As an avid online shopper and deal hunter, I’ve crafted wishlists on the Amazon app for years to keep track of items I’m interested in purchasing. A well-organized wishlist allows you to easily monitor price drops, find similar items, and share your list with others. With Amazon’s massive catalog, it can be tricky to create a focused list that helps you find what you really want. Follow this guide to build the perfect wishlist that suits your shopping needs.
Table of Contents
Know What You Want Before Browsing
It’s tempting to start browsing Amazon and adding anything that catches your fancy. However, this leads to a cluttered wishlist filled with impulse wants. Instead, take a few minutes to think through what types of items you’re looking to purchase in the next few months.
Some things to consider:
- What product categories interest me right now? Books, kitchen appliances, video games, etc.
- Are there any pressing needs I’m saving up for? A new computer, furniture, etc.
- What items would make good gifts for upcoming birthdays/holidays?
Having a targeted shopping mindset first prevents you from going overboard as you browse.
Search Efficiently to Find Relevant Items
The Amazon app makes it easy to search for products, but resist the urge to just type a generic phrase into the search bar. Doing so often yields irrelevant or overly broad results.
Use precise keywords and filters to pinpoint what you want, such as:
- Brand name + product type
- Example: “Vitamix blenders”
- Specific product name or model
- Example: “Animal Crossing: New Horizons game”
- Generic product + key features
- Example: “ergonomic office chair with lumbar support”
The more exact your search, the more tailored results you’ll get. You can then quickly scan and evaluate relevant options to add.
Thoroughly Vet Items Before Adding
With an item page loaded, take time to carefully review all details before hitting the “Add to Wishlist” button. Check:
- Product images and video: Get a close look to evaluate quality.
- Price: Is it in your budget? Will it likely go on sale?
- Ratings and reviews: Sort by most recent and read both positive and critical ones.
- Product details: Check specs, dimensions, etc. to ensure it fits your needs.
- Shipping and return policies: Understand any restrictions.
Vetting thoroughly upfront prevents wishlist regrets down the road. I once added a cute desk organizer that seemed perfect until realizing it was only 3 inches tall – not useful at all!
Organize by Priority and Category
Once you start adding items, create wishlist categories to organize based on:
- Priority level
- High, medium, low
- Timeframe
- Birthdays, holidays, seasons
- Product type
- Books, clothing, electronics
- Person/purpose
- Gifts for [family member]
Customize categories that make the most sense for your needs. I have sections like “Top 10 Must-Haves,” “Stocking Stuffers,” and “Rainy Day Splurges.”
Rank items within each category so your highest priorities appear first. Periodically re-evaluate and re-order items as your needs change.
Monitor Prices and Availability
One of the best wishlist features is getting alerts when items go on sale. Once your list is created:
- Check prices weekly, especially around major sales events
- Enable email notifications for price drops
- If an item says “Unavailable,” click “Available from these sellers” to find other listings
- For out-of-stock items, click “Get in-stock alert”
With regular monitoring, you can snag great deals right when they happen!
Want to give friends and family a peek at gifts you’d love? Amazon lets you share parts of your list while keeping other sections private.
When viewing your list, tap the share icon next to an item. Choose “Share this item” and type in the email for who you want to share with. You can add a personal note too!
The recipient will be able to see just that product, without any other wishlist details exposed.
Periodically Review and Prune
Over time, your interests and needs will evolve. Items that once seemed appealing may lose their luster.
Set a reminder to review your full list each quarter and ask:
- Have my priorities changed?
- Are there products I’m no longer interested in?
- Are there duplicate or similar items I can remove?
Ruthlessly deleting outdated items keeps your list relevant and focused. Don’t worry – you can always search and add things again later if wanted.
Save for Later Only When Useful
You may come across an interesting product that you want to consider, but aren’t ready to purchase or thoroughly evaluate yet. The app lets you “Save for later” instead of adding to your main wishlist.
Use this feature sparingly, only for items you truly want to revisit. Saving too many things here leads to decision paralysis later. I once had over 50 “saved” items to wade through – extremely overwhelming!
Only save standout items that you’ll actually consider down the road. And review periodically to remove any you’re no longer interested in.
Building the perfect Amazon wishlist takes some forethought and effort. But the payoff is huge – you’ll have a targeted, organized list to make your future shopping so much easier! No more impulse purchases or forgetting about items you wanted.
