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Amazon and Google Are Practically Giving Away Smart Speakers. Here’s Why.
It’s not about giving you a deal
This holiday season, both Amazon and Google are selling their smart speakers for so little that they’re basically giving them away, or in some cases, partnering with other companies to actually give them away.
Amazon’s Echo Dot and Google’s Nest Mini speakers usually retail for $50, and Google Home Minis usually retail for $25, but in recent weeks they’ve been included for “free” or at an extremely reduced price with the purchase of other items. Spotify is giving away Google Home Minis to its premium users. Tile is throwing in a free Google Nest Mini with the purchase of its tracking stickers. Amazon Music Unlimited subscription comes with the option to buy an Amazon Echo Dot for 99 cents. Google has also packaged a Frozen II book together with a Nest Mini, which can read the story along with you.
It is so easy to acquire a smart speaker that it’s possible you’ll do so almost by accident. Even if you aren’t interested in “smart” devices for yourself, the deals are good enough that you’re likely to pick one up anyway and gift it to a friend. I have more than enough smart speakers in my home, but I seem to keep ending up with extra Nest Mini’s that get thrown in with something…
