How Do I Place An Order On Amazon: A Step-By-Step Guide

Amazon is an American multinational technology company that operates across several major sectors. The company's core and most recognizable sector is e-commerce and retail, which makes up its own direct product sales ("Online Stores") and its massive digital marketplace that facilitates sales for millions of third-party sellers.

This retail segment, which also includes revenue from its physical stores like Whole Foods Market, is geographically segmented into North America and International operations and accounts for the largest share of the company's total revenue.

A separate and highly profitable sector is Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world's leading cloud computing platform. AWS provides on-demand cloud services, including computing power, database storage, content delivery, and other functionalities, to businesses, government agencies, and academic institutions worldwide.

Beyond e-commerce and cloud services, Amazon generates substantial revenue from subscriptions and advertising. The subscription sector is largely driven by the recurring revenue from Amazon Prime, which offers members a bundle of services including fast shipping, access to Prime Video and Amazon Music, and exclusive deals.

Due to the numerous sectors on Amazon, people want to know how they can place an order, whether from a third party or Amazon itself. Here is a step-by-step guide

How Do I Place An Order On Amazon?

Placing an order on Amazon is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you place your first (or next) order:

Step 1: Go to the Amazon Website or Open the App

Use any browser and go to www.amazon.com or use your country-specific site like amazon.in, amazon.co.uk, etc.  You can also open the Amazon mobile app on your Android/iOS device.

Make sure you are signed in:

• Click “Sign in” at the top right (or tap “Account” in the app).
• Enter your email/phone number and password.
• If you don’t have an account yet, click/tap “Create account.”

Step 2: Search for the Item You Want

Once you have logged in or followed the prompts and have created a new account, use the search bar at the top to type in what you are looking for.

• At the top, type the name of the product (e.g., “Bluetooth speaker” or “iPhone 14 case”).
• Press Enter or tap the search icon.

You can filter results by brand, price, rating, Prime, and more using the sidebar (on desktop) or filter menu (on app).

Step 3: Choose the Right Product

Click on a product to go to its Product Detail Page. Check these things before buying:

• Title: Make sure it’s the exact product you want.
• Price: Watch for discounts, shipping fees, or if it’s sold in packs.
• Delivery date: Shown below the price.
• Seller info: Is it sold/shipped by Amazon or a third-party seller?
• Customer reviews and ratings: Scroll down to read real user experiences.
• Return policy: Usually under “Returns & Orders” or near the “Buy Now” button.

Having knowledge on these will help you have a deeper understanding of what you are getting into.

Step 4: Add to Cart or Buy Now

You will see two main buttons:

• Add to Cart: Adds the item to your virtual cart so you can continue shopping.
• Buy Now: Takes you straight to checkout just for that item.

Note:

Add to Cart is best if you are ordering multiple items.

"Buy Now" is faster if you are only buying one thing and ready to check out.

Step 5: Go to Your Cart and Proceed to Checkout

If you added items to your cart:

• Click the Cart icon (top right corner).
• Review your items and click “Proceed to checkout.”

Step 6: Enter Shipping Information

Choose an existing shipping address, or click “Add a new address.”

Fill in your full name, phone number, street address, city, ZIP/postal code, and country.

Note: Double-check the address to avoid delivery issues. Some items might not be deliverable to your region. Amazon will notify you if that’s the case.

Step 7: Choose Delivery Options

Amazon offers different delivery speeds:

• Standard: Often free with a slower delivery time.
• Expedited/Two-Day/Next-Day: Usually faster but may cost more unless you are a Prime member.

Amazon Prime members often get free faster shipping.

Step 8: Select a Payment Method

You will be asked to choose or add a payment method, such as:

• Credit/debit card
• Amazon gift card balance
• Net banking, UPI, or Pay on Delivery (in some regions).

You can save payment info for future orders or enter it manually each time.

Also, Pay on Delivery (Cash on Delivery) may not be available for all products or locations.

Step 9: Review Your Order

Before placing the order, double-check everything:

• Items and quantity
• Shipping address
• Delivery method
• Payment method
• Final price (including tax and shipping).

Look for any applied discounts, coupons, or promotions at this stage.

Step 10: Place Your Order

Click the “Place your order” button to finalize the purchase.

You will receive:

• An order confirmation email
• A link to track your shipment once it’s shipped.

Tips:

To track your order, go to “Your Orders” under “Account” to see the shipping status.

To cancel or edit  an order, this is only possible before the item ships.

To return: Most items can be returned within a set period (e.g., 30 days). Go to “Your Orders” > “Return or Replace Items.”

By following the above steps, you are sure to have successfully placed an order on Amazon.

Note that when you click “Buy Now,” Amazon immediately bypasses the shopping cart and starts the checkout process for that one item.

How To Add to Amazon Order Within 24 Hours:

There are a number of ways to try and add an item to an existing Amazon order, particularly within a short timeframe like 24 hours, but the key factor is whether the original order has entered the shipping process.

