4 ms·

Technically it's Amazon's money, not yours. You can't write the donations off on your taxes, for example.

satvikpendem 4y ago
Exactly. If you want to donate, do it first-hand rather than second-hand via another organization, in order to be more tax-effective.
- thatguy0900 4y ago
  I don't really have the authority to make donations out of other peoples cut of the money very often. Kind of missing the whole point of Amazon smile. I could spend 5$ on a toothbrush at Walmart, or I could spend 5$ on a toothbrush at Amazon and 25¢ goes to a charity I like. It doesn't need to be tax deductible because I did not spend any money on it,and actually donating to that charity directly would mean I'm out 5.25$ instead of 5$
s1artibartfast 4y ago
Maybe I'm out of the loop but why not?
- Alupis 4y ago
  Because it is not your donation - it is Amazon's donation out of their profit from products you purchased. You just got to (allegedly) specify where they donated it.
  - s1artibartfast 4y ago
    I see, thank you
- bobbylarrybobby 4y ago
  It's not a donation unless... it's donated. With Amazon, you paid money and got a thing. That's not a donation. Paying money and getting nothing... thats a donation. That's what can be deducted.
rideontime 4y ago
Where did Amazon get the money from?
- Alupis 4y ago
  You purchased goods from Amazon - and they promised to send some portion of their profit to some organization of your choosing. It's firmly Amazon's money at that point. You bought something from them... their choice on how to spend it. They were generous enough to have this program at all, really. I would recommend finding a decent charity organization that speaks to you and what is important to you - and donate directly. Use services like Charity Navigator (or similar) to find reputable ones that maximize your impact.
  - rideontime 4y ago
    I already do that. It was nice to see a portion of money that I'd be spending on other things also going to charity. Now I've got less reason to give that money to Amazon instead of another retailer.

Exactly. If you want to donate, do it first-hand rather than second-hand via another organization, in order to be more tax-effective.

thatguy0900 4y ago
I don't really have the authority to make donations out of other peoples cut of the money very often. Kind of missing the whole point of Amazon smile. I could spend 5$ on a toothbrush at Walmart, or I could spend 5$ on a toothbrush at Amazon and 25¢ goes to a charity I like. It doesn't need to be tax deductible because I did not spend any money on it,and actually donating to that charity directly would mean I'm out 5.25$ instead of 5$

s1artibartfast 4y ago

Maybe I'm out of the loop but why not?

Alupis 4y ago
Because it is not your donation - it is Amazon's donation out of their profit from products you purchased. You just got to (allegedly) specify where they donated it.
- s1artibartfast 4y ago
  I see, thank you
bobbylarrybobby 4y ago
It's not a donation unless... it's donated. With Amazon, you paid money and got a thing. That's not a donation. Paying money and getting nothing... thats a donation. That's what can be deducted.

rideontime 4y ago

Where did Amazon get the money from?

Alupis 4y ago
You purchased goods from Amazon - and they promised to send some portion of their profit to some organization of your choosing. It's firmly Amazon's money at that point. You bought something from them... their choice on how to spend it. They were generous enough to have this program at all, really. I would recommend finding a decent charity organization that speaks to you and what is important to you - and donate directly. Use services like Charity Navigator (or similar) to find reputable ones that maximize your impact.
- rideontime 4y ago
  I already do that. It was nice to see a portion of money that I'd be spending on other things also going to charity. Now I've got less reason to give that money to Amazon instead of another retailer.