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Macy’s Launches Vending Machines for Electronics
Macy’s department stores is announcing that they will be pushing out their electronics vending machines nearly chain-wide. They have been testing the machines in a few stores over the past year and apparently they have done very well. I’ve seen these machines in a variety of airports over the past couple of years as well.
Macy’s says the machines are loaded with, "products including 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." My guess is that pricing is list and isn’t discounted like most online merchants – but for impulse purchases, price is usually not a factor.
Returns appear to be handled by mail – no returns in-store. It also looks like there’s no customer service or ability to play with the device before purchase. Of course with most customer service going down the drain, does it even matter anymore?
These machines are the new gum and candy rack at the checkout. "I wasn’t thinking of buying a new iPod today but it’s right there, why not pick one up?" And since it’s a pain in the arse to return, I’ll just keep it.
I am still waiting for these machines to show up at Starbucks to deliver your beverage – just enter what you want and it sends it right out to you – I get that Starbucks is supposed to be the classy and high-end coffee shop, but we all know that image is gone.
Update: These machines would have even more of a chance of succeeding if they the products came charged – buy an iPod and it’s ready to go immediately. Or a camcorder, etc. – that would be killer.
PLEASE READ MY STORY BEFORE YOU EVER THINK ABOUT USING THESE VENDING MACHINES! I bought $75 headphones from that damn vending machine. When the box popped out, I pulled it out of the machine and noticed that it looked like it was bought and returned. There were all these dents and scratches on the box plus tape had been applied to hold it together. So naturally i found the Macys manager and he told me to call the phone # for returns/exchanges. Whats funny is himself told me this in a “good luck dealing with them” way, as he said other customers have claimed returns/exchanges take a MONTH!! Anyways, I get home, call the #. I wait on hold for 10 minutes before I get to speak to the first idiot. She listens to my story, and then says can I put you on hold for a brief moment, i say ok – she puts me on hold for honestly 15 minutes. Comes back on the phone and tells me that I will have to first fill out a “refund application” then they will contact me and INTERVIEW me about the return. Asking me questions about if i opened it, etc. Then if the person that contacts me is satisified with my response, I will be responsible for paying to ship it back. Once it gets shipped back, they investigate the item over there and once again make a determination of weather or not you opened/used the item. If they feel like you did, then they will send back to you, no refund. I know all of this specifically because I was so amazed at how a huge company such as MACYS would essentially commit fraud against customers who get stuck with faulty equipment. At that point when the rude and incompetent MACYS operator told me that i was basically being interrogated i told her that I wasnt going to waste my time and that my credit card company (AMEX) would be the one dealing with their shady asses. Put it this way, if you want to buy something from those electronic vending machines just know that you will never be able to return/exchange regardless of how broken it is.
The same exact thing happened to me!!! AAAAAHHHHHHH
I thought using a vending machine would be easier than waiting for help at the overcrowded apple store, boy was the a mistake!!
Macys should be ashamed of themselves for such poor customer service!!
[...] quick-service rental and purchase machines the future of retail shopping? Macy’s installed vending machines to sell electronics. Best Buy has vending machines in airports around the U.S. [...]
i can see me using it for small stuff £10 – £20 .
but no way would i buy something costing over £100+
from a vending machine .
digital cameras and Camcorders are not something i tend to
buy on impulse, i like to research and compare to find just
what i am looking for at the best price i can get it.
@antje I doubt anyone will break into these machines. In the Macy’s in San Francisco, the machine has been in place for well over a year and it’s in the highest trafficked portion of the store – the food court in the basement.
I wouldn’t buy anything from these machines (with the apple store right around the corner) but it’s a pretty nifty system.
I would fall for it but that’s only because the customer service of Macy’s was never worth it. I would rather shop somewhere else instead. Vending Machines would be risky and could lead to customer complaints.
Interesting. But not interested.
How often will people try to break into those???
DO NOT EVER use these machines! I was stupied enough to buy a $350 item and it did not work. I called the phone number the package asks you to call for exchanges/ returns and I was told to wait for an email 3-7 DAYS (yes for an email) for return directions. Then I called back to ask why? They said they would have to have me fill out a claim form FIRST! Then mail in the product, wait even longer to get a new one. It also states from their reps and on there site they will return it to you if they do not find a problem. This was a nightmare! You would be better off buying it used on ebay. I have never had a problem like this with ebay.