Validating Amazon Charges on Chase CC

[Cobra9777]

I get real-time notifications for all CC charges. That's my main point of validation. But I also do another check when the statement comes. This works fine except for Amazon. On average, we spend ~$700/mo, spread across ~30 line items. We use the Chase/Amazon CC for 5% cash-back.

But every line item on the statement just says "Amazon.com..." or "AMAZON MKTPL..." Same when it's imported into Fidelity Full-View (which I use like Quicken). And the amount is for the whole order, which might be for single item or multiple items. Not very helpful for trying to validate or analyze transactions. I'd like to at least see an item description.

If I log into Chase, I can click each line item and eventually I get a link to the corresponding Amazon order page, which is a nice feature. But this takes quite a long time for 30+ line items, mainly because I'm also updating the Full-View information (description, split, category, etc). Ideally, I'd like to have that information come into Full-View automatically. But at a minimum, I'd like to be able to produce a report that: (a) ties to the statement balance, and (b) shows amount and description for each individual item we purchased (not the order).

Previously, Amazon had an Order History Report function. But that's gone now. And IIRC, it wasn't really all that helpful when it existed. I'd be curious what others do to get this information. Or... How do you validate the Chase statement, especially if you're like us and do a fair amount of volume at Amazon?

 

[Gumby]

I get real-time notifications for all CC charges. That's my main point of validation. But I also do another check when the statement comes. This works fine except for Amazon. On average, we spend ~$700/mo, spread across ~30 line items. We use the Chase/Amazon CC for 5% cash-back.

But every line item on the statement just says "Amazon.com..." or "AMAZON MKTPL..." Same when it's imported into Fidelity Full-View (which I use like Quicken). And the amount is for the whole order, which might be for single item or multiple items. Not very helpful for trying to validate or analyze transactions. I'd like to at least see an item description.

If I log into Chase, I can click each line item and eventually I get a link to the corresponding Amazon order page, which is a nice feature. But this takes quite a long time for 30+ line items, mainly because I'm also updating the Full-View information (description, split, category, etc). Ideally, I'd like to have that information come into Full-View automatically. But at a minimum, I'd like to be able to produce a report that: (a) ties to the statement balance, and (b) shows amount and description for each individual item we purchased (not the order).

Previously, Amazon had an Order History Report function. But that's gone now. And IIRC, it wasn't really all that helpful when it existed. I'd be curious what others do to get this information. Or... How do you validate the Chase statement, especially if you're like us and do a fair amount of volume at Amazon?

This is what I do: First go on Chase, go to your statement and print out the page with the charges on it (no need to print every page, just the one with the charges). With that hard copy in hand, go to Amazon and go to your orders. Each line on your Chase statement will have the Amazon order number associated with it, so if you don't immediately recognize it by the amount and/or date, look for the order number. I then make a note on the statement as to what type of expense it is, so I can total them by type and record them in my spreadsheet, but if you just want to verify that it is a legitimate charge, you can simply tick them off as you go. Low tech? Certainly. But I find this method to be quick and easy.

 

[audreyh1]

I get real-time notifications for all CC charges. That's my main point of validation. But I also do another check when the statement comes. This works fine except for Amazon. On average, we spend ~$700/mo, spread across ~30 line items. We use the Chase/Amazon CC for 5% cash-back.

But every line item on the statement just says "Amazon.com..." or "AMAZON MKTPL..." Same when it's imported into Fidelity Full-View (which I use like Quicken). And the amount is for the whole order, which might be for single item or multiple items. Not very helpful for trying to validate or analyze transactions. I'd like to at least see an item description.

If I log into Chase, I can click each line item and eventually I get a link to the corresponding Amazon order page, which is a nice feature. But this takes quite a long time for 30+ line items, mainly because I'm also updating the Full-View information (description, split, category, etc). Ideally, I'd like to have that information come into Full-View automatically. But at a minimum, I'd like to be able to produce a report that: (a) ties to the statement balance, and (b) shows amount and description for each individual item we purchased (not the order).

Previously, Amazon had an Order History Report function. But that's gone now. And IIRC, it wasn't really all that helpful when it existed. I'd be curious what others do to get this information. Or... How do you validate the Chase statement, especially if you're like us and do a fair amount of volume at Amazon?

If I’m wondering I go to the Amazon Orders page which gives me all the details I need.

BTW I don’t use the Chase Amazon card. I use the Amazon Store card which is issued and managed by Synchrony Bank. I initially switched to that card because of the 5% cash rewards for Prime members. The statements from that card usually list at least the initial items for a given order. And it’s from there that I may go to the Amazon Orders page to get more details, but I very rarely have to.

 

[Cobra9777]

If I’m wondering I go to the Amazon Orders page which gives me all the details I need.

