One country, one site
Amazon runs a separate storefront per country, and balance belongs to one of them. A code for one country's site cannot be spent on another's, even though the branding and the account look the same.
People who shop across borders — students, expats, anyone who moved — frequently have accounts on more than one site. Ask which one they actually order from, by name.
Marketplace stock
The site lists two kinds of item:
- Sold by Amazon. Balance works normally.
- Sold by a third-party seller and merely listed there. Balance frequently cannot pay for it.
The listing says "sold by" near the price, and nobody reads it until the day a balance will not cover the exact thing they wanted. If the gift is aimed at a specific item, check that line first.
There is a fuller explanation in using gift cards on marketplaces.
Other things balance usually will not buy
- Other gift cards.
- Some subscription services billed separately from the store.
- Certain digital content in some markets.
Everyday physical goods are almost always fine, which is why this works well as a general present.
Odd amounts are fine here
Unlike most categories, an awkward figure causes no problem — the catalogue is wide enough that any amount gets spent. Round numbers still read as more deliberate on a card.
Asking for one
Tell us the country. That is the one thing that cannot be guessed. Background: the shopping category guide.