Amazon Echo Club

Originally Posted by Catlady

Is there a way to use Alexa to place an order and still generate a donation through the Amazon Smile program?

I don't know the answer, but probably not. I think the problem is that Alexa purchasing does not seem to allow us to select any purchasing options like making donations, choosing delivery times, using rewards dollars, etc. We can only ask Alexa to purchase a single item without any further actions. That is probably why less expensive Add-on items are getting through the cracks right now. If Amazon would actually think things all the way through, they could greatly improve Alexa all around and certainly in the area of purchasing. I would prefer to order several items at once by putting each into my cart before paying for all at a single time. I would prefer to be ask if I want to apply rewards dollars, or if I want to make a donation. I would prefer to be asked if I want 1-day, 2-day, or some other shipping time frame. But currently we are only asked to buy, and all the options are populated at Amazon's whim. So unless I can save by purchasing through Alexa, I refuse to do so and prefer the better control I get via a web interface.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by jswinden

I don't know the answer, but probably not. I think the problem is that Alexa purchasing does not seem to allow us to select any purchasing options like making donations, choosing delivery times, using rewards dollars, etc. We can only ask Alexa to purchase a single item without any further actions. That is probably why less expensive Add-on items are getting through the cracks right now. If Amazon would actually think things all the way through, they could greatly improve Alexa all around and certainly in the area of purchasing. I would prefer to order several items at once by putting each into my cart before paying for all at a single time. I would prefer to be ask if I want to apply rewards dollars, or if I want to make a donation. I would prefer to be asked if I want 1-day, 2-day, or some other shipping time frame. But currently we are only asked to buy, and all the options are populated at Amazon's whim. So unless I can save by purchasing through Alexa, I refuse to do so and prefer the better control I get via a web interface.

I thought maybe there might be some setting in the app that could tell it that orders should go through the Smile program. Oh well.

It seems the only reason to do voice ordering is to get a special deal; otherwise I will stick to the old-fashioned way--I don't even use one-click!

Originally Posted by Catlady

I thought maybe there might be some setting in the app that could tell it that orders should go through the Smile program. Oh well.

It seems the only reason to do voice ordering is to get a special deal; otherwise I will stick to the old-fashioned way--I don't even use one-click!

There might be such a setting, but I cannot find it. The only voice payment option setting for 1-click purchasing I can see in the Alexa app is the payment option, and that is merely selecting which CC to use. Alexa voice purchasing is a very useless feature unless there is a deal on the price. I'm guessing the same is true for the Dash Buttons. I never saw the need for those at all.

It irritates me greatly that to get the Alexa purchase deals we have to use 1-click purchasing. It would be better if they allowed us to use Alexa to place the deal item in the Cart, then allowed us to continue shopping and/or select the shipping and payment options. Can you imagine grocery shopping and for each item on sale you would have to go through checkout, purchase without being able to select any options, then take it to your car, before heading back into the store to locate your shopping cart and finish shopping. Yep, it is that stupid in my opinion.

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by jswinden

I'm guessing the same is true for the Dash Buttons. I never saw the need for those at all.

I got a few Dash buttons a couple of weeks back as they were on promotion at £0.99 but still generating the £4.99 credit on first use needless to say, I used them once and they now have a new home, buried at the back of a kitchen drawer...

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Yolina

I got a few Dash buttons a couple of weeks back as they were on promotion at £0.99 but still generating the £4.99 credit on first use needless to say, I used them once and they now have a new home, buried at the back of a kitchen drawer...

LOL

Dash buttons have no appeal for me because I buy generic brands.

I'm a cheap monkey

[ApK]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

LOL

Dash buttons have no appeal for me because I buy generic brands.

I'm a cheap monkey

Do you actually have to buy the brand on the button? I just sort of assumed you could program them to order any one item, and the branding was just the default. But I based this on nothing at all.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ApK

Do you actually have to buy the brand on the button? I just sort of assumed you could program them to order any one item, and the branding was just the default. But I based this on nothing at all.

You do, but you're given several choices within that brand. For example, the Cheez-It Dash Button gives you 9 Cheez-It products to choose from. You pick the one you want and pair it to the button with the app. If you want a different item within those choices, you'll have to re-pair it all over again.

For the most part, I'm happy with store brands and I doubt Amazon will ever create Dash buttons for generic brands.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

You do, but you're given several choices within that brand. For example, the Cheez-It Dash Button gives you 9 Cheez-It products to choose from. You pick the one you want and pair it to the button with the app. If you want a different item within those choices, you'll have to re-pair it all over again.

For the most part, I'm happy with store brands and I doubt Amazon will ever create Dash buttons for generic brands.

I just grab the Dash Button kind of stuff when I go grocery shopping, and I generally pick the generic store brand. One exception though is toilet paper. I go for the good TP and waste no expense.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by jswinden

I just grab the Dash Button kind of stuff when I go grocery shopping, and I generally pick the generic store brand. One exception though is toilet paper. I go for the good TP and waste no expense.

Then a Dash button for TP is in your future.

[Blossom]

The best TP is at the Dollar Tree. I'm not joking. It comes in four double rolls for $1 it's strong and does not fall apart but not too strong that is clogs the septic or pipes.

Has any one tried the new games added to Alexa?

Sent from my Nexus 7

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Has any one tried the new games added to Alexa?

Sent from my Nexus 7

What new games?

Three late deliveries in a row now. Not that big of a deal as I didn't need any of them in a hurry, but it is the principle of the matter. I pay for Prime to get free 2-day delivery, therefore I expect free 2-day delivery. I fully understand the effects of weather and other uncontrollable events and circumstances on deliveries, but that has not been a factor in any of these cases.

[tubemonkey]

GE Integrates Amazon Alexa Inside Sleek Table Lamp

GE is working to unleash the ultimate living experience through a suite of connected products designed to make your life simpler and help you do more. First on that journey is a contemporary LED table lamp that embeds Amazon Alexa Voice Service (AVS) directly inside, allowing you to use a light to order your dinner, listen to the latest headlines, preheat your oven or give a host of other voice commands.

The voice controlled light source with microphones and a speaker is the first announced use of AVS embedded within a lighting product, bringing the skills you’d find in a traditional Amazon Echo product without the need for a stand-alone Echo unit, hub or even a smart phone. Homeowners need only plug in the C by GE lamp and connect to Alexa to unleash a whole new world of tech functionality and smart device interoperability throughout the home.

• As part of its C by GE brand, GE creates entry point to the smart home through simple connection points that enable homeowners to do more and be better

• Connected roadmap starts with the industry’s first announced integration of Amazon Alexa Voice Service (AVS) built directly inside a lighting product

• A sleekly designed LED table lamp lets you easily complete hundreds of hands-free voice commands, no stand-alone Echo unit, hub or smart phone required

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

GE Integrates Amazon Alexa Inside Sleek Table Lamp

Mental note to self: Don't listen to this video with the laptop next to an Echo. I wound up hearing a weather forecast and getting an alarm set for 6:00am, among other things! Fortunately I heard the alarm setting and immediately cancelled it.

My Echo now awakes with the word "Echo" instead of "Alexa". I already changed the Dot to use "Echo" because it is near the TV.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Mental note to self: Don't listen to this video with the laptop next to an Echo. I wound up hearing a weather forecast and getting an alarm set for 6:00am, among other things! Fortunately I heard the alarm setting and immediately cancelled it.

My Echo now awakes with the word "Echo" instead of "Alexa". I already changed the Dot to use "Echo" because it is near the TV.

I use "Echo" too. I got tired of commercials waking her up.