The 10 Best AmazonBasics Items
This wiki has been updated 34 times since it was first published in August of 2015. Here's a real smorgasbord of affordable items from AmazonBasics that will either pique your own interest or give you a great gift idea for a family member, friend, or colleague. It's an eclectic selection of goods that we've rated by usefulness, durability, and potential savings. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Multi-Level Cat Tree
2. Stainless Steel Flatware Set
3. Cast-Iron Kettlebell
Editor's Notes
February 28, 2019:
With hundreds of items to choose from, it was truly difficult to narrow the list down to just ten. The cat tree earned our #1 ranking in large part due to the savings it offers, as it's equally as good as versions you'd find in fancy pet stores, but at a fraction of the price. The same can be said of the kettlebell. While we still love the executive chair, as more years pass it becomes clearer that it's not a long-term solution. Still, it's incredibly comfortable while it lasts, and replacing it every few years is still likely to be less expensive than buying one of its higher-end counterparts.
4. Mechanics Socket Set
5. Laptop and Tablet Bag
6. Metal Monitor Stand
7. Lightweight 60" Tripod
8. SLR/DSLR Backpack
9. High-Back Executive Chair
10. Reversible Comforter
What Is And Why Is There AmazonBasics?
The top selling AmazonBasic items remain in the electronics category, with their iPhone 5 compatible USB charger boasting over 20,000 reviews and a 4.5 stars rating.
When it comes to basic, everyday and practical items, brand name doesn’t matter as much to consumers as it does with fashion and décor. For that reason, Amazon created its own line of off-brand products called AmazonBasics, giving people a low-cost, high-value alternative to otherwise expensive items. The line makes many home and office products, as well as outdoor gear, electronics, and travel ware. AmazonBasics launched in 2009 and chose which products to create based on the brand name ones selling best on Amazon.
When AmazonBasics makes its own version of a successful product, consumers can often expect discounts of up to fifty percent. When the line first launched, it predominantly offered electronics-type items, like cables and camera cases, but it has since expanded into more niche products like exercise clothing and bedding. One of the first hits from the AmazonBasics line was a laptop stand priced at twenty dollars, which was comparable in quality and appearance to a Rain Design model that sold for $43 at the time. The item had — as many AmazonBasic products do — the iconic Amazon logo of the curved arrow, resembling a half smile.
AmazonBasics was inspired by Amazon’s success with other private label items like the Kindle. The top selling AmazonBasic items remain in the electronics category, with their iPhone 5 compatible USB charger boasting over 20,000 reviews and a 4.5 stars rating. Some of its wireless mice have received between four and six thousand reviews, with very high ratings. AmazonBasics items can be searched by the name on Amazon, just like any other brand.
The History Of Amazon
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has said in interviews that when he launched his company in 1994, he deeply regretted not taking advantage of the e-commerce boom sooner. Fortunately for Bezos, the rapid success of Amazon more than made up for its late arrival to the market. Bezos served as the vice-president at Wallstreet firm D.E. Shaw & Co. before he left the company to start his own.
He was able to purchase books at wholesale cost from Ingram Books.
Amazon went through several titles before earning the name consumers know it by today. Bezos initially named it Cadabra, but reconsidered that decision when someone misheard the title as “Cadaver.” The second name was Relentless, but Bezos received criticism for this choice, with his friends stating it sounded very negative. Bezos finally chose the name Amazon because it represents something that is exciting and varied, just like he hoped his company would be. After reading a study that predicted e-commerce stores would grow by 2,300 percent annually, Bezos made a list of items he believed would sell best online and landed on literature.
Amazon started as an online bookstore. Bezos had determined that there was a large demand for the product and that it was relatively low in cost to produce. Bezos launched the company out of his garage in Bellevue, Washington. He was able to purchase books at wholesale cost from Ingram Books. Within two months of opening to the public in 1995, Amazon saw sales of around $20,000 per week. By 1997, Amazon was on the stock market for $18 per share. Investors were initially wary of putting money into Amazon because it had a slow-growth business plan. Time Magazine named Bezos the Person of the Year in 1999 and by 2001, Amazon had seen $1 billion in revenue.
AmazonBasics That Offer The Best Value
Electronics cables are essential for powering and connecting the various devices around one’s home. But people often misplace their cables, or upgrade their device and require an entirely new kind of cable. AmazonBasics offers many cables at around one-third of the price of brand name ones. An AmazonBasics HDMI cable - an item needed for several devices - is priced at around $6, whereas its brand name competitors price their models between $15 and $20. The brand makes their cables out of the exact same materials as the larger labels, so there is no loss of quality.
AmazonBasics is a smart brand to look at for items that undergo a lot of wear and tear, like athletic gear.
AmazonBasics offers earbuds that cost around one-third of the price of designer names. Many offer the same features like moisture resistance, anti-tangle cords, and comfortable ear inserts. The brand also offers bulk packs of batteries for half the cost of many wholesale of companies. High-quality laptop sleeves featuring protective, suede interiors and strong stitching are sold at a fraction of the cost of competing labels. Anyone who likes to rotate between different cases for professional or casual looks should consider AmazonBasics because they can purchase several models for the cost of one such item from a famous label.
AmazonBasics is a smart brand to look at for items that undergo a lot of wear and tear, like athletic gear. The line has its own yoga mats with anti-slip surfaces, extra plush material, carrying straps and exteriors that are easy to wipe down. These can cost one-tenth the price of designer yoga mats. Balance balls provide several health benefits, but they’re also prone to punctures, and often need to be replaced. Avid exercisers can buy an AmazonBasics balance ball for half of the price, if not one tenth of the price, of the designer versions.
After getting his bachelor’s from the University of Texas, Quincy Miller moved out to Los Angeles, where he soon found work as a copywriter and researcher, specializing in health and wellness topics for a major online media brand. Quincy is also knowledgeable about home improvement, as he’s had extensive experience with everything from insulation to power tools to emergency room trips, sometimes in that order. Sharing a home with three dogs and a couple of cats has forced Quincy to learn as much as he can about pet supplies, animal nutrition and, most importantly, the best ways to tackle the mountains of fur that accumulate in every corner of your home.