I am a technophile, I love new technology and I am not happy unless I have the latest this or most up to date that. My mobile phone has access to the sum of all human knowledge and more computing power than NASA had when it put men on the moon, I get all excited when I see new ideas that will revolutionise the way we do things and move us just a little closer to that Sci-fi dream of warp drive and teleporters.
Today I saw that Amazon have launched a thing called DASH, Wow I thought, a new idea, a revolutionary new thing that’s going to change the world. Errrrrr no!
Dash is Amazon’s latest attempt to completely subvert the online marketplace and encourage you to shop only with Amazon.
How it works is simple enough, you buy a little wireless doodad that’s about the size of your car key fob, that is for a particular brand of something you use everyday and when you run out, you push the button on the fob and the doodad will automatically order that item through your Amazon account to have that item delivered within 24 hours to your door.
The following is taken from Amazon’s webpage describing how the product works.
Dash Button is set up and managed through the Amazon App on your Android or iOS smartphone, and works in any location with a Wi-Fi connection. Once setup is complete, a notification (if enabled) is sent to your smartphone every time an order is placed.
What if I dont have the Amazon App, I don’t shop on my phone for everyday essentials, I go down the shop for everyday essentials.
If I have this situation
I’m not going to push a button and wait 24 hours for more Toilet Roll to be delivered, plus how would I get off the loo seat to answer the door?! plus a single brand button means only that brand, there is no alternative, no price comparison or bargain hunting, that brand at supermarket prices.
Well more than supermarket prices as it costs £4.99 to buy the button in the first place. You apparently get that value discounted off the order on the first time you use it but there is still the issue of what happens when the battery runs out, can you change it? or will you need another one for another £4.99?
What about inquisitive little fingers? Amazon say they have that covered.
Dash Button will not place a new order until your prior order is delivered—regardless of how many times Dash Button is pressed. In addition, you will receive an order notification (if enabled) for every order placed, allowing you to cancel an order before it is dispatched.
But what if I need to order more than one? I have to wait for the first to be delivered before I can order more? what if i want multiples?
So lets say I use this to order my everyday essentials, that means I have to wait 24 hours to have it delivered, that is not going to cut it if we run out of coffee. The buttons are brand specific so you can only use that brand and you have to have a separate button for each brand you need, that’s a lot of buttons all vying for the same Wi-Fi bandwidth in an already Wi-Fi busy household.
As I said at the beginning, I love technology but this is a step too far, i’m all for making life easier but this just does not have any logic or sense to it. If I know I am going to run out of something essential then I just stop at my local supermarket on my way home from work, where I can compare brands and get the best deal. One final thought. What does this say about Amazon’s environmental consideration when they are allowing a vehicle to be sent out to deliver a loo roll.
*The opinions in this blog are of the individual writing it and are not reflective of Homecare Essentials*