Certainly, I'll dive deeper into your query about linking a US-issued Discover card (or any Discover card) to a Canadian Amazon account. I'll break this down step by step, covering the compatibility, potential issues, what "burning" an account might imply in this context, and practical alternatives. This is based on Amazon's current policies as of early 2026, which haven't seen major changes in accepted card networks for Amazon.ca since previous years.
1. Amazon.ca's Accepted Payment Methods
Amazon.ca (the Canadian version of Amazon) has a relatively limited set of accepted credit card networks compared to its US counterpart. Specifically:
- Supported networks: Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. This includes standard credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid/gift cards from these networks.
- Not supported: Discover, Diners Club, JCB, or other niche networks like China UnionPay (except in specific cases for certain regions). Discover cards, even if issued in the US or elsewhere, are not recognized as valid payment options on Amazon.ca.
This restriction applies to both personal and Amazon Business accounts in Canada. Amazon.ca's payment system is tailored to the Canadian market, where Discover has minimal presence (Discover is primarily a US-based network with limited international acceptance outside of partnerships).
It's worth noting that Amazon Pay — a separate service for paying on third-party websites — does accept Discover cards. However, this doesn't extend to direct purchases on Amazon.ca itself. If you're using Amazon Pay for external merchants, that's a different story, but for your Canadian Amazon account (e.g., shopping on amazon.ca), it won't work.
2. Can You Link a US Discover Card to Your Canadian Amazon Account?
No, you cannot successfully link or use a US-issued Discover card on Amazon.ca. Here's what happens if you try:
- Adding the card: When you go to your Amazon.ca account settings (under "Your Account" > "Payment options"), you'll enter the card details. The system will attempt to validate it, but since Discover isn't supported, it typically fails with an error message like "This card is not eligible" or "Invalid payment method." In some cases, it might appear to add temporarily but will decline during checkout.
- Billing address considerations: Even if the network were supported, US-issued cards often require a US billing address for verification. Amazon.ca allows international billing addresses for supported cards (e.g., a US Visa), but mismatched addresses can trigger declines due to fraud checks or currency conversion issues.
- Currency and fees: Amazon.ca transactions are in Canadian dollars (CAD). Using a foreign card (like a US Discover) would involve currency conversion fees from your bank (typically 2-3%), plus potential foreign transaction fees. But again, this is moot since Discover isn't accepted.
There haven't been any updates in 2025 or 2026 to add Discover to Amazon.ca's lineup — policies remain focused on the three major networks. If you're seeing conflicting info online (e.g., some global articles mentioning Discover), it's often referring to Amazon.com or Amazon Pay, not the Canadian site.
3. What Does "Burn" Mean Here, and Will It Happen?
In online slang, especially in contexts like carding, shopping, or account management, "burn" often means damaging or getting an account flagged, suspended, or "burned" (permanently compromised). This could happen from repeated failed attempts, suspicious activity, or violating terms.
- Will it burn your account?Simply trying to add an unsupported card once or twice is unlikely to "burn" your Amazon account. Amazon's system will just reject it without major consequences — it's a common user error. However, if you repeatedly try invalid cards, use VPNs to mask your location, or combine this with other red-flag behaviors (e.g., rapid address changes or high-value orders), it could trigger Amazon's fraud detection. This might lead to:
- Temporary holds on your account.
- Requests for verification (e.g., ID or phone confirmation).
- In extreme cases, account suspension if it looks like attempted fraud.
Amazon is strict about security, but a straightforward payment attempt with a legitimate card shouldn't cause issues. If your intent is benign (e.g., just testing compatibility), you're fine — no "burning" expected.
4. Why the Restriction? A Bit of Background
Discover is owned by Discover Financial Services and is widely accepted in the US (including on Amazon.com), but its international footprint is smaller. In Canada:
- Major banks and merchants prioritize Visa, Mastercard, and Amex due to higher adoption and partnerships.
- Amazon.ca aligns with local preferences to minimize processing fees and disputes.
- Cross-border cards can complicate taxes, duties, and refunds, so Amazon limits options to streamline operations.
For comparison:
- Amazon.com (US): Accepts Discover, along with Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and more.
- Other countries: Varies — e.g., Amazon UK or DE might have similar restrictions.
5. Alternatives and Workarounds
If you want to use a Discover card or shop cross-border, here are detailed options:
- Shop on Amazon.com instead: Switch to the US site (amazon.com) where Discover is fully supported. You can ship to Canada, but watch for:
- Import duties/taxes (added at checkout for orders over CAD $20).
- Higher shipping costs and longer delivery times.
- Use a Canadian shipping address; Amazon.com handles cross-border logistics well.
- Pro tip: Link your accounts via Amazon's global login for shared wish lists, but payments stay site-specific.
- Use a supported US-issued card on Amazon.ca: If you have a US Visa, Mastercard, or Amex, these often work fine. Ensure the billing address is verifiable, and be prepared for currency conversion (Amazon uses competitive rates, but your bank might add fees).
- Prepaid or gift cards: Buy a Visa/Mastercard/Amex prepaid card (e.g., from Vanilla or bank-issued) in the US or Canada and add it to your Amazon.ca account. This avoids direct bank links if privacy is a concern.
- Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard: If you're in Canada, apply for this (issued by MBNA). It earns rewards on Amazon purchases and is natively supported — no linking issues.
- Installment options: For larger purchases, Amazon.ca now supports installments via certain Visa cards (e.g., from RBC or Scotiabank), but this doesn't help with Discover.
- Other payment methods: Amazon.ca also accepts bank transfers (via Pay by Invoice for businesses), Amazon gift cards, or promo balances. No crypto or alternative payments like PayPal for direct purchases.
6. How to Verify or Troubleshoot Yourself
- Log into Amazon.ca > Your Account > Payment options > Add a credit card. Test it there (but don't spam attempts).
- Contact Amazon.ca support via chat or phone (under Help > Contact Us) for personalized confirmation — they can check your account specifics.
- If you're traveling or have dual residency, use a VPN sparingly, as it can flag accounts.
If this doesn't cover what you meant by "discover log" (e.g., if it's referring to something like a Discover bank login or logs/files), feel free to clarify for more tailored advice!
