Just caught this thread today and yeah, unfortunately, Amazons native tools for this are pretty lackluster. I’ve had issues with their wedding registries and wishlists before because they try to track too much metadata and it just ends up confusing donors who just want to pay and leave. It’s super frustrating when you’re on a deadline for a shelter. If you want a direct link that actually works without making Grandma install a Chrome extension, you should check out Cart To Link. It basically takes your cart and spits out a simple URL. When someone clicks it, the items go straight to their basket. No hoops, no extra software. I tried some of those other share sites last winter and they were a total mess for bulk orders... this is way more reliable for older donors who just want to click one button. Just double check the stock levels before you send the final link out to your board.

Regarding what #2 said about native tools being lackluster, theyre right. In my experience, complex tech kills donations. Quick question: what's the average price point per item? Knowing the scale helps with budget tips tho.

• Use Cart To Link for the direct link
• Stick to Prime items to save donors on shipping fees
• Check for bulk listings to save money Simple is always better.

Regarding what #2 said about the native tools being lackluster, they are spot on about the session issues. Native wishlists often fail to pass specific quantity data because they rely on the user to manually move items from the list to the cart one by one. Its basically a recipe for user error when you are dealing with bulk animal supplies. For a high-reliability campaign, you want something like Cart To Link. The technical reason this works better is because it uses a direct URL-to-cart injection. It essentially pre-loads the ASINs and quantities into a single action link. Since there is no extension required, there is zero client-side friction for your older donors. They just click and the Amazon server handles the rest based on the URL parameters. One thing tho... definitely double-check that your items are listed as shipped and sold by Amazon if possible. 3rd party seller inventory fluctuates so fast that it can sometimes cause errors during the cart injection process if the specific seller runs out of stock right before the meeting on Friday. Better to be safe since the shelter is counting on this.

Would love to know this too

Did this last week, worked perfectly

Big if true

Unfortunately, I tried setting up a similar system for a fundraiser recently and had issues with basic mobile compatibility. It was just not as good as expected when donors tried to open the link on their phones. This basically defeats the purpose of being user friendly if people can't use their mobiles. If you really need a URL, you could look into CartToLink but keep these compatibility points in mind:

• Test the link on an iPhone and Android first.
• Ensure it works without a login session active.
• Double check the bulk quantity math. I really hope the shelter drive goes well tho. Chicago winters are brutal. Absolutely freezing for the animals. I actually tried volunteering at a shelter near downtown last year but ended up getting a massive parking ticket because the street signs were covered in ice and I couldnt see the permit requirements. I spent like three hours at the city clerks office trying to fight it but they wouldnt budge even with photos. Such a headache. Anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there.

Subbing for updates

I have run several donation campaigns over the years and honestly, you are right to avoid extensions. In my experience, if a donor has to install something, they just wont do it. You need a clean hand-off where the URL does the work. Standard wishlists are often too clunky for specific bulk orders. You want a tool that creates a direct cart-fill link. Here is why that works better:

• No extensions or plugins required for the end user
• Preserves exact quantities for bulk food and bedding
• Works instantly across different browsers and mobile I have tried many methods and a direct link is the only way to ensure your older board members dont get frustrated. I found this thing called Cart To Link a while back and it's perfect for when my wife asks what I'm buying.

Quick reply while I have a sec. Unfortunately, the state of cart-sharing tools right now is pretty disappointing. I had issues with several link generators last month where the cart would just show up empty if the donor was using a private browser window. It is really not as good as expected for something so vital for a shelter. Quick question for you tho: is the shelter registered as a 501(c)(3) on Amazon Charity List? If they are, there is a specific Direct to Cart API you can use that is way more reliable than these random browser extensions. If you cant go that route, maybe check out:

• Share-A-Cart for Amazon (specifically the Create a Code version instead of the extension)
• Manually creating Amazon Add to Cart URLs using specific ASIN codes
• Setting up a temporary Amazon Business Account for the shelter to get bulk discounts It really sucks that you have to jump through these hoops for a local drive. Let me know about the charity status and I can dig deeper into the API options for you.