BTW I don’t use the Chase Amazon card. Use the Amazon Store card which is issued and managed by Synchrony Bank. I initially switched to that card because of the 5% cash rewards for Prime members. The statements from that card usually list at least the initial items for a given order. And it’s from there that I may go to the Amazon Orders page to get more details, but I very rarely have to.

Thanks! I just did a quick comparison of those 2 cards. They both offer 5% cash back on Amazon purchases. But it seems the Chase card is by far the more popular choice. The Synchrony card is Amazon-only, like an old-school dept store card. Not sure I care though. I only use the Chase card at Amazon. Though I have carried it as a back-up on trips.

Anyway, can you describe a bit more what specific data is on each line item of the statement? Also, not sure if you use Quicken or some other tool, but I assume that all the same data comes into that system?

 

[audreyh1]

Yes, the Chase card is the more popular choice because it's a regular Visa and can be used at other locations. But when I switched to the Amazon Store card, Chase was only offering 3% to Prime customers. A few years later they matched the Amazon Store card 5% rewards but by then we had stopped using the Chase card. I had other cards offering better rewards than Chase so we dropped the Chase Amazon Visa. I preferred this because we only use the Amazon Store Card at Amazon.

Yes, the store card transactions download into Quicken via QFX although one quirk is I have to manually enter the cash rewards credit. No big deal. The descriptions in Quicken however are not nearly as detailed as the statement. Some of the charges are from DH and he keeps track and gives me a list every statement cycle.

Here is a screen snapshot of part of one statement:

 

[jazz4cash]

I appreciate this thread. This is a pet peeve for me wrt Chase/Amazon as well as Apple and Fidelity. I think it is by design. I normally avoid Synchrony at all costs due to their absolute mess of a website but I dod notice they do a good job w/ notifications compared to Fido and I got 3% on a recent purchase. I’ll have to take a look at the Amazon Store card

 

[audreyh1]

I appreciate this thread. This is a pet peeve for me wrt Chase/Amazon as well as Apple and Fidelity. I think it is by design. I normally avoid Synchrony at all costs due to their absolute mess of a website but I dod notice they do a good job w/ notifications compared to Fido and I got 3% on a recent purchase. I’ll have to take a look at the Amazon Store card

Interestingly the Amazon store card website is much better and faster than their regular banking website. They have a different URL.

 

[tulak]

I reconcile Amazon transactions when I download them into Moneydance. I add a note in the memo field describing the item. I do this a few times a week (usually), so it’s not a big deal to enter as I go. If I had to do this once a month, it would take longer, but I’d still do it the same way.

 

[sengsational]

Since I'm at my desktop computer when I create Amazon orders, I just enter the transaction in my desktop financial software right before I hit submit. I also have a screenshot app that I use for any financial transactions. I rarely look at the screenshots, but they're there if I need them. Anyway, when the CC statement comes, it usually reconciles without issue, but sometimes it will split something that ships a different times. So maybe I'd have a transaction for $50 on my side, and I'd tick that one, but have to tick a $20 and a $30 on the CC statement.

 

[audreyh1]

I reconcile Amazon transactions when I download them into Moneydance. I add a note in the memo field describing the item. I do this a few times a week (usually), so it’s not a big deal to enter as I go. If I had to do this once a month, it would take longer, but I’d still do it the same way.

I generally download transactions into Quicken on a statement basis, so for each credit card it's a monthly exercise. Once I verify and if needed categorize each charge, I reconcile against the statement in Quicken.

 

[rk911]

Log into Amazon, select 'Returns & Orders' and then scroll to whichever order I'm looking for. Then click 'View Invoice' to bring up the order invoice. You'll find the itemized charges.

 

[Cobra9777]

...The descriptions in Quicken however are not nearly as detailed as the statement...

Thanks for the screenshot. Very helpful.

Are you saying that the item descriptions from the statement do NOT get imported into Quicken?

Also, if you have multiple items on the same order, do all the descriptions show up on the statement? Or just the first one?

 

[audreyh1]

The Amazon Store Card statement descriptions have up to 3 or 4 items listed per order, beyond that additional items are left off. You can see the multiple orders listing on my example from a statement. You’d have to go to your Returns and Orders page on Amazon.com to get more items.

When Quicken imports the QFX file, it only lists Amazon as the Payee. It might have listed what’s on the first line - Amazon Marketplace, etc - and I have it automatically converted to the single payee Amazon. I’m generally going through the statement to categorize each line imported.

I’m noticing that the Amazon order # does not appear in the Amazon Store Card statement. Gumby indicated that it does on the Chase Amazon card statement.

 

[pb4uski]

My credit card charges show up on my Amazon transactions page one-for-one.

