In this article, we’ll walk you through all the available options.
What Can You Buy With Alexa?
Buy Items with Alexa Voice Shopping
Making purchases is a great way to use Alexa, including adding items to your shopping cart and reordering things you buy regularly using 1-Click. If you want to buy items directly with Alexa, you can enable Voice Purchasing. Open the Alexa app on your Android or iOS device and select More at the bottom. To find out more about Voice Purchasing, you can select Learn more below Manage voice purchasing preferences. You can then continue to tap the arrow on the top left to exit the Account Settings.
Voice Commands
Once you set up Voice Purchasing, you can order items easily. You can use simple commands like these:
“Alexa, reorder coffee.”“Alexa, refill my prescriptions.”“Alexa, add vitamins to my cart.”“Alexa, order laundry detergent.”“Alexa, checkout my cart.”
If you change your mind about an order, just say, “Alexa, cancel my order.”
Manage Your Shopping Lists
Create a New Shopping List
To use your voice to create a list, say something like, “Alexa, create a Grocery list” or “Alexa, make a new Gift list”. The key is to give Alexa the name for your list. Alexa will then ask what you’d like to add to your new list. You can answer with an item or say “nothing” to add to it later. To use the Alexa app to create a list, start by selecting More at the bottom. Similar to creating a list with your voice, you’ll be prompted to add an item to your list. Tap Add Item to enter one or the back arrow on the top left to return to the Lists screen and add one later.
Add or Remove List Items
To add items to a shopping list with your voice, use the name of the list and the item you want to add. For instance, “Alexa, add milk to my Grocery list” or “Alexa, add sneakers to my Gift list”. To remove items you’ve purchased, you can say “Alexa, remove bread from my Grocery List” or “Alexa, mark off scarf on my Gift list”. To add items using the Alexa app, select More at the bottom. To remove items in the app, follow the same steps above to open the list. Then, tap the item’s checkbox or slide the item from left to right.
Delete a Shopping List
If you have a list you no longer need, you can remove it easily. Using your voice, say “Alexa, delete my Gift list”. Alexa will ask you to confirm. In the Alexa app, open More > Lists & Notes. On the Lists tab slide the list from right to left and pick Delete. Alternatively, select the list to open it, tap the three dots on the top right, and pick Delete List in the pop-up at the bottom. Notice, you can also Archive a list if you prefer not to Delete it.
Check on Your Orders, Returns, and Deliveries
Purchasing products is only one part of the shopping process. After you buy something, you want it to arrive, right? You can ask Alexa for updates on orders, returns, and deliveries. To allow Alexa to provide this information or to keep Alexa from spoiling surprises, simply adjust the settings in the mobile app or online. You’ll then see your notification options with toggles on the right to turn them on or off. For a description of each, see below.
Access Notifications in the Mobile App
If you want to adjust your notifications in the Alexa app, start by selecting More at the bottom. Then select the options you want by turning on the toggles.
Alexa Shopping Notifications
The five sections at the top of the notification list are specific to shopping.
Say or Show Item Titles: To hear the titles or names of products you’ve ordered or returned, turn on the toggles to the right. If you are gift shopping and want to keep these private, turn them off.Delivery Notifications: Receive alerts when your items are out for delivery, delivered, or both.Returns: Receive notifications about items you’ve returned.Order Updates: Receive notifications about items you’ve ordered.Shopping Recommendations: Receive recommendations for deals, reorders, or both based on your shopping activity
Once you’ve updated your Alexa Shopping Notifications, you can ask Alexa about various things based on your choices. Try commands like these:
“Alexa, what are my notifications?” for all notifications.“Alexa, where’s my order?” for order and delivery status.“Alexa, find gifts for Valentine’s Day.” for gift recommendations.“Alexa, are there any good deals today?” for today’s deals.“Alexa, are there deals on shoes?” for deals on product types.
For more, take a look at this list of over 50 useful Alexa skills and commands!
