Instant shopping buttons are being sent out of production and deactivated as of August 31. Users will be able to use virtual ones on the site
Introduced in 2015, Dash Buttons were, in Amazon’s plans, supposed to change the way we shopped. Little bigger than a bank “key” (the one to generate unique codes, which will soon be retired), they allowed us to buy products such as detergent, cookies, pasta, tissues and other everyday items by simply pressing on the only button present.
Linked directly to our Amazon account, they were to automate what were to be our repeat purchases. Running out of coffee? You push the button and they’re home the next day. Little detergent left for the washing machine? Same process. Within a short time several brands launched their Dash Button, but the fortunes of these devices were short-lived. Although simple to use, they were never very popular and, with the arrival of smart speakers, they have become effectively useless.
The end of Dash Buttons
As of next August 31, it will no longer be possible to place orders online using Dash Buttons worldwide. It’s Amazon to communicate this with an official note in which, after recalling how the different purchase options have evolved over time, invites its customers to continue to order their favorite products through the free virtual Dash buttons on the Amazon website and mobile app.
The Dash Button flop
As mentioned, among the main causes that have “forced” the hand of Amazon we find the appearance of smart speakers. The increased popularity of Alexa and Echo made Dash Buttons replaceable by simple voice commands. In addition, Dash Buttons do not allow the user to check any changes in the price of the item to be purchased. A sensitive issue, so much so that last winter the German government was forced to ban them after heated protests from German shoppers.