Browser extensions and add-ons are typically reserved for those working on the creation side of technology or for those avid feature explorers who like to “trick out their ride” while surfing the net. I just recently discovered an extension for the Amazon wish list that was advertised in just the right way for the type of user that doesn’t normally use extensions. While looking at my wish list on Amazon, I saw a notification about an extension that would allow you to add items to your wish list from other shopping sites.
Once you install it, an Amazon icon appears on your toolbar. Anytime you’re on a product page, you click the icon and get a modal window that captures information about the product and lets you add it to the appropriate wish list. I have several issues with the implementation of Amazon wish lists in general and how these items are added in particular, but what I thought was noteworthy was the attempt to make something that’s not very visible to the average computer user more, well, visible, and the fact that it’s a nice way to integrate siloed shopping experiences.
What I’d really like to see is an extension that lets me compare the price of a product on another site to the price on Amazon. You can find similar shopping comparison sites that aggregate multiple online vendors, but I almost always try to buy online products just through Amazon because they typically offer the lowest price when combined with free shipping and other random purchases I need to make. Ultimately, I’d like a “buy this product on Amazon” widget, but I’m pretty sure other online vendors aren’t going to go for that.
You can get the extensions here:
