Comments on: Yes, Virginia, There Really Can Be A Strategic Kiosk Strategy http://storefrontbacktalk.com/securityfraud/yes-virginia-there-really-can-a-strategic-kiosk-strategy/ Techniques, Tools and Tirades about Retail Technology and E-Commerce Thu, 24 May 2012 13:07:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rob Martell http://storefrontbacktalk.com/securityfraud/yes-virginia-there-really-can-a-strategic-kiosk-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-46967 Rob Martell Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:34:33 +0000 http://www.storefrontbacktalk.com/securityfraud/yes-virginia-there-really-can-a-strategic-kiosk-strategy/#comment-46967 Personally, I avoid kiosks. I don't want to spend the time learning some software and hardware that I rarely use (different ones at every store) when a low wage human who uses the scanners and registers every day can quickly whisk me through. And it keeps them employed. Win-Win. I've been through the local Ikea, as well as HomeDepot and other places with these things, and the lines are usually just as long, as everyone stares at the contraption trying to figure it out. Really, until designers and engineers use real people (no repeat users) to design these things, it will not be a huge hit. Certainly a few check-out clerks would be cheaper than all that equipment, and having to have people there to assist anyway? Of course they can't amortize the employees, and the customers will get used to being annoyed. FWIW, Rob Personally, I avoid kiosks.
I don’t want to spend the time learning some software and hardware that I rarely use (different ones at every store) when a low wage human who uses the scanners and registers every day can quickly whisk me through. And it keeps them employed. Win-Win.

I’ve been through the local Ikea, as well as HomeDepot and other places with these things, and the lines are usually just as long, as everyone stares at the contraption trying to figure it out. Really, until designers and engineers use real people (no repeat users) to design these things, it will not be a huge hit. Certainly a few check-out clerks would be cheaper than all that equipment, and having to have people there to assist anyway? Of course they can’t amortize the employees, and the customers will get used to being annoyed.

FWIW,

Rob

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