Amazon Sign-In

 

[Cobra9777]

The Amazon Store Card statement descriptions have up to 3 or 4 items listed per order, beyond that additional items are left off. You can see the multiple orders listing on my example from a statement. You’d have to go to your Returns and Orders page on Amazon.com to get more items.

When Quicken imports the QFX file, it only lists Amazon as the Payee. It might have listed what’s on the first line - Amazon Marketplace, etc - and I have it automatically converted to the single payee Amazon. I’m generally going through the statement to categorize each line imported.

I’m noticing that the Amazon order # does not appear in the Amazon Store Card statement. Gumby indicated that it does on the Chase Amazon card statement.

Thanks. At first, I thought the store card might be a good solution. But looks like it just lists the first few items on an order. I also noticed that it only shows a dollar amount for the total order, not each individual item. Plus the fact that none of that item-level information is imported into Quicken or other tools. Probably not enough incentive to switch. I'd still be doing a manual drill-down for each order.

 

[Cobra9777]

My credit card charges show up on my Amazon transactions page one-for-one.

Thanks. I do look at the Amazon transactions page frequently. But when the Chase statement arrives, I like to work from the statement. Goal is to: (1) re-validate each transaction, and (2) update the transaction in Full-View (split if needed, add description, assign category). The statement has no information to accomplish either of those goals.

The Chase website has links to the Amazon order information. And I can easily isolate the transactions from the statement. For my purpose, this is a much more useful starting point than the Transactions page or the Orders page on Amazon. But either way, you have to do a manual drill-down process one order at a time. When you have 30+ orders, and 50+ items, every month, this can be extremely time-consuming.

What I really need is a simple report that ties to the statement balance and lists each item I bought and the dollar amount. So far, it sounds like such an animal does not exist.

 

[audreyh1]

Thanks. At first, I thought the store card might be a good solution. But looks like it just lists the first few items on an order. I also noticed that it only shows a dollar amount for the total order, not each individual item. Plus the fact that none of that item-level information is imported into Quicken or other tools. Probably not enough incentive to switch. I'd still be doing a manual drill-down for each order.

You’ll never get the item level info imported. Sales tax is computed on the total anyway,

 

[jazz4cash]

My credit card charges show up on my Amazon transactions page one-for-one.

Amazon Sign-In

Not adequate detail and no description.

 

[audreyh1]

For shopping in general, including online and Amazon, we have very broad categories - groceries, clothing, household, auto, garden, computer and software, etc. so it doesn’t take long to categorize as most purchases fall into groceries or household.

 

[Gumby]

For shopping in general, including online and Amazon, we have very broad categories - groceries, clothing, household, auto, garden, computer and software, etc. so it doesn’t take long to categorize as most purchases fall into groceries or household.

Same here.

 

[jollystomper]

I do not wait for the monthly Chase statement. I go online weekly and have the Chase transactions on one web browser window and the Amazon orders in another. I use then info to manually update Quicken (I still use Quicken 2017, it is my reconciliation process and a "brain exercise to stay sharp" process ). This usually takes about 15-45 seconds per order.

 

[pb4uski]

... What I really need is a simple report that ties to the statement balance and lists each item I bought and the dollar amount. So far, it sounds like such an animal does not exist.

I think you are right. I have a similar problem that when I import my credit card transactions into Quicken it just says Amazon and the amount. To properly categorize the charge in Quicken I just open up transactions, click on the line with the same amount as the charge and can see what I bought that relates to that credit card charge. Pretty easy now that I am used to it.

I developed that approach because if a single order resulted in more than one shipment and invoice then I had a devil of a time figuring it out until I became aware of transactions.

 

[pb4uski]

Not adequate detail and no description.

If you go to the transactions page, select the charge you are trying to research and then click on the blue link with the order number it opens up a page with what you ordered and all the details to derive the credit card charge. Were you clicking on the blue link with the order number?

 

[jazz4cash]

If you go to the transactions page, select the charge you are trying to research and then click on the blue link with the order number it opens up a page with what you ordered and all the details to derive the credit card charge. Were you clicking on the blue link with the order number?

View attachment 54451

Description? Order qty? Seems like it should be awfully easy for it to look like a regular retail receipt. Brand Name item name qty price.

 

[CaptTom]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's that specific about keeping track of Amazon (and all other) purchases!

I record the purchases when made. I also save a .pdf of the "invoice" page from Amazon. Easy enough to reconcile with the statement when it comes (electronically).

It does get a bit frustrating when Amazon splits an order after the fact. Likewise when they don't charge the card until it ships. Luckily everything usually ships very quickly, and I've learned not to save up and order a bunch of things at once. And now I know where to look when things don't match up.

I ended up with both the Amazon Store Card from Synchrony Bank and the Chase Amazon card. Turns out there's no foreign transaction fee on the Chase card, so that'll be a nice backup when travelling.