iPods Now Sold in Vending Machines

[Kommander_KornFlakes]

Here in North America, we should have 42 of them in the Toronto area next year. So that means there's no tax? You just need $150 twoonies to drop down?


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbisson/12619319/in/photostream/

[Kasakato]

Does it take credit cards :lol:

[synaptech]

nothing like shortening its life with a 6 foot drop upon delivery :) oh and you don't need $150 in twoonies, just a decent pump trolley :lol:


edit - nevemind, I see it's only selling flash based models "minis and shuffles"

[jb22]

These have been out in Japan for a long time, not just with iPods but gadgets in general. I think they already have these at Pearson, although I'm not sure if it was Terminal 3 or the new Terminal 1 that I saw one.

One thing that I find odd about selling mp3 players at airports is lets say you give in and ecide to buy one before you're flight, where do you get the music for your new mp3 player from? So basically they're selling you a product that you can't really make use of until you get back home. I think they should have iTunes Music Store kiosks or some other mp3 pay service at airports so that you can buy new songs before your flight.

[kilarney]

Why don't they sell Nanos and the ipod Photos and regualrs?

Does it take credit cards

Of course, there is a screen beside it with a swipe :lol:

[CH40Z_008]

do you think it will issue a receipt just in case what ever happens on the ipod in the future for warranty purposes/date of proof of purchase? ;) and even though you buy the ipod and want to use it theres no songs inside and its not fully charged.... :cheesygri

[P__S__2]

hmmm .....the theifs have awoken..... i wonder if its easy to steal them :confused: ........

[Oni-kun]

What prevents someone from using a stolen credit card? Perfect getaway if you ask me if you fly to another country right after... I mean assuming that I had a stolen credit card and I used it in an airport to buy an ipod say in japan then i flew back here to canada. I doub't they'd pursue you that far for 200bucks.

[jb22]

I believe I've seen these with regualr iPods, also with PSPs and digital camera.

[jb22]

What prevents someone from using a stolen credit card? Perfect getaway if you ask me if you fly to another country right after... I mean assuming that I had a stolen credit card and I used it in an airport to buy an ipod say in japan then i flew back here to canada. I doub't they'd pursue you that far for 200bucks.

Well these machines have to dial in to verify the credit card so if it's reported stolen it won't go through and will probably old on to the card.

[Anessa]

What prevents someone from using a stolen credit card? Perfect getaway if you ask me if you fly to another country right after... I mean assuming that I had a stolen credit card and I used it in an airport to buy an ipod say in japan then i flew back here to canada. I doub't they'd pursue you that far for 200bucks.

you'd be surprised what the authorities will go after and how stingey they can be. I know Revenue Canada cares about everything to the cent.

[hagbard]

Wonder how heavy that machine is and how well anchored? ;)

[emz]

this is a pretty neat idea - kudos to Apple for creative marketing

my only concern is: how much protection will these ipods get from thieves and "juvenile delinquents"? >:(

[jb22]

Wonder how heavy that machine is and how well anchored? ;)

Well it seems that in North Ameriaca atleast all these units are in airports, so I think it be pretty hard to try and break into one of these with all the cameras and security that can be found in airprots. I also wouldn't be surprised if these had some sort of alarm that went off it they were shaken or moved too much.

Also, I don't think Apple has anything to do with these machines. I think it's a third part that's decided to set this up.

[Kommander_KornFlakes]

Wonder how heavy that machine is and how well anchored? ;)

They should install some outdoors at Jane & Finch and Parkdale.

[The_Duke_Of_Eli]

They should install some outdoors at Jane & Finch and Parkdale.

No, they should just leave them on an open table un-manned with a glass jar for the money. It'd run off an honor system. :lol:

[PSiBeR]

what a great idea... easy access :lol:

[blizzah]

Wonder how heavy that machine is and how well anchored? ;)

We should try the thing in barbershop with the truck lol.

[P__S__2]

They should install some outdoors at Jane & Finch and Parkdale.


bad idea hahaha >:(

[Justin]

what happens if you put your money in and nothing comes out? Happens to me all the time with pop machines.

[midg8]

what happens if you put your money in and nothing comes out? Happens to me all the time with pop machines.
The next person gets two :lol:

[hyperion]

What a bad idea. The vendor is saving money by not hiring any employees or renting a real storefront, at the expense of the buyer. I doubt it will catch on in North America.

[Gordon]

i would rob that soo badd lmao spraypaint the camera lens then smash the glass or cut it lmaoooo

[v_tofu]

ahhhh!! my ipod got stuck!!!

