O.C. Macy’s get more vending machines selling $350 gadgets

May 22nd, 2008, 2:32 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Hang Nguyen, retail reporter

Eight O.C. Macy’s recently got vending machines that sell iPods, digital cameras, camcorders and other gizmos, the department store said today.

Among the 400 additional Macy’s stores that got these e-Spot machines are Brea Mall, Laguna Hills Mall, The Shops at Mission Viejo, Fashion Island in Newport Beach, Westfield MainPlace in Santa Ana and Westminster Mall. Also, they were installed in the Macy’s home store and a Macy’s clothing store at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

These machines were first tested at The Shops and Westminster Mall in late 2006.

“Customers tell us they love the no-pressure environment e-Spot provides,” Chris Mizer, senior vice president of Macy’s customer operations, said in a statement. ”Getting product information easily without pressure, and not waiting for someone with a key to unlock a cabinet or get the product from a back room - this is the type of comfortable shopping environment that today’s technology buyer appreciates.”

The products available from e-Spot include 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.

Vending-industry expert John Barsanti told me for a previous story that unusual vending machines offered by several companies are the future of retail in the U.S. – a trend that’s already extremely popular in Japan.

When people walk down the street in Japan, they’re bombarded by vending machines selling everything from car tires to cell phones to watches, said Barsanti, director of private equity firm Torridon Cos. and a consultant to brands evaluating whether to sell high-end merchandise through vending machines.

Barsanti said the growth of Internet shopping shows many consumers have overcome the need to touch and play with products before buying them.

Redbox, a movie-rental kiosk, plans to put its machines in Walgreens and Wal-Mart stores in Orange County later this year or next year.

Currently, Redbox kiosks are in a total of 27 O.C. grocery stores. They’re mostly in Albertsons supermarkets, but there’s also one in Stater Bros. in Laguna Hills and Jon’s Marketplace in Westminster.

(Register photo by Matt Eich.)

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