. The US really is a third world nation sometimes. Here in the Netherlands it is unthinkable to pay your rent in cash. Most people pay their rent via standing order, or for the few people who haven't automated their payments, via direct wire transfer.

stanfordkid 6y ago
This is done in America mostly for tax evasion purposes. Most larger buildings run by a real entity allow for bill pay, it's mom & pop landlords that usually ask for cash.
- bananaface 6y ago
  It's also done to avoid payment processing charges.
  - ghaff 6y ago
    What seems to often happen in cases like my town is that they've farmed out online payment to some third party processor. I'm guessing they do this for free or a reduced charge in exchange for a fairly hefty processing fee. As a result, it's cheaper for me to pay town bills via check even if they're usually online check via my bank.
  - kwhitefoot 6y ago
    What payment processing charges? My bank doesn't charge me anything to pay a bill. Do you mean that the landlord has to pay to receive the money?
    - coronadisaster 6y ago
      Only if you pay by credit card but I dont know if they allow that
    - bananaface 6y ago