[baller]

whats next

[baller]

i would rob that soo badd lmao spraypaint the camera lens then smash the glass or cut it lmaoooo

ur quite the badass lmao

[nfnx]

hmmm .....the theifs have awoken..... i wonder if its easy to steal them :confused: ........


easy to steal

[corrupt123]

what a joke

they're going to fill them one day

than the next one or two punks are going to be the new owners of 1-200 ipods.

[Kommander_KornFlakes]

What a bad idea. The vendor is saving money by not hiring any employees or renting a real storefront, at the expense of the buyer. I doubt it will catch on in North America.

Why at the expense of the buyer? Are they more expensive in the vending machine?



what happens if you put your money in and nothing comes out? Happens to me all the time with pop machines.

Then you'll have to stick your arm all the way to the gut of the machine and rip off the iPod from the mechanism, that's what I do with Coke machines that steal my money, I even rip-off an extra pop as penalty.

[hyperion]

Why at the expense of the buyer? Are they more expensive in the vending machine?


Ok let me explain. The company cheaps out by setting up a much simpler and cheaper "store", probably sells them at regular prices and makes more profit than regular stores which have operating costs such as employees, retail space, customer service, etc. The buyer gets nothing better out of this deal..the company profits off stupid kids who fall for the novelty of it.

If I were to buy an ipod(unlikely), I'd buy it from Future Shop since I can call their customer service reps whenever I want. If there is a problem I can bring it in and they can either fix it or give me a new one right there, and lets not forget about the 30day bring it back guarantee. Also, if I had any questions to ask when I was buying the product, I could talk to a sales rep.

It's at the expense of the buyer because buying it from one of those machines robs theb buyer out of countless services he would normally get at a real store.

[jb22]

Ok let me explain. The company cheaps out by setting up a much simpler and cheaper "store", probably sells them at regular prices and makes more profit than regular stores which have operating costs such as employees, retail space, customer service, etc. The buyer gets nothing better out of this deal..the company profits off stupid kids who fall for the novelty of it.

If I were to buy an ipod(unlikely), I'd buy it from Future Shop since I can call their customer service reps whenever I want. If there is a problem I can bring it in and they can either fix it or give me a new one right there, and lets not forget about the 30day bring it back guarantee. Also, if I had any questions to ask when I was buying the product, I could talk to a sales rep.

It's at the expense of the buyer because buying it from one of those machines robs theb buyer out of countless services he would normally get at a real store.


I think you're missing the point of this entire concept, in that you're taking a logical approach to this. I believe that since at least in North America these seem to only be showing up in airports these are inteded to be impulse buys, or they could even be ment to appeal to someone who needs a last minute gift and is looking for something better then what you uaually find at airport gift shops. Also, I feel that the type of person who'd buy an iPod (or PSP, or digital camera) out of a vending machine might not consider spending $300 to $500 that big of a deal, thusm not really needing to return it 'cause they changed their minds. So I don't think these are ment to appeal to kids that much.

Warranty wise, you're dealing with the manufacturer or who knows, maybe you can contact the vendor for support as they seem to be setting up shop all over North America.

Also, to say that the vendor is saving cash from not having employees may not be that true. yes, there isn't a sales rep they have to pay but they to have to pay the airport a fee or rent to setup shop. I'm sure they're are additional cost for security features/monitoring.

In the end, this is no differnt then buying a designer watch or sunglasses at an airport duty free shot, it's an impluse buy. Heck, when I was leaving the DaVinci airprot from Rome they had a bunch of high end designer shops like Gucci, LV, Prada and so on to appeal to travellers as a last minute impusle buy, although not of these product came out of a vending machine!

[Agent_J]

I think they should have iTunes Music Store kiosks or some other mp3 pay service at airports so that you can buy new songs before your flight.
they have that at the Hong Kong International Airport

[RSD]

so this is in an airport im assuming most people dont have laptops loaded with all their mp3s....

[akito925]

what a joke

they're going to fill them one day

than the next one or two punks are going to be the new owners of 1-200 ipods.

hey then I don't have to goto the vending machine.. just go upto the punks on the street corner selling them at half the price..

[akito925]

they have that at the Hong Kong International Airport

yeah it was awsome! buying music off of the vending machine! usa and canada should have it!!

[danfromwaterloo]

Can you see where this is going to go?

Punk gets into the concourse level. Swipes someone's wallet, then swipes the card in and orders 5 of those. Drops down the pipe, he trashes the wallet, then walks off with 5 new iPods.

Sounds more like a benefit for airport theives than real customers.

BTW, Apple should totally have automated kiosks for iTunes. Plug in your iPod, get it charged and loaded with new music, and print out a copy of a CD so you've got the CD (presumably to put on your iTunes at home)...

They're missing a huge segment of the market there.