You may be familiar about subscription boxes that send you clothing and all sorts of loots per month. Amazon seems to be diving into this business with the introduction of a new physical dash button that will order you a boxful of sweets when pressed.
How Does It Work?
The new service is being called Prime Surprise Sweets and will require you to purchase the Dash Button, which costs $5. The device, which is different from its virtual counterparts, connects to your Wi-Fi and will order a surprise box containing different candies sourced from what Amazon referred to as select batch of artisans from around the country.
A box will cost $18 but your first order will get a $5 discount. There is no word yet if an Alexa skill will be introduced for this service.
As is customary in subscription boxes, you will not be able to choose the items. It is not unlike receiving a gift sent on-demand. Part of its appeal is the way you won't know what you will find inside as it will always ship with unique products.
A Peek At The Amazon Sweets
It is not yet clear how the sweets get selected, but Amazon is definitely curating every box. Subscription boxes usually determine contents based on initially stated preferences.
If you really must know, Amazon is sourcing its products from Brandini Toffee, Brigadeiro, Fran's, Chocolate Twist, and Whoopies, among others. If you are familiar with these artisans, then you will get a general idea what would be inside the box.
Amazon also identified some artisanal goods such as brownies, gummy bears, and handmade caramel. One should note, however, that a number of the treats seem to be exclusive to the Amazon service as they are not available in their own marketplace.
Each box will also include a card that details how the sweets were made or some interesting information about their makers.
Ordering And Other Details
There is a bit of confusion about the ordering system. In the Dash Button's listing, Amazon states that the device is programmed to respond to your press when your order has been delivered. In the Prime Surprise Sweets' dedicated page, however, the company claims that you can order as often as you like.
Amazon is also offering customers a guarantee. You will get a refund if you did not like what was sent, quite a confident position.
"Prime Surprise Sweets boxes are carefully curated to ensure you only get top-notch artisanal treats from across the nation," Amazon stated.
The Prime Surprise Sweets, which seems part of Amazon's big strategic push in the next 18 months, can also benefit small businesses. According to TechCrunch, Amazon is struggling in attracting this segment to its marketplace. The on-demand nature, however, of the new service could appeal to businesses that are put off by Amazon's requirement for big operation.
The Prime Surprise Sweets is not yet available to the general public as it only rolled out to a select number of invited Prime subscribers.
