EasyPay a "Big Success" at Apple Retail Stores

[Jeremy Charette]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1433' target='_blank'>http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1433</a><br /><br /></div><i>"After running a pilot program at its retail stores this past holiday shopping season, Apple Computer has deemed its EasyPay checkout systems a "big success" and plans to further integrate the devices into its retail experience, according to an online report. The iPod maker began deploying the wireless, paperless credit card scanners at its retail stores earlier this year as part of its iPod Express checkout experience. Apple Geniuses equipped with an EasyPay system can process purchases from customers anywhere on the showroom floor -- effectively bringing the checkout counter to the customer rather than the other way around. EasyPay is a paperless process, where customers provide a credit card and an email address to an Apple store Genius or employee when checking out. The customer's card is swiped through a scanner -- attached to a Symbol Technologies PPT8800 wireless handheld device (photo) -- and an email receipt is dispatched and delivered "within an hour.""</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/604.jpeg" /> <br /><br />I was shopping at the Apple store in SoHo the Sunday before Christmas, and was saved by this brilliant idea. The lines were unbelievable, 50-100 people deep at each register. The store was so packed it was hard to move. As visions of the hour hand on the clock spinning past darted across my brain, a Genius in a red shirt taps me on the shoulder. "What are you buying?" Next he pulls me out of line and off to the corner, scans all my items, zips my credit card, asks for my email address, and tells me the receipt should be in my inbox. Like Santa Claus, he disappeared back to the checkout line faster than I could say "Thank you!", laughing "ho ho ho, a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!". (Okay, so I made that last part up.)

[Jason Dunn]

Wow, that's seriously cool, and a GREAT idea - I wonder why things like this aren't more common? I *hate* long lines, and would greatly prefer a store that did this to assist me in getting out of their store sooner.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

This is a great idea. I hate long lines too, and I'd like to see something like this in more stores!

[Neil Enns]

Costco kinda does this too. They have symbol guns and when lines are long they'll find you in line, scan your membership card and scan all your cart items. When you get to the front of the line the checker scans your card and like magic all your cart items show up in the till. You just pay and go!

Neil

[Jason Dunn]

Costco kinda does this too.

Damn, not in Canada they don't. And in fact, I avoid Costco at all costs because of the long lines. I really like shopping there, but the lines are hell. :roll:

[gdoerr56]

Wow, it must be a slow day. No else posted anything about the Symbol devices which run Windows Mobile (see the Pocket PC logo?) in an Apple store?

Happy New Year to all....

[Jeremy Charette]

Chances are that most of the back end POS hardware and software that Apple's retail stores use is WinTel based too. No surprise then that they'd adopt a Pocket PC based mobile POS scanner.

I've always thought that Apple doesn't necessarily go for the same market that Microsoft does. They're going for a different demographic, not necessarily trying to steal market share from MS.

[Neil Enns]

Damn, not in Canada they don't. And in fact, I avoid Costco at all costs because of the long lines. I really like shopping there, but the lines are hell. :roll:

Dude, you're going at the wrong time. Show up 1/2 hour before close (about 8pm) and you'll be styling. Oh, and did I mention the new Costco near us has self-checkout lines? Boo-yeah!!!

Neil