Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels From Amazon.com

By Rich Smith – May 21, 2013 at 1:00AM

NASDAQ: AMZN

Amazon

Market Cap

$1,836B

Today's Change

(-1.64%) -$2.95

Current Price

$176.59

Price as of April 24, 2024, 4:00 p.m. ET

But do take advantage of Amazon's Coins.

Last week, owners of Amazon.com's (AMZN -1.64%) Kindle Fire tablet computers were pleasantly surprised to find themselves in the possession of 500 brand new "Coins" -- a new, virtual currency developed by the website for use on the website... and nowhere else.

Is this a good idea for Amazon? Opinions can differ. But if you play your cards right, and don't play by Amazon's rules, there's at least one way that Amazon's Coins could be good for consumers. Listen in as Fool contributor Rich Smith lays it out for you.

Fool contributor Rich Smith owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com, Apple, and Starbucks. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com, Apple, and Starbucks. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.