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Though Amazon now has its Rufus AI chatbot to help explain products and find deals, I don’t think it’s worth using—and I’m not waiting around for it to improve.
Instead, I use Perplexity to find deals and products I want on Amazon with minimal hassle.
1Finding Exclusive Deals
Perplexity can be hit-and-miss with exclusive deals. I tried asking for more niche items like camera lens filters, but it found nothing. However, the app is helpful for finding Amazon deals on more mainstream items.
For example, I asked Perplexity to find me deals on an iPhone 13 (buying last-gen techis a great way to buy a new device while saving money, by the way). The app searched Amazon for deals before giving me a summary.
At the end of the summary, Perplexity also gave me a direct link to the product on Amazon. So, it was easy to make a purchase if I wanted.
2Narrowing Down by Brand
I often start with broad Amazon searches if I know what I want but don’t know the brand I want to choose. For example, I might look for a rain jacket while preparing for a hiking trip. Once I’ve done that, I narrow down based on brands I see and like.
Perplexity’s AI tool lets me search more deeply, looking for specific products on Amazon by brand. In the example below, I wanted to specifically find rain jackets manufactured by Helly Hansen. Besides giving me a summary of the jackets available (and a link to one), I could ask follow-up questions for more specific results.
I tried this for different products and brands, but the results were varied. So, you’ll have to experiment to see what does and doesn’t work for you.
3Finding Niche Products
While Perplexity can struggle with finding specific brands for niche products, it is good if you want to see an overview of what’s available on Amazon across multiple manufacturers. For example, I participate in niche sports like CrossFit, which require more specific footwear than ordinary gym shoes.
Perplexity is also good at finding product overviews, and I think it’s worth subscribing to for this alone. It gives me a brief overview, and I can get more information if I click on one of the products listed.
Since Perplexity also grabs sources from across the web, I can read online reviews if I want more information.
4Comparing Different Product Types
While I sometimes compare items because I’m ready to buy, I will look at different options when I’m casually browsing. I might choose to purchase later, but this isn’t guaranteed. Perplexity is pretty helpful for comparing product types on Amazon, especially if I don’t know much about them.
For example, I know little about coffee machines even though I enjoy drinking a cup on a relaxed morning. I can go to Perplexity and ask it to list the different types available (e.g., espresso machines).
After receiving an overview, I’ll analyze each result and decide the best choice for me. Drip coffee machines sound good; I can ask Perplexity for a list of the best on Amazon. Once I have this information, I can research further and decide whether to purchase.
5Discovering Customer Reviews
I always read customer reviews before buying something I don’t know much about. While I can head to Amazon and do this myself, it’s nice if I can access what I’m looking for in Perplexity instead. Even better, I can source reviews from across the web to make a more balanced decision.
In this example, I wanted to learn more about one of the listed drip coffee makers. I then get a list of pros and cons. If I’m still on the fence, I’ll go directly to Amazon and the manufacturer’s website—and read verified buyer reviews.
Though Rufus will inevitably improve over time, I still prefer using Perplexity to find items I want on Amazon. It’s not perfect, but the software does a pretty good job of finding products and reviews. Besides getting information from Amazon, I can compare it to what others say elsewhere. If I’m interested, I’ll happily go to Amazon and make a purchase.
