Apple's Retail Self-Checkout Doing Well, Strong Promotion Coming at Grand Central

CNBC reports on word from a source who claims that Apple has been very pleased with customer usage of the EasyPay self-checkout system for its retail stores. Under the system, customers can use the Apple Store app on their iPhones to scan shelf-stocked items in an Apple retail store and pay for them using their iTunes Store accounts. Customers can simply walk out of the store after the transaction is completed without needing to speak with any store employees.

easypay self checkout screenshots
The report does not offer any specifics on the program's performance, but vaguely suggests that it is at least meeting expectations.

Apple's self checkout revolution may have seemed a bit crazy, but it's apparently working out.

That's what I hear from a source familiar with Apple's retail operation.

...

The intelligence I'm getting is that the benefits of the new system are outweighing any negatives.

The report notes that Apple is also expected to heavily promote the self-checkout feature at its new Grand Central Terminal store set to open on Friday. With the open floor plan and throngs of commuters quickly passing through the store, the feature will likely be a popular one for store visitors.

While some have been skeptical of the usefulness of the self-checkout feature, many customers had expressed frustration at difficulties with getting the attention of store employees to complete simple transactions, and the new self-checkout avoids that situation entirely while freeing those staff members for more specialized consultation and training with other customers. Apple has reportedly noted that it envisions self-checkout and another system in which customers can pickup online orders in-store eventually being the primary ways in which customers make purchases from Apple retail stores.

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Top Rated Comments

ERIC273 Avatar
177 months ago
Used it for my Power Support For my iPhone 4s, I almost got tackled by security!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nightcap965 Avatar
177 months ago
Apple Customers Are Honest, I Guess

I bought a replacement set of headphones with Self-Checkout, and waltzed out the door feeling vaguely guilty.

I asked an Apple employee how they could tell I'd paid for it, and he said they couldn't.

They're not stupid, so I'm sure they've calculated the risk to several decimal points. I'm not sure I like it, though.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HarryKeogh Avatar
177 months ago
Seriously, how do they prevent theft?

I'd like to know too. I spent a lot of time in retail in NYC and one thing I learned...there's a small but significant number of people who love to steal anything that isn't nailed down.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Freak Avatar
177 months ago
Theft

Seriously, how do they prevent theft?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nick219 Avatar
177 months ago
I bought a replacement set of headphones with Self-Checkout, and waltzed out the door feeling vaguely guilty.

I asked an Apple employee how they could tell I'd paid for it, and he said they couldn't.

They're not stupid, so I'm sure they've calculated the risk to several decimal points. I'm not sure I like it, though.

very interesting that they admitted that they cannot tell if you paid for it.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Crunch Avatar
177 months ago
Used it for my Power Support For my iPhone 4s, I almost got tackled by security!

Seriously? What happened exactly?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)