Cross-Channel Bargain Hunting: See-It-In Retail, Buy-It-Online
I love Amazon, not always for the user experience but for the idea machine that never gives up. Amazon has unveiled several new ways to shop, all powered by high-tech design.
Similar in context to Shazam for the iPhone, Amazon’s new iPhone app works like this… You’re shopping in a retail store, you obviously want the best price but don’t want to write down the product name or SKU. Now, all you need to do is snap a picture of the item with your mobile phone. Then upload your pic to Amazon, add it to your e-Commerce shopping cart and the system returns a bargain hunting price. Then you can 1-click buy online as usual. Mobile shopping is also 1-click away…
“The ability to be able to take a snapshot of a product with a phone and see a full database of prices completely changes the game — particularly when a consumer is in a brick-and-mortar store, where the consumer still makes over 95 percent of purchases.”
As Amazon increases it’s product base to span electronics, apparel, digital media, and numerous other retail categories, seems they’re positioning themselves to go up against discount retailers. Watch out Wal-mart.
