Like someone mentioned, the code-based systems are definitely the way to go for groups. In my experience testing different cart tools over the years, the main issue usually isnt the software itself, but how it handles sessions on mobile browsers. If your older sister isnt tech savvy, you need something that doesnt force her to create a new account or install some bloated app that asks for permissions. Ive tried many variations of this for work events, and honestly, Cart To Link has been the most reliable for me lately. It basically takes your current cart state and turns it into a simple link that anyone can open. I usually just use Cart To Link to send my whole list to my roommate, saves so much time compared to some of the more complex extensions that require everyone to be on a desktop. Since youre dealing with a $400 budget, you really gotta watch out for duplicate items adding up fast. Most of these tools are free which is great for your budget. Just make sure whoever is the lead shopper clicks the link last to verify the final list. One pro tip from my time doing this: have everyone send their cart to you, then you consolidate. It sounds kinda tedious but it prevents that three packs of paper plates nightmare you mentioned. It keeps the coordination clean without ever risking your login security.

> I've been looking at a couple of options like the Share-A-Cart extension and another one called Add-to-Cart but I'm not sure which one is actually easier Honestly, looking at the technical side of how these tools work, its kind of a mixed bag for reliability. Most of them use a temporary snapshot of your session cookies or a JSON payload to mirror the items. I think Amazon cart sharer is basically the standard for this kind of thing, though I havent checked their latest update notes in a while. Not sure but IIRC, the mobile side of things is always where it gets buggy because the Amazon app tries to hijack the link from the browser. If your sisters are using mobile browsers like Safari or Chrome, it should be fine, but the native app sometimes clears the cart if the session handshake fails. Someone told me the code-based ones are more stable because they dont rely on active browser cookies as much. Just make sure everyone is on the same regional domain or the whole thing usually breaks.

Saw this thread today and figured I'd add my two cents since saving every dollar matters with a big group trip. I'm not totally sure if the code-based ones are the best way to go, though. I think I heard they can be a bit clunky for people who just want to click and see. My sister is the same way with tech and she'd probably lose the code immediately lol. If you want to keep it simple and free:

• try something that works with a direct link
• avoid stuff that forces a login
• make sure it works in the mobile browser Personally, I'd suggest Cart To Link for this. It takes your Amazon cart and makes a single link you can just text to your sisters. IIRC it doesn't cost anything and it's super straightforward for people who aren't great with apps. It might save you guys from buying those extra paper plates...

tbh minelabmfk is totally right about the technical side being a bit messy sometimes but honestly i found a couple things that really stand out! for your situation where people are on their phones i absolutely love Share-A-Cart for Amazon compared to something like Shopping Cart Share extension. its basically the smoothest one out there because it generates a tiny id code that anyone can just plug in. its way more reliable than the standard browser extensions because it handles the mobile handoff so much better. i used it for a big group camping trip last year and it was a total lifesaver! the cool thing about the share-a-cart tool is that it works across different browsers so your older sister wont have to worry about settings or anything fancy. she just opens the link or enters the code and boom the snacks are all there. its fantastic because it doesnt require anyone to log into your account which is obviously the biggest concern. honestly the way it takes a snapshot of the cart is way more stable than the tools that try to sync live... those always break when someone refreshes their page. you guys are gonna have a blast in michigan!! if you need more help setting it up just let me know because ive spent way too much time testing these things haha.

Just saw this while scrolling and wanted to jump in real quick. Most of those extensions work by generating a unique code you just text to everyone else, which is usually fine for people who arent super techy. But before I say definitely go for it, are most of your sisters on iPhones or Androids? The mobile side of things can get a bit glitchy depending on if they use the Amazon app or just a mobile browser like Safari or Chrome. If you want the most reliable path for 5 people, usually share Amazon Cart Extension is the easiest because it doesnt require everyone to have the same login.

• Tip 1: Have one person be the lead who handles the actual checkout so you dont get double orders.
• Tip 2: If the extensions feel like too much, honestly a shared Invite to Collaborate Wish List is the built-in way to do this even if its a bit slower. Let me know about their phones tho, might change which one stays synced best.