NEW YORK — On the heels of a successful two-year pilot of personal electronic automated retail shops with ZoomSystems, Macy's announced the rollout of this technology to more than half of its full-line department stores around the country. The new e-Spot automated shops offer the latest consumer electronics at a customer's fingertips with touchscreen technology that processes the transaction and completes the sale in a matter of minutes. The machines will offer widely demanded brands including Apple, Sony, Canon and MyVu.
"Personal electronics are a massive business in today's texting, downloading, photo 'tagging,' YouTubing world," said Chris Mizer, senior vice president of Macy's Customer Operations. "And arguably more so than ever before, people's tech taste is as much an extension of their personal style as their choice of shoe or apparel brands. As we continue to expand the Macy's brand as the premiere shopping and lifestyle destination, it became increasingly obvious that our customer was looking to us for this caliber of electronic product. They wanted one-stop, no-fuss shopping, and we are responding."
The products available from e-Spot include iPods (Touch, Classic, Nano and Shuffle); Canon 7MP and 8MP digital cameras; Samsung 7MP digital camera and 1GB Camcorder; MyVu Personal Media Viewers; Sony, V-MODA, Bang and Olufsen and Harman Kardon headphones; and mobile accessories by Belkin. Products range from $14.99 to $349.99.
Providing instant gratification faster than online purchasing, e-Spot automated shops can complete a transaction in less than two minutes for knowledgeable, decided customers. The machines also have extensive product information and comparisons that allow customers with less-certain needs to be as thorough as necessary to feel comfortable.
"Customers tell us they love the no-pressure environment e-Spot provides," said Mizer. "Getting product information easily without pressure, and not waiting for someone with a key to unlock a cabinet or get the product from a back room — this is the type of comfortable shopping environment that today's technology buyer appreciates."
