Amazon started off selling books, but has expanded to become the largest online retailer in the world as well as a leader cloud services via AWS. However, concerns around Amazon‘s data privacy policies, sale of counterfeit goods on their marketplace and the inability to permanently delete an account have caused some to rethink their relationship with the ecommerce giant.
If you‘ve decided it‘s time to cut ties with Amazon for good, this straightforward guide will walk you through everything you need to know beforehand as well as provide step-by-step instructions to permanently delete your Amazon account.
Why You May Want To Delete Your Amazon Account
Before we dig into the "how", let‘s explore a few reasons why someone may want to permanently delete their Amazon account:
Data Privacy Concerns
As Amazon‘s stature has increased to near-monopoly status in US ecommerce, with over 197 million Prime members as of 2021, questions have emerged around their data collection practices and inability for users to permanently delete data. Per a 2022 Pew Research study, 81% of US adults feel they have little to no control over data collected by retailers like Amazon.
Specific privacy concerns raised in recent years include:
- Inability to fully delete data – Amazon only allows you to "close" an account, which hides data from you but doesn‘t delete it from their systems. This data can still potentially be accessed for ad targeting or sold to 3rd parties.
- Audio recordings – Amazon has allowed employees and contractors to access voice recordings from Alexa devices for quality control purposes. They pledged to add opt-in consent to this program, but concerns linger.
- Purchase history tracking – Browsing and purchase histories are meticulously tracked to serve hyper-targeted ads. Private mode only does so much to limit this on Amazon properties.
This has led some privacy advocates to recommend fully deleting your Amazon account as the only surefire way to regain control of your data.
Overspending Concerns
Amazon‘s legendary 1-click purchasing, coupled with automatically saved payment methods makes it dangerously easy to overspend for many. Prime members spend an average of 4-5x more per year on Amazon than non-Prime members.
Many folks have reported deactivated or deleting their accounts specifically to curb overspending habits. So if easy access to Amazon‘s catalog is enabling bad credit card debt, removing that temptation altogether by deleting the account may help regain control of your finances.
Prefer Other Ecommerce Alternatives
Others simply feel there are better options than Amazon today across various ecommerce segments and want to take their business elsewhere permanently going forward. For example, for electronics Newegg or Micro Center may offer cheaper prices or better customer service. For convenience, Walmart or Target offer quick in-store returns and discounts. And for used goods, sites like eBay or Craigslist cut out the Amazon middleman fees.
Whatever your reason, deleting your Amazon account permanently is possible. Here‘s exactly how:
Step-by-Step Guide To Deleting Your Amazon Account
Without further ado, here are easy to follow steps to permanently delete your Amazon account:
On Desktop
- Login to www.amazon.com via your computer‘s web browser and click on "Account & Lists" link in the top right navigation bar:
- Under "Ordering and shopping preferences", click on "Close your Amazon account and delete your data.":
- Review what account closure entails, then click "Close my account" followed by "Yes, I want to permanently close my Amazon account and delete my data" on the confirmation screen:
- Select your primary reason for deleting the account from the dropdown menu:
- Check your email inbox for an account deletion confirmation link and click within 5 days or request expires.
On Mobile
The process on mobile is very similar, just accessed through the mobile app:
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Launch the Amazon app and tap the hamburger menu ≡ icon in the upper left on your device.
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Choose "Your Account" then tap on "Close Account" under "Account Settings.":
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Select reason for closing account then agree to account closure disclaimer.
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Check email inbox for account deletion confirmation link within 5 days.
And that‘s it! Whether on mobile or desktop, Amazon makes it relatively straightforward to permanently delete your account.
Now that we‘ve covered the step-by-step flow to delete your account, let‘s explore key considerations around what happens when you delete an Amazon account.
What Happens When You Delete Your Amazon Account
Deleting an Amazon account has wide-ranging effects across your purchased content, Prime membership and more that are important to understand ahead of time:
Purchase History Erased
When you close an Amazon account, any record of past purchases made on that account will be permanently erased. So while deleting the account does provide more data privacy, it also means losing access to your detailed purchase history which some folks like to look back on.
Before deletion, consider exporting invoices for any purchases you may need receipts for in the future such as business expenses or warrantied items.
Content Purchases Removed
Any ebooks, music, videos or other digital content purchased through your Amazon account will no longer be available after deleting the account per Amazon‘s conditions of use.
Unlike a Netflix or Spotify account cancellation where you maintain access until the paid period expires, Amazon instantly cuts off all access.
So make sure to download or backup any purchased content you may want future access to before deletion.
Gift Cards & Store Credit Forfeited
If your Amazon account has any associated gift card balance or Amazon credit at the time of deletion, those funds will be permanently forfeited. You will not be reimbursed or able to transfer credit balances once the account is closed.
