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Shopping by text message, now at Amazon

Posted Apr 02 2008, 03:17 PM by Kim Peterson
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Amazon will now take your orders through text message, and though the system seems a little clumsy, I like the idea.

Here's how it works. Say you're at Borders and see a copy of the book "Unaccustomed Earth" on the shelves. Looks interesting. Hm. Wonder if Amazon is selling it for less? Send a text message with the book's title to 262966 (that spells "Amazon" on the keypad). Amazon will send you two results with the option to buy.

I tried it this morning and quickly got a response with a set of instructions on how to buy by phone. A few seconds later, I got a second message offering me the book for $15.94. It also listed a book called "Malgudi Days," which has an introduction written by the same author. Amazon will only send you its top two results in each text message, so don't make a generic request like "Disney."

Once you decide to make a purchase, Amazon will call you and complete the checkout process. Amazon shares rose less than 1% today to close at $77.29.

Amazon is hoping people will use this for more than price comparison checks. In announcing the service, the company described how people might use it to buy a CD after leaving a concert, or to buy a book that a friend just recommended at dinner. Sure, if you had Web access on your phone you could just go to Amazon's site directly. Selling through text message opens up the service to many more customers.

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Comments

 

So when are they going to find the cure for cancer???

Mike Lomeli (Posted 04.02.08 7:48 PM) Report Abuse

srf2039,02042008. I reviewed the vic,boards of directors sugestion that

NationalCityBank whuld sell itself to WellsFargoBank, WellsFargoBank is not

the best choice. I prefer that NationalCity,Bank remans NationalCity,bank

as with my terms,and,conditions...Remaining NationalCity,bank enables

amazon.com and bordersBooks eshtomea to offer those services and other

generational,products inline with microsoft instead of wasting money on

new paraphenalia associted with the unwanted,marriage to WellsFargo,Bank,

WellsFargo,Bank..money is with the transfer of wealthManagement,from NationalCity,Bank,.investments..,NationalCityInvestments of this customer

so I am not impressed with that offer and I doubt in the end I will support the

impractical nature of the assaulting directors,now!

hannahHM2046dgz

Peninnah Hundinlieb (Posted 04.02.08 8:47 PM) Report Abuse

Book less expensive via text message with Amazon than at bookstore? You need to consider the cost for the text message to check for a lower cost and then the text message to order plus postage, shipping and handling costs that will be added to the original cost of the book.

E Bell (Posted 04.03.08 8:31 AM) Report Abuse

Depends on your math. Unlimited text messages are $14.99 from my service provider. I u s about 1000 per month. 14.99/1000 is about $.015 per text message. Hardly a relevant surcharge. Unless you decide you need the book NOW, it is by far almost always cheaper to purchase SOME products online, particularly at Amazon.

An example: take Wal-Mart, A Gas Station and an internet store. The cheapest place to shop between Wal-Mart and the Gas Station is Wal-Mart. What about the internet store? Well internet stores aren't as convenient as say, a gas station, they can't offer instant gratification and they must usually charge shipping and handling. Result? Generally lower prices. Especially Amazon. Even with shipping. Especially if its a 'used but essentially like new' copy of a book.

Examples? I bought the 2007 Physican's Desk Reference for $7.99 on Amazon, 2 dollars shipping. Real life price? Don't even ask. Updated version of Gray's Anatomy? $4.99 + $3.25 shipping. Examples abound.

When judging to buy online or by text message or in store, you basically need to weigh the cost of YOUR convenience and necessity and your time. When shopping at a store, for example, my nearest book store is 20 miles away. 40 miles round trip. My time is worth money, too. I think its probably cheaper for me to ship a 3 pound book to Texas than it is for me to drive to the book store, pick out the book and drive home.

Adam, college student (Posted 04.04.08 1:18 AM) Report Abuse

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