1. "Add to Delivery" Feature (Best Option for Prime Members)

This is the easiest method if your original order hasn't shipped yet and you are an eligible Prime member (if you are a Prime member, shipping is free. So there is no penalty for a second order):

• Look for the "Add to Delivery" Button: When shopping on the Amazon app or mobile website, look for a blue "Add to Delivery" button on the product page of the item you want to add.
• One-Tap Addition: Tapping this button will automatically add the item to your upcoming, eligible delivery (which is your original order), with no additional checkout or shipping fees.

This feature is only available for an eligible period, which can be just a few hours or, in some cases, longer for a scheduled delivery like Amazon Day. The button will disappear once your package is locked down for fulfillment.

Note: The item you add must be eligible, which usually means it is sold by or fulfilled by Amazon and can be shipped to the same address and billed to the same payment method as your original order

2. Standard Order Modification (If "Add to Delivery" is Not Available):

If you are not a Prime member, or the "Add to Delivery" button does not appear, your options are limited to either cancelling and reordering or attempting to combine orders:

Option 1: Cancel and Re-Order:

If your order has not yet entered the shipping process ("Shipping Soon" or "Shipped"), the most reliable way to add an item is to:

1. Go to Your Orders: Find the order you want to modify in your Amazon account.
2. Cancel the Order: Select the option to Cancel Items or Cancel Order. You must do this before it enters the final shipping phase.
3. Place a New Order: Create a new order with all the desired items, including the one you originally forgot.

Option 2: Combine Orders (Less Common)

In some instances, Amazon's system may allow you to combine multiple open orders:

1. Place the new item as a separate order and complete the checkout.
2. Go to your Order Summary in your account.
3. Look for a "Want to combine orders?" button. This button only appears if Amazon determines the open orders can be consolidated.

That that, regardless of the method, the window to add an item is very short, often only a few hours for fast-shipping methods like Same-Day or Next-Day delivery. The moment the order enters the final processing/shipping phase, you generally cannot add new items.

Also, there is no guarantee of consolidation: Even when using the "Add to Delivery" feature, Amazon will attempt to consolidate the items into one box, but they might still arrive in separate packages on the same day due to warehouse logistics.

If the original item was sold by a third-party Marketplace seller, your only option may be to contact the seller directly to request a cancellation so you can reorder.

How To Order From Amazon As a Guest (Without An Account):

Amazon does not offer a traditional "guest checkout" option like many other online stores.

To complete a purchase and place an order on Amazon, you are required to either sign in to an existing account or create a new Amazon account.

When you proceed to checkout, you will be prompted to log in. If you don't have an account, you will need to create one by providing at least your name, a valid email address, and a password.

If you don't want to use your own account:

• Ask a Friend or Family Member: A common workaround is to have someone you know who already has an Amazon account order the item for you and ship it to your address. Gift shopping is very common on Amazon, so shipping to an address different from the account holder's is a standard practice.
• Create a New, Separate Account: If your primary goal is to keep the purchase separate from your main activity or a shared account, the only way to do this is to create a completely new Amazon account using a different email address. You would then place the order through this new, separate account.

Note that, without signing in, you can’t track your shipment or request returns, which makes guest checkout risky.

Amazon Cash On Delivery USA:

Amazon's standard Cash on Delivery (COD) payment method is generally not offered for domestic orders within the United States.

Cash on Delivery is a payment option that Amazon primarily offers in certain international markets. They allows COD mainly in regions where credit/debit card use is limited such as India, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Turkey.

However, Amazon does offer a couple of options for US customers who want to use cash to pay for their online purchases.

1. Amazon Cash:

This service allows you to add cash directly to your Amazon Gift Card Balance at participating physical retail stores in the U.S., such as CVS, Rite Aid, GameStop, and 7-Eleven. You then use your Amazon Gift Card Balance to complete your purchase online.

2. Amazon PayCode (Less common for domestic US purchases):

This option allows you to select cash at checkout and then pay for your order in person at a participating Western Union location. Once the payment is confirmed, Amazon will ship the order. In the US, you typically have 24 hours to complete the payment.

How Amazon PayCode Works

• Shop on Amazon: Select your items on Amazon.com and proceed to checkout.
• Select PayCode: At the checkout page, choose "Amazon PayCode" as your payment method.
• Receive Your Code: Once your order is confirmed, Amazon will send you an Amazon PayCode (which is a QR code and a nine-digit reference number) along with instructions. You may also be asked to provide additional information, including a photo ID, for the Western Union payment process.

Pay in Cash:

• Visit a participating Western Union agent location.
• Tell the agent you want to make a payment for an Amazon order.
• Present your QR code or reference number and your photo ID (the ID must match the information provided during checkout).
• Pay the exact amount of your order in cash. There are typically no additional fees for using this service.
• Once Western Union confirms the cash payment, Amazon will be notified in real-time and will then ship your order.

Note: In the US, you generally have 24 hours after placing the order to make the cash payment at a Western Union location. If payment is not made within this timeframe, the order will be canceled. The deadline can be longer (e.g., 48 hours) in other countries.

In summary, you cannot typically pay the delivery driver with cash when your package arrives in the US. Instead, you would use services like Amazon Cash or Amazon PayCode to convert your cash into an online payment method before your order is shipped.