When the news hit last week that Amazon would begin offering near-instantaneous restocking options through its Dash Button, many were leery about the newest gadget from a company that seems bound and determined to keep you out of traditional grocery stores.
For anyone who may be unfamiliar with the technology, the Dash Button is essentially an immediate-gratification shopping tool that connects to your home Wi-Fi network and allows you to reorder items such as trash bags, paper towels, diapers and laundry detergent, with the simple press of a button. Using the Amazon mobile app, you can select the items you want, place them into your AmazonFresh shopping cart, and then view the list on your mobile device or desktop computer before purchasing and scheduling delivery.
There are several ways to build your shopping list using Dash. Users can speak into the built-in microphone on the device (which is approximately the size of a Nintendo Wii controller) using voice recognition technology to add items to a shopping list. And using that same handheld device, shoppers can also scan the barcodes of selected items with the Amazon Dash, which utilizes an LED scanner. Users can also request adhesive, brand-specific buttons (see Tide button in image above) and stick them to the appropriate household appliance when everyday essential items are running low.
Amazon has added some safeguards into the system, ensuring that multiple pushes (by, say, a button-excitable toddler, or someone who isn’t sure how many times they may have pushed it) don’t necessarily translate into the delivery of thousands of pounds of coffee beans at your doorstep. Once pushed, customers receive a notification via smartphone that allows them to confirm or cancel the order. In addition, Amazon has instituted a policy whereby you can’t order again until the most recent refill has been delivered, unless you elect to manually override that.
At this point, the service is only being tested, and even then, the testing pool is limited to those who currently have AmazonFresh accounts. Right now, that only encompasses Southern California, San Francisco, and Seattle.
We took a look at how many items are currently being offered (267 items), and as expected, they are currently brand-exclusive to one brand per category.
We’ve listed seven of the most random items you can currently find on Amazon Dash, including:
1) Fragrance-free anti-aging regenerating serum moisturizer
2) A four-pack of Sponge Bob-themed macaroni and cheese
3) Grain-free wet canned cat food, chicken recipe
4) Gluten free chocolate chip cookie dough-flavored food bars
5) Ultra comfort toilet paper, the double roll economy plus pack (oh yeah!)
6) Clementine-flavored sparkling juice
7) A variety pack of Gatorade
Via Amazon and TechCrunch
Advertisement
Learn more about Electronic Products Magazine
