Slashdot Mirror
Apple Revolutionizing Retail
conq writes "BusinessWeek has an interesting blog entry on Apple's 'iPod Express table', where they streamline the sale of iPods in their store. From the article: 'But the best part was that the Apple Geniuses behind the table had wireless gizmos for scanning credit cards, and Apple had worked out a totally wireless, paperless checkout process, called EasyPay. Once scanned, they advise you that the receipt will be in your inbox within an hour (since I'm already a registered Apple customer, they didn't even need to take my email or other information).'"
I guess this is not sooo different from how other online fronts of the regular retailers work. You can go to bestbuy.com and not only order something, but see if its in stock at the nearest store, plus have it ready to be picked up in no time. When you arrive at the store, they see the record on their machine, and you walk out with your item. The only difference with apple is that 1)the apple guy does the purchase for you in the store instead of you at home 2)your account info is not previously saved in one all-encompasing account.
Han shot first.
It took 2 days for me to get my receipt by using the express checkout at the Apple store. Not sure what took so long and it wasn't stuck in my spam filter. After buying the iPod from the store, I realized that I can add a personal touch to the iPod with engraving for the same price by buying it online. I didn't want to risk going back to the mall and spend 1 hour looking for a parking space with out a receipt to return the old one. Needless to say I still have the unopened iPod at my desk, because I am too lazy to go to the mall.