The store

The shop will have no tills, and only hold a limited selection of products – which customers won’t be able to take with them. Instead, 200 of the bestselling items will be on display so customers can inspect them, and then if they want to buy the item, they can use their smart phones to scan in a QR code on the ticket which will direct them to the payment section of eBay’s website.

The shop will also have a separate area with eight tablet computers where people can browse the full catalogue of eBay’s products and buy online as they would at home.

 

This new tactic by eBay is one that has already been used with surprising success by other retailers. House of Fraser for instance opened a shop in Aberdeen last month with no products, just a selection of computers, free coffee and shop assistants on hand to help consumers make the most of the store’s website.There is also a growing trend for clothing stores in particular to offer customers who shop online the option to pick up their purchases in their nearest store. That saves the company distribution costs, allows the consumer to try on their items, and not have to wait at home to receive a delivery, and it gives the store an additional opportunity as the customer can browse other items at the same time.

 

Yes, it’s a great marketing strategy for shops, but it’s also great for consumers too. Those who are otherwise put off buying online for various reasons, such as a lack of trust or not being able to inspect the product they want, have the opportunity to get their hands on these more competitive deals that they might otherwise overlook.