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It's just this easy to steal from the Apple Store (video)
Late last week, ex-NBA player Rex Chapman was picked up by Scottsdale, Arizona police on felony charges of theft and trafficking in stolen property. According to the police, that's because Chapman made off from the local Apple Store with over $14,000 worth of gear over several visits occurring in the last few months. As you can see in the raw security video footage of some nine visits released by the police today, he would browse around, pick up an item (headphones, although from the video we can't tell if they're Beats), pretend to check it out with Apple's EasyPay app and put it in a white Apple sales bag. Finally, all he had to do was walk out before selling the goods at a pawnshop.
Ex-NBAer Rex Chapman allegedly stole from Apple Stores by faking EasyPay
Remember when Apple introduced its EasyPay self-checkout feature in 2011, and everyone wondered "how can they really tell if a customer is buying something or just shoplifting?" According to the Scottsdale, AZ police, former college and professional basketball player Rex Chapman had the same thought and acted on it. They arrested the 12-year NBA veteran at 1:45 PM local time, after employees recognized him as a former player for the Phoenix Suns and tied him to a string of thefts. Chapman is accused of committing seven instances of theft over a few months, snagging gear worth more than $14,000 and selling it at a local pawnshop for cash. All of this was allegedly done by picking up the items, pretending to use the self-checkout feature in the iPhone's Apple Store app and then just walking out. Now Chapman is facing nine counts of Organized Retail Theft and five counts of Trafficking in Stolen Property -- all of which are felonies -- and we're wondering if Tim Cook has another security issue that could use some attention. [Image credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS]
Can't I help you? Shoppers are shunning store assistants in favor of smartphones
Although it often feels like you're stealing, being able to walk into an store, pay for a product with your phone and leave without any employee interaction can be liberating. It's an experience that an increasing number of consumers are starting to enjoy too, as evidenced by a new report from Deloitte that suggests shoppers would rather pull out their smartphone or tablet inside a store than speak to an associate. More than half of the people surveyed admitted they prefer using a mobile device to compare prices, gather more information or check availability, while just under half of respondents said they'd rather use complete a mobile payment than head to a cash register. Even unmanned kiosks (think touch displays or tables full of tablets) outranked small talk with a retail employee.
Australian Apple Stores to get EasyPay checkout
Australian customers might soon be able to shop at their local Apple Store with their iPhone, according to an ifoAppleStore report. Starting Thursday, Apple will turn on its Easy Pay service in stores throughout Australia. Easy Pay allows customers to stroll into an Apple Store, pick out an accessory and pay for it using the Apple Store app. It's easy, takes a few minutes and does not require the intervention of a sales associate. Customers can also use the system to schedule a Genius Bar appointment via their phone. The system is available in the US, UK, the Netherlands and now Australia.
Apple Store iOS app adds in-store purchasing, we go hands-on (video)
If you've been to an Apple Store recently, you're probably familiar with EasyPay -- Apple's not-always-so-easy handheld checkout system that enables employees to process transactions on the floor, sending a receipt to your inbox. Well the latest Apple Store iOS app eliminates the middleman -- those t-shirt and jeans-sporting retail employees -- letting you process the transaction on your own iPhone 4 or 4S, completely eliminating any need for human interaction. The tool is currently limited to accessories, so you won't be able to pick up an iPad, "scan" it with your phone, and walk out of the store. What's unclear is how Apple will prevent dishonest folks from shoplifting, since your iPhone lacks the ability to spit out those nifty white shoulder bags or blue purchase stickers. We took the app for a spin, running up a $107.79 tab with an Airport Express. As expected, checking out is painfully simple -- after you launch the app from within a store, a popup window gives you the option for EasyPay. You then hover over the item's barcode using the iPhone's camera, and click through to complete your purchase using the default credit card from your iTunes account. We then walked right out the front door with our purchased Airport in hand. You'll still need to head to the registers to return an item, however, which we were able to do within minutes of making our purchase. Jump past the break to see how it works.%Gallery-138810%
Old Navy pilots iPod-based point-of-sale system, still has creepy mannequins
Old Navy, the retail clothing store chain that owned by another retail clothing store chain (The Gap, former employer of onetime Apple retail exec George Blankenship), is reportedly piloting an iPod touch-based point-of-sale (POS) system like that used in Apple Stores. The system, known as EasyPay in the Apple retail world, uses a Linea-Pro barcode scanner and card reader sled from Infinite Peripherals to capture product and payment information and allow Apple Store customers to complete purchases from anywhere in the store. 9 to 5 Mac reports that Old Navy is now running a limited pilot of the same POS system at several of their stores. Apple has been marketing the EasyPay POS to third parties as "ZipCheck", and it appears that Old Navy is the first to give it a try. Some of the employees using the system wear small printers attached to their belts to provide receipts on-the-go. There is no word from Old Navy on whether or not the creepy "Supermodelquins" used in the chain's TV spots will be equipped with ZipCheck devices to haunt your nightmares and check you out at your local store.
Apple looking to sell iPod touch-based EasyPay checkout system to others?
Apple has recently moved away from the old Windows Mobile-based EasyPay point-of-sale systems formerly used at the Apple Stores to a new iPod touch-based system. Now, Apple may be looking to sell the new system to other retailers. ifoAppleStore is reporting that Apple has received many inquires from people interested in purchasing this new system for their own use. The system consists of an iPod touch outfitted with an accessory case that has a built-in barcode scanner, magnetic card reader, and battery. The device also uses a Pogo stylus for capturing customer signatures. The iPod touch runs a custom application that handles all the aspects of the sale. Sales of the system outside of Apple retail outlets still remains only a possibility, but Apple is reported to be compiling a list of customers who might be interested in purchasing it. If demand grows, this Apple-developed tool could be sold to many other retailers.
A look at Apple's iPod touch-based EasyPay system
Last week, we learned that Apple would be revamping some US retail stores, including a new iPod touch-based point-of-sale (POS) system. A new scanner accessory allows Apple to replace the old Windows CE-based sales handhelds. Gary Allen of ifoAppleStore has given AppleInsider an exclusive look at the thing, and it's pretty cool (that is, if retail hardware is your bag). It's an iPod touch with a magnetic stripe reader, a barcode scanner and Apple's proprietary payment-processing software. The iPod rests inside what AppleInsider calls a "slip-on shell" that plugs into the dock connector; it includes its own battery to power the two scanning peripherals. Apple Store employees will use the devices to accept purchases made with credit cards, debit cards and cash; they can even make returns and activate a new iPhone. It looks like a clever device. If you see one in the store (or if you use one), tell us what you can. [Via The Apple Blog]
Found Footage: EasyPay
Blogging for TUAW is great. If I weren't blogging here I wouldn't have found this a Christmas present waiting for me in my Inbox. A little birdie sent along this a video, created by folks at the LA Apple Store, featuring some dude dressed up as an EasyPay unit and a creative reworking of What Is Love. This video tries to encourage Apple Store employees to get people to pay using EasyPay (which Mat covered here).The video is about 57 megs and clocks in at a little less than 5 minutes long. UPDATE: Apple has informed us that the video is internal to Apple and not intended for public viewing, and therefore requested that we remove it from our server.
