Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan
Has anyone else found themselves vexed by non-working displays... or no displays or helpful salespeople at all? Do you feel certain stores do these products justice, and are providing good shopping experiences? Do you feel like buying any electronic device is pretty much a crap-shoot?
|
This is true of consumer electronics in general. At least in Canada, it is rare to be able touch and feel and see working devices other than wide-screen TVs and computers. Digital cameras? Nope. E-readers? Nope. Satellite radios? Nope. Accessories? Nope. Cell phones? Nope.
I agree it's stupid but there it is. It's the simple fact of why stores like Apple Stores do so well: customers CAN actually see the devices in action, ask questions, play. Oh, and buy immediately.
This is particularly important in emerging categories where customers are unsure of what the benefit of the device is. I have yet to come across anyone who has had an ereader (and who has any history of reading novels) decide they didn't like the idea of it once they used it. In most cases, it took the ability to try it out (a friend or colleague had one), and / or some sort of assurance they could return it (lowering the risk of buying sight unseen) rather than peering at something in a box behind a glass case.
But, don't get me started on the inanities of retailing ...