Amazon Rolls out Push-Button (no Screens) Instant Shopping

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Short on Tide laundry detergent but too tired (or lazy) to go to the store or even get online to order it? That’s no problem, as long as you have the newly unveiled Amazon Dash. The key-fob-like device linked to the Internet allows you to simply press a button, and your detergent order is processed and delivered within 48 hours.

Although it’s called Amazon Dash, there is obviously no dashing required on your part, or even movement for that matter, besides the push of a finger. Amazon Dash – whose tag line is “Place it. Press it. Get it.” – eliminates the need for you to get online to place an Amazon order.

Amazon’s latest shopping gadget has been met with mixed reviews. According to Re/code:

Some saw it as brilliant. Others saw it as a sign American society has failed us.

Neither opinion really matters. What Amazon has shown over and over again is that it will launch absolutely anything that will help shrink the time between “want” and “buy.”

Dash buttons are available to select Prime customers for nearly 275 products, including: diapers, garbage bags, napkins, mac and cheese, razors, facial lotions and bottled water.

According to Internet Retailer, the Dash Buttons are connected to customers’ home Wi-Fi network. An Amazon smartphone app is used to set up which product SKU the button will order. As soon as the button is pressed, an order is placed. IR said:

An alert is sent to the consumer’s phone to confirm the order. If the consumer does nothing, Amazon will ship the product using Prime shipping. A consumer can cancel the order after receiving the alert in case the button was pressed by mistake.

If you’re worried about a child repeatedly pressing one of the buttons and making several orders of the same item, rest assured, that’s not the way it works.

“Unless you elect otherwise, Dash Button responds only to your first press until your order is delivered,” Amazon said.

So, is this what the future of shopping looks like? What do you think of Amazon Dash? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.

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