Ever wonder how many brands sold on Amazon are owned by Amazon? This tool can help
Amazon itself sells more than 12 million products but factor in Marketplace sellers, and that number jumps to more than 350 million. And this is the site’s busiest time of year.
With all the different products and sellers, how do you know what you’re actually going to receive? You might not be aware, but Amazon actually owns a number of brands besides Amazon Basics and Essentials and has other brands exclusive to its site. If you want to know who you’re actually buying from, a handy new browser extension can help.
Here’s the backstory
An investigation by The Markup into Amazon’s offerings and algorithms uncovered that Amazon brands are more likely to appear in search results, which isn’t all that surprising. But that’s not all.
Amazon tends to be slightly mysterious in revealing which brands are exclusively affiliated with or owned by Amazon. While a product could have an Amazon affiliation, they might promote themselves under an entirely different name.
Following the investigation, The Markup decided to create a browser extension to clarify this information, so shoppers have a better idea who they are buying from.
Amazon Brand Detector
Amazon Brand Detector is available as an extension for both Chrome and Firefox.
Once installed, visit Amazon and run a search. Let’s keep it to something generic like “desk,” which will return thousands of results. Click on the Amazon Brand Detector icon your browser’s tool bar and it’ll get to work.
Not happy with something you bought on Amazon? Huge change coming for third-party items
We’ve become super reliant on Amazon for many of our purchases. If you can think of it, you’ll probably find it on Amazon and have it in your hands within a couple of days. Though essentials and other supplies are more readily available this year, the urge to buy, buy, buy is hard to kick.
Five little essentials to pack for your voyage on the high seas — or, really, any summer vacay:
Pocket-sized router: Think of a travel router as your own private hub on the ship’s network. Pay for the internet for one device but share it using this. Score: Under $34 right now.
Outlets for everyone: Buyer beware: Cruise staff will confiscate regular surge protectors. Opt for this cruise-approved model with three outlets, two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports — now 29% off ($9.98).
Li’l nightlight: Cruise cabins get dark at night. Light your path to the loo with a motion sensor nightlight that runs on AAA batteries. Right now, it’s 25% off ($17.99).
Hangin’ out: Hang your towels, shirts, toiletry bag, sunnies — whatever ya got — on these super-strong magnetic hooks.
Amazon has been a source of essentials, hobbies, electronics and supplies during the pandemic, and business has been booming as a result. You can find just about anything on Amazon, which is both good and bad. Need an obscure replacement part for your dishwasher? You can probably find it on Amazon. But not all products are useful, and some can be downright dangerous.
4 ways to order groceries online and how to safely unpack them
In the time of social distancing, it’s well-advised to stay in. Still, there are essentials we can’t go without. If you’re older or have an underlying health condition, even going to the grocery store can feel risky during the coronavirus pandemic.
How to get your pharmaceutical drugs if you can't go to the pharmacy
You already know how important it is to stay at home as much as possible — unless, of course, you need to restock on food and essentials.
Venturing outside for any reason still puts you at risk for viral exposure, though. The grocery store is no exception. Fortunately, most stores are taking additional measures to help you shop while maintaining social distancing. Tap or click here to see the safest ways to buy and unpack your groceries.
Money-saving tip: Find the best wireless plan for you
There are so many options available when it comes to wireless plans and deciding which one is best for you can be overwhelming. Do you need a single line or a family plan? Will you be utilizing streaming services and using lots of data or are you a data minimalist?
Vets eligible to get internet for $10/month and cheap laptop or PC
Are you a veteran or know someone who is? For all the years of service to our country, businesses are always finding new ways to say thank you. Recently, one internet service provider has made it easy for veterans to sign up for the internet without breaking the bank.
