Keep Your Holiday Gifts Under Wraps in Charlotte!
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The holiday season is just around the corner! With festive cheer all around, many of us are busy buying perfect gifts for our loved ones. But wait a minute! If you’re an Amazon fan and have an Alexa-enabled device in your home, you might want to think twice before chatting away about your shopping sprees. You might just be letting Alexa spill the beans on your delightful surprises!
The Alexa Dilemma: Helpful or Harmful?
Let’s face it, Alexa can be a real gem. She can play all your favorite holiday tunes, control your lights, and even help you stick to your diet by reminding you not to overindulge on those festive treats. However, she’s also a bit of a chatty one! Anyone who walks into your home can simply ask, “What’s in my shopping cart?” or “What’s on my order list?” The next thing you know, they could be revealing your carefully planned surprises!
Although Amazon has rolled out some changes to bolster your privacy, like hiding package contents in notifications, determined snoopers can still sniff out your secrets. So, what can you do to keep your gifts a surprise? Here’s the scoop!
Steps to Keep Your Gifts a Surprise
- Adjust Alexa App Settings: First thing’s first, open that Alexa app. Navigate to “Settings”, then “Notifications”, and finally tap on “Amazon Shopping”. Here, you can easily toggle off those pesky order notifications. Goodbye, spoilers!
- Hide Orders: Swing over to your Amazon account through a web browser. Spot the order you want to hide, and select “Archive Order.” This nifty trick will whisk it away from your order history, making it less visible!
- Clear Browsing History: Secrets can get slippery when your browsing history reveals gift ideas. Pop into your Amazon account, locate “Browsing History”, and click the gear icon to delete that information. Think ahead and consider turning off browsing history entirely during the holiday hustle.
Now, keep in mind that changes to hide orders and clear your browsing history can only be executed through the Amazon website. If you want to fine-tune what your Alexa can announce, the Alexa app is your go-to!
Additional Tips to Keep Secrets Safe
Besides the technical adjustments, there are some good-old-fashioned tips to remember:
- Use a Guest Account: For those frequent visitors, consider setting up a guest account on your Alexa device. This way, you limit their access to your personal information and shopping details. Outsiders can admire your home but not your shopping list!
- Be Careful What You Say: Avoid chatting about your holiday shopping plans in front of your Alexa device. Keep in mind that she is always listening! Believe it or not, those little devices can be eavesdroppers when you least expect it.
Holiday Shopping Should Be Fun!
This holiday season, let’s keep the joy of gifting intact! With these handy tips, you can shop without the fear of spoiling any surprises. Enjoy the shopping, the wrapping, and most importantly, the merriment that comes with the season. Here’s to all the secret Santas in Charlotte—may your gifts remain a delightful mystery until the big reveal!
