Amazon Dash: A New Device To Convenience Online Grocery Shopping
By Megan Zielinski, contributing writer
The world’s largest online retailer, Amazon, recently released new technology, permitting a select amount of invited Amazon Fresh members to test the latest device, making grocery shopping an easy, better experience while eliminating the need to write out a list. According to Amazon, you can scan a week’s worth of groceries in minutes.
Amazon Fresh, Amazon’s grocery e-commerce service, available to users in the company’s location of Seattle, Washington as well as areas in Southern California and San Francisco, introduced “Amazon Dash,” a small handheld device that packs in convenient features, allowing for users to quickly add items to their Amazon Fresh shopping list.
Users simply scan product barcodes throughout the kitchen with the 6 inch wand, or use the microphone feature to verbally add items. For example, products that do not have a barcode or fresh produce, the Dash can find all of its millions of items offered through Amazon Fresh and Amazon with voice search. Connected with household Wi-Fi, the device transfers the grocery list to user’s computer or mobile device for purchasing and delivery options. Depending on the time frame of ordering, customers can expect to have groceries delivered within hours or early the next day. Customers can choose doorstep delivery, an option that delivers groceries in thermal bags packed with free frozen water bottles at doorway if they are not home, bags are returned the following delivery day. Attended delivery permits in-person delivery of groceries right into the kitchen, no totes to store, and alcohol purchases can be made with this option only. By becoming an Amazon Fresh Prime member, 30 days of grocery service is free — after trial, members pay $299 a year, not including cost of groceries and shipping. Although, for total amounts over $35.00, shipping is free.
Along with grocery staples, Amazon Fresh members can even select items from favorite local restaurants, specialty stores and markets — everything from treats from a fancy bakery to dog food from the pet store. Amazon Fresh provides members with a list with many options of businesses to choose items from and have delivered at their doorstep.
Amazon’s grocery e-commerce sector poses threat to competing grocers including Target, Kroger’s, Walmart, and Whole Foods Market. The company is already planning to expand, investing in more warehouses for storage. Amazon states, “We're branching out as fast as we can while being careful not to sacrifice the quality and convenience our customers expect from Amazon Fresh.”