Amazon has just launched its Dash Buttons in the UK, a quick and brainless way of re-ordering your favourite, most-used items such as washing tablets – and even condoms. So what are they, how do they work and are they worth getting? Here’s our full Amazon Dash Buttons review and setup guide.
What are Amazon Dash Buttons?
Now that Amazon sells pretty much everything you could ever need, you might find yourself constantly re-ordering basic household supplies. The likes of toilet paper, nappies, dishwasher tablets, pet food and even a pack of Durex can all be delivered to your door by the online giant, saving you from non-stop trips to the local supermarket. Especially handy if you have Prime next-day delivery.
Dash Buttons are designed to make this never-ending ordering less of a chore. Each Dash Button is tied to a specific item – for instance, Fairy non-bio tablets – and can be placed anywhere in your home thanks to the sticky back and handy hook loop. A quick push of the button automatically places an order of that item through your Amazon account, so you don’t even have to open your laptop. Nice and easy.
How do Amazon Dash Buttons work and how do you setup a Dash Button on your home WiFi network?
Dash Buttons are quick and easy to set up. All you need is an Android or iOS (iPhone/iPad) mobile device, and a home WiFi network.
On your phone or tablet, download the Amazon app. If you have an Apple device, you can just go to the App Store and search for Amazon.
However, if you have an Android device, you’ll need to head to Amazon’s app page to download the app. You’ll also need to enable app installations from unknown sources. You can do this by going to your phone settings and tapping security, then scrolling to the Unknown Sources option. Depending on your handset, this might be a slightly different menu setting.
Once the app is installed, just head to the account section and sign in with your Amazon credentials. Next, tap ‘Add a new device’. You can then follow the setup process to connect your Dash Button to your phone via Bluetooth.
Once connected, your phone will throw your WiFi details to your Dash Button. With that done, your Dash Button is ready to rock. Just a quick tap of the button will automatically place an order for the product in question, via your account.
Check out our unboxing and setup video below to see the Dash Buttons in action.
Are Amazon Dash Buttons worth buying and are there any drawbacks?
The Dash Buttons cost a fiver each, but your Amazon account is also credited five pounds when you place your first order with them. So effectively, they’re completely free to order and to use.
If you have a few items that you find yourself regularly ordering through Amazon – say, once a week or so – then the Dash Buttons will definitely save you a couple of minutes each time. One-click ordering is already fast, but this way is even faster. Of course, that’s countered by the time you’ll take setting them up initially, so you better be using them a lot to make it worthwhile.
We also had some troubles setting up one of our buttons (as you’ll see in the above video around the three minute mark). But thankfully that seemed to be a one-off, just as the cameras were rolling.
You get notifications when an order is placed so you know that it’s gone through successfully – no need to check your account afterwards.
Of course, you’ll have to make sure that the buttons are placed high up, so any little ones in your house don’t push them for fun.
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