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Tuesday, December 06, 2011, 02:49 pm
Launch of Apple's EasyPay retail self-checkout deemed a success
Apple's newly launched retail self-checkout program, which allows customers to pay for an in-store transaction on their phone without speaking to a store employee, has reportedly gotten off to a successful start.Though the self-checkout option has "seemed a bit crazy" to some, the system is "working out," a person familiar with Apple's retail operations reportedly told John Fortt of CNBC. The person said that the benefits of the new system have, so far, outweighted the negatives.
"This new setup could be particularly useful in a store like the one Apple's opening in Grand Central station on Friday," he said. "(I hear self checkout will be prominently touted there, which is no big surprise.) And the early success of this self checkout initiative bodes well for Apple's holiday sales.
The apparent comments from someone involved in Apple's retail operations are an indication that the self-checkout option has not created confusion or encouraged theft in the company's stores, as some had initially feared when the program was launched. Those concerns led some to jokingly refer to the program, officially known as EasyPay, as "EasyTheft."
The EasyPay launched in November with the release of version 2.0 of the Apple Store application for iOS devices. With EasyPay, an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S user can scan the barcode of an accessory while in store, and complete the transaction using the same credit card information tied to their Apple ID.
The option applies only to accessories and items found on the shelf, which are some of the less expensive products offered at Apple's stores. Higher value items like iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macs are kept in Apple's retail stockrooms, and users cannot complete a self-checkout to purchase those items.
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Previous Comments View All
Quote:
Originally Posted by techguy911 
Has anyone used self-checkout, how does it work? I read some of the descriptions but it's not fully clear.
Can I walk into a store, scan the product, buy it with my phone, then leave the store with the item, all on my own? It says you can purchase a product without speaking to an employee, but it also says it sends you an e-mail receipt so you can show an employee that you paid for the item, so which is it?
Has anyone used self-checkout, how does it work? I read some of the descriptions but it's not fully clear.
Can I walk into a store, scan the product, buy it with my phone, then leave the store with the item, all on my own? It says you can purchase a product without speaking to an employee, but it also says it sends you an e-mail receipt so you can show an employee that you paid for the item, so which is it?
I haven't used it yet myself, but I believe its exactly as you state. You will be able to show the emailed receipt to a store employee if you happen to be stopped and questioned by one on the way out of the store...
Used it a few days back when buying a new apple remote (kids trashed the last one, don't ask). Worked like a charm and I walked right out without being harassed. Felt a little weird, but it was really nice seeing as how the store was very crowded that day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SwingerJ
Felt a little weird...
Felt a little weird...
Okay. That's eight.
Take a good look, everyone. This is number eight. The eighth way that Apple has changed the world.
Computers, Music, Phones, Laptops, Tablets ... the other two... and this:
PAYING. FOR. STUFF.
Apple has created a successful implementation of a technology that destroys to its foundation civilization's belief of how retail is done.
I see great potential for success, so long as the majority of the world's population remains honest. I guess the question becomes, where is the tipping point?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mytdave
I see great potential for success, so long as the majority of the world's population remains honest. I guess the question becomes, where is the tipping point?
I see great potential for success, so long as the majority of the world's population remains honest. I guess the question becomes, where is the tipping point?
The tipping point will be linked to RFID. If you had an RFID scanner in your phone and a tag on each item in the store, you could link your purchase to the RFID tag, which could be read by scanners around the door at the exit to the store, and if someone was taking something they had not paid for an alarm would sound, and if they had, it would leave them alone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by techguy911
Has anyone used self-checkout, how does it work? I read some of the descriptions but it's not fully clear.
Can I walk into a store, scan the product, buy it with my phone, then leave the store with the item, all on my own? It says you can purchase a product without speaking to an employee, but it also says it sends you an e-mail receipt so you can show an employee that you paid for the item, so which is it?
Has anyone used self-checkout, how does it work? I read some of the descriptions but it's not fully clear.
Can I walk into a store, scan the product, buy it with my phone, then leave the store with the item, all on my own? It says you can purchase a product without speaking to an employee, but it also says it sends you an e-mail receipt so you can show an employee that you paid for the item, so which is it?
Yes, that's exactly how it works. Did it myself.
But I wonder how they prevent theft.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
Okay. That's eight.
Take a good look, everyone. This is number eight. The eighth way that Apple has changed the world.
Computers, Music, Phones, Laptops, Tablets the other two and this:
PAYING. FOR. STUFF.
Apple has created a successful implementation of a technology that destroys to its foundation civilization's belief of how retail is done.
Okay. That's eight.
Take a good look, everyone. This is number eight. The eighth way that Apple has changed the world.
Computers, Music, Phones, Laptops, Tablets the other two and this:
PAYING. FOR. STUFF.
Apple has created a successful implementation of a technology that destroys to its foundation civilization's belief of how retail is done.
Something almost identical to this was done by the supermarket chain Safeway in the UK 15 years ago. Basically you got a handheld barcode scanner when you went into the store, scanned items as you put them in the cart (you could actually buy some plastic boxes that went into the cart, so you put your goods straight into boxes that you could then put in your car), then when you were done shopping, you put the barcode scanner back into its receptacle and it charged you, then off you went.
Periodically it would tell you that you had to go and have your cart manually scanned in the normal way, and they would look at the delta between what you scanned yourself and what the manual scanning showed. If there was no (or little) difference, you would be sent for manual scanning less frequently, and if there was always a huge discrepancy, eventually you would be barred from using the system.
It worked pretty well, though never caught on.
What Apple are implementing is basically the same thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elian Gonzalez
Yes, that's exactly how it works. Did it myself.
But I wonder how they prevent theft.
Yes, that's exactly how it works. Did it myself.
But I wonder how they prevent theft.
Yes, but do you have to show an employee at the door an e-mail receipt or not?
I do self checkout at Home Depot, but you have to show them the receipt, and they do a cursory check before you walk out.
I picked up a mouse yesterday while my friend was waiting at the genius bar. I scanned the mouse with the phone, entered the CV2 code from the back of my credit card, and put the mouse in my pocket. I got the receipt via email. No one bothered me, or asked for a receipt, when I walked out the door 20 minutes later.
I am curious as to what methods they have in place to prevent widespread theft? Obviously once this becomes better known, some people will walk in, and walk out with a product. it's trivial to set up a web site that displays a real looking invoice, so the store can't solely be relying on you showing the receipt on your phone as you leave.
I assumed that the front door security has a list of each purchase on their iPad, and knows what should or should not be going through the door.
Anybody know for sure?
Does anyone know if you have to use the store's Wi-Fi in order for this to work? Will the App realize you're in the Apple store, even if you are using cellular data?
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Has anyone used self-checkout, how does it work? I read some of the descriptions but it's not fully clear.
Can I walk into a store, scan the product, buy it with my phone, then leave the store with the item, all on my own? It says you can purchase a product without speaking to an employee, but it also says it sends you an e-mail receipt so you can show an employee that you paid for the item, so which is it?