Best Buy IdeaX

[#1]

Working at the AP desk, I have tons of people that come to me as they walk in the door, wanting to know how to find out what is on their BB gift card. I have to tell them they can go to any register or customer service and have them check. Sometimes these customers have to wait in line for quite a while to find out their balance. If there was a self serve kiosk where the customer could check their own card, it would allow the customer to quickly find out the balance and begin shopping immediately. This will also cut down on the amount of customers at the front lanes, allowing for quicker checkout times for those making purchases. It would be a win/win situation for everybody. I've talked this over with several associates at my store (359) and we all agree this would be a great asset to the company.

[#2]

This seems like a great idea, there are only two potential issues: 1. Customers can already check their gift card balance online. There is no reason for them to need to come to the store in the first place. 2. The installation of said kiosks in every store could have a monetary cost that Best Buy deems is not enough of a trade-off for whatever minor benefit the customer receives (in my experience with other retailers, customers still prefer to have an employee check their balance, even when presented with an automated alternative).

[#3]

I agree that this would be handy to have, but I do think the kiosks would need to serve at least one other useful function if installing them would be cost effective. Anyone have any additional feedback? Remember to vote for an idea if you like it.

[#4]

the kiosks could serve for a purpose such as in store availability of any items in the newspaper flyer or online.  a few keyworkds or the SKU number of the item could be used for in-store searches.

[#5]

Customers can always come to the service desks and have their gift cards scanned to see what is online. The inconvience is that depending on the time of the year this could not be good for the customer as there could be a wait in line. As Allan said, there needs to be a cost effective approach. I suggest that Best Buy invest in the technology to create a mobile app where people could scan their gift card and get the balance in real time. Or perhaps have a digital mobile app gift card where  people could have their phones scanned instead of wasting money on plastic gift cards

[#6]

You don't have to put up a Kiosk unless the floor space warrants one. In retailing space is of the utmost importance . On the other hand if the Kiosk was capable of showing coming attractions on Games , New Mdse. ,Commercials and had a scanner for the price on some of the products that do not get priced , I can see the advantage.