Amazon Dash Button

I lead my life permanently in a hurry. It seems appropriate to have a button with the word ‘Dash’ in the title.

Physically going shopping would never have been a strong point for me. I have been a Tesco’s online client since the days of squealing modems, simply to avoid visiting a supermarket. Is this something I can now avoid with the Amazon Dash?

But, today, with the distinct lack of necessity for regular shopping trips as household members have grown. Turning into intermittent residents the poor Cats regularly find themselves on the last sachet of cat food.  With no replenishment in sight unless an unscheduled trip to the local corner store takes place. (Since they aren’t that impressed with Cats doing their own shopping) as an avid Amazon user  I chose to trial a Dash button.

How does it work?

The button, essentially an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), that’s the same type of tag as a security stock market in a superstore. Attaching itself to a Wireless Network and linking to a user’s Amazon account, allowing ‘instant ordering’.  Sounds lazy doesn’t it?

The little button cost just over £5 when I bought mine and did take a few days to arrive.  When it came in uniform brown Amazon packaging, the setup and linking via my Android smart phone was easily achieved.  The first order attempt however didn’t go so smoothly with the wrong delivery address in my account settings.  However I was able to cancel the order easily on the Amazon app and re-order.  The food arrived the next day at work, in true Amazon Prime style.

So when the cat food reached its last two or three pouches, instead of having to make a mental note to visit the Tesco’s local. I duly touched my button and the very next day our second delivery of Whiskas Cat Food arrived, no more unhappy kitty.

There are now a miriad of buttons and they cost £4.99 each.  They are generally available for household and personal care items which tend to run down quickly.  Ultimate laziness perhaps, but in the land of automation that is “Jacqui towers”.