Amazon has expanded the availability of its Consult-a-Friend shopping feature which helps shoppers quickly get advice before purchasing online.
The e-commerce firm had been testing the tool which was designed to allow users quickly and easily request, view, and manage friends’ feedback on products within the Amazon Shopping app.
The concept is seeking to build on the view that customers look to a variety of sources when making purchasing decisions, with recommendations from friends and family often among the most trusted sources. In addition to widespread availability across the U.S, it will be introduced to customers in the following countries: Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Turkey, UAE, and the UK.
“Our early testing has shown that customers are particularly interested in getting feedback on apparel, shoes, electronics, and furniture,” Amazon wrote in a blog post.
With Consult-a-Friend, customers will be able to streamline buying group gifts by keeping everyone’s responses in one location for the purchaser, the company added.
How it works
Once the shopper selects a product they would like to Consult-a-Friend on and taps the “Share” button they must choose a preferred messaging app and designated recipients. The shopper’s friends receive a message directing them to tap the Consult-a-Friend link to enter the Amazon Shopping app, where they can view product details and select a quick emoji reaction or add optional commentary. Once they reply, the shopper can view all the responses in one place in the Amazon App.
“Every day, customers turn to their communities to gather shopping inspiration and advice, so we are making it easy to connect with and learn from each other—whether it be from friends and family, or a broader community of influencers and customers that share the same interests,” Amazon said.