One way around this is to make any large purchases you were planning to make in the near future right before deleting instead of losing those gift card funds. Just don‘t have any pending shipments, otherwise deletion will cancel those orders (see pending orders section below).
Prime Membership and Subscriptions Cancelled
As you might expect, closing an Amazon account also cancels any Amazon Prime membership, Audible or other Amazon-affiliated subscriptions associated with that account.
However when it comes to canceling these types of recurring subscriptions or paid memberships, the standard pro-ration rules generally apply. So if you pre-paid $139 for an annual Amazon Prime membership six months ago and are only at the halfway point, you would typically receive around $70 back.
But this reimbursement does not apply to any unused gift card balance or store credit tied directly to your Amazon account – that money is forfeited. So be sure to zero out gift card amounts before deleting.
Pending Orders Cancelled
If there are any pending transactions, open orders or cart items not yet purchased on your Amazon account, they will automatically be cancelled and closed once the deletion is processed.
So before deleting, make sure to check if you have any open orders that you actually want fulfilled and arrive. Any pending deliveries will essentially be voided out.
Can‘t Reopen Deleted Accounts
Unlike deactivating your Facebook account where you have a limited window to reverse course if you change your mind, once an Amazon account has been deleted there is no way ever retrieve or reopen it.
You cannot recover deleted purchase histories, Prime membership perks or old recommendations. An Amazon account deletion is permanent – they do not maintain personal records on closed accounts per privacy policy.
So if you think there‘s any chance of wanting to resuscitate your account in the future, consider trying an extended deactivation first before taking the full nuclear deletion option.
What About Amazon Credit Cards or Loans?
If you previously signed up for any of Amazon‘s credit cards such as the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa or the Amazon Store Card issued by Synchrony Bank, deleting the associated Amazon account does not automatically close those credit accounts.
You remain liable to make monthly payments and fulfill any existing balances or promotional financing offers on those credit card accounts until they are separately closed per standard credit card closure procedures. Same applies to any Amazon personal loans issued by their partner lender Synchrony.
So be sure if you do have any of these Amazon financial products to formally close them out separately from the Amazon account deletion process outlined above. No progress or purchase incentives carryover if you later open a brand new Amazon account.
Popular Alternatives To Amazon
Once your Amazon account has been deleted, it‘s perfectly natural to ask – now what? Where do I order gifts and essentials online going forward? What can replace my Prime Video streaming?
Not to worry, there are a number of popular, full-featured alternatives to Amazon available covering everything from online shopping to video streaming and more:
| Amazon Service | Top Alternatives |
|---|---|
| Online Marketplace | eBay, Walmart, Target |
| Electronics | Newegg, B&H Photo |
| Cloud Storage | Google Drive, iCloud |
| Streaming Video | Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ |
| Reading Subscriptions | Scribd, Apple Books |
| Echo Speakers | Google Home, Apple HomePod |
| Voice Assistant | Siri, Google Assistant |
A few things to note here:
For general online shopping, massive retailers like Walmart and Target offer many of the same categories and brands as Amazon along with familiar conveniences like 2-day shipping on orders over $35, seamless returns and mobile apps to manage your account.
eBay stands out particularly in the used goods space should you prefer buying and selling directly vs. dealing with an intermediary like Amazon.
For the best deals and selection on hot electronics like laptops, TVs and smartphones, Newegg and B&H Photo give even Amazon a run for its money.
When it comes to media streaming, Netflix and Disney+ have invested heavily in original, exclusive content over the past few years while Hulu anchors the space with next-day streams of broadcast and cable shows.
And Apple via iCloud or Google through its Drive platform present very solid cross-device cloud storage and backup solutions to replace Amazon Photos.
Be sure to thoroughly research the various options to find those that best fit your needs and budget. And reach out with any questions – happy to provide personalized recommendations on alternatives tailored to your interests and use cases!
In Summary
While Amazon provides undeniable conveniences that have made them the "everything store" for millions globally, data privacy concerns, overspending habits or just general preference for alternatives may necessitate permanently deleting your Amazon account.
Through simple account settings changes, you can permanently erase transaction history, cancel Prime membership and revoke access to past purchases – but not without careful consideration given the action cannot be undone.
Be sure to exhaust gift card balances, back up any downloads and avoid pending orders before taking the irreversible step of deleting your Amazon account for good.
There are sufficient alternatives for online shopping, electronics, cloud storage and streaming media available at competitive prices once you walk away. But convenience may take a hit. Still, for many the benefits outweigh the costs long term.
I‘m happy to advise on Amazon account deletion specifics or recommend alternatives based on your personal needs – just let me know!
