Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Retail, Odds and ends, Apple, iPod touch, iPod classic
Best Buy selling iPods in a vending machine
It was a little strange, though -- at first, I thought there was an iPhone in there, which just would have made the whole activation process even more confusing. But no, it's an iPod touch, in both memory sizes. I also wondered just what you'd do with an empty iPod on a trip, business or otherwise, but I guess people who would really buy their iPods from airports probably don't worry too much about when they'll find the time to get music on there. Not that it mattered much yesterday -- as you can see in one of the pictures, the console's IE version was bugging out, so no one was buying anything anyway (and I couldn't check prices). Still, very strange.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Simon Arch said 7:12PM on 10-13-2008
These vending machines are nothing new. When I went to visit my folks for Thanksgiving a few years ago there was one in the Indianapolis airport. The Best Buy branding is new though.
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Dean said 7:12PM on 10-13-2008
There have been Apple vending machines in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport for years. They aren't Best Buy Expresses though, just Apple-labeled vending machines designed for the sole purpose of selling iPods, headphones, cases, and Apple earbuds.
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David said 7:20PM on 10-13-2008
I've seen similar iPod vending machines inside a department store (Macy's I think). Seemed a bit odd because, in my opinion, iPods aren't exactly impulse purchases. It seems to me like you'd be planning to buy one and have a place in mind to go and buy it, not just decide to grab one on a whim...
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Grant said 7:25PM on 10-13-2008
I remember reading about these exact things by the same company in the December 2006 or the January 2007 Issue of Mac|Life/MacAddict. It said the glass was shockproof, and there was a mechanical crane to retrieve each item. But the idea is very cool, considering the iPod packaging are sized similarly to some snack packaging.
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CUBSWILLWIN said 7:26PM on 10-13-2008
The Macy's in my mall has the exact same thing. If you want pictures, I'll get 'em.
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yipster said 7:27PM on 10-13-2008
" ... I also wondered just what you'd do with an empty iPod on a trip, business or otherwise ... "
Ever hear of the App Store? How 'bout the iTunes Store? It's that little purple icon.
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tom.b said 7:58PM on 10-13-2008
That's a nice idea, but unfortunately you cannot use an iPod touch without first connecting it to iTunes on your computer. And if you are going to connect it to your computer, you are most likely going to sync your content onto it anyway.
Ashwin said 8:12PM on 10-13-2008
@tom.b
Many people carry their laptops on the plane. An iPod is especially useful for longer trips. Most laptops will not last during a cross-country flight, but the battery life of the laptop is long enough to sync and charge the iPod.
PSM said 9:56PM on 10-13-2008
I'm going with "people who are traveling already have their laptop with them." I guess Apple is hoping to catch those people who get to the airport and realize they've forgotten their camera, deodorant, toothbrush, etc. and add iPod to the list of last-minute purchases people might need to make. I suppose depending on how long I was going to be gone for, and how soon I was thinking of upgrading... I might buy an iPod from a vending machine if I forgot mine.
Simon Arch said 11:12PM on 10-13-2008
@tom - wouldn't you need to connect any iPod to a computer to use it? They don't come pre-loaded with content, after all... :)
quandmeme said 11:40PM on 10-13-2008
In airports its easy, they're for gifts for the person you bought to buy something with character for. I've seen 'em in Macy's too, and that puzzles me more, too.
Jason von Nieda said 7:28PM on 10-13-2008
I'll tell you what to do with an empty iPod in an airport! Go to the InMotion store in terminal 8, visit one of the Playpoint kiosks, plug that brand new iPod in and buy some music for it. Playpoint is a digital download station where you can purchase music and download it directly to iPods and Windows Media devices. Generic USB Flash device support coming soon!
* Disclaimer - I work for the company that makes these kiosks.
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mark said 7:30PM on 10-13-2008
I've got pictures, taken this past June, of an iPod vending machine inside Macy's in Nashville's Mall at Green Hills.
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Jon said 7:31PM on 10-13-2008
I hope there's a cushion at the bottom of the drop... don't want to buy an-about-to-be-cracked iPod...
and yeah, you gotta have your laptop around to be able to use it immediately...
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Andrew said 7:35PM on 10-13-2008
Saw one of these a few months back in the Atlanta airport when Delta delayed my flight from 8:00PM to like 2:30/3:00AM the next morning!! Not sure if that one was Best Buy branded though.
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bill said 7:39PM on 10-13-2008
If you shake it, do you get 2 iPods?
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john paul said 7:43PM on 10-13-2008
They have them in Macys
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Josh said 7:44PM on 10-13-2008
Yep, our Macy's here in Bakersfield, CA has one, it's filled with iPods, headphones, GPS units, etc...Kinda cool I guess. I was tempted to buy a PSP from it just because.
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bluhnu said 8:02PM on 10-13-2008
" I also wondered just what you'd do with an empty iPod on a trip, business or otherwise, but I guess people who would really buy their iPods from airports probably don't worry too much about when they'll find the time to get music on there. "
OMG no, an empty wifi enable iPod touch... what will I do with it? The shiny exterior could be used as a mirror... Somebody help?
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Brian said 8:05PM on 10-13-2008
I never fly and even I've seen these before.
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