IT’S NOT ROBOT CASHIERS, but it’s a start: In April, Nordstrom equipped employees at its Seattle and Bellevue locations with iPod Touches that can scan merchandise and complete sales anywhere in the store. By July, the store will have booted up at least 5,000 “mobile checkout” devices across the country, all in the name of serving customers—like the frantic shopper who was late for an interview this spring and paid for a suit in front of the mirror at the downtown Seattle store while a tailor made alterations.
Neat, but isn’t handing an iPod to a wage slave an invitation to slack off? A Nordstrom spokesperson practically choked before regaining his composure long enough to offer this succinct reply: “Uh, no.”
Published: July 2011
I have experienced the pay by iPod at the Bellevue Nordstrom and it was AH-mazing! We were there during the men’s sale and it was a zoo in the shoe department, but as soon as we had our guy and made a decision, it was “bing, bang, boom… DONE!” Loved it for sure and so did my husband, who loathes long shopping lines.
And one might think that it’s an open invitation for employees to slack off, but with Nordstrom being commission based, I don’t see that happening.
Super efficient, and rather than having the employee waiting to close the sale – it speeds them up and allows them to also spend a little more time during the transaction with you – more personal than standing in line @ the wrap counter. I love it. Hope more venues embrace this technology.