CD auditioning device at Barnes and Noble.

Posted by: Derek Wright on 30 June 2003

Barnes and Noble have introduced a rather novel CD auditioning device at their high turnover shops. It consists of a number of listening points and bar code reader points spread through out the CD shelves and a server containing excerpts of all the CDs (and more) in the shop. You put on the headphones and place the CD under the bar code reader and then you can listen to an excerpt from a larger number of tracks from the CD.

The shop had a local server that stored all the excerpts and was updated online when new CDS were shipped.

There was other auditioning points where one could search for specific CDs and listen to them.

It was like the online CD shops but with the ability to take the CD away without having to wait for the post to arrive.

The shop clerk commented that the sales volumes had increased since the arrival of the device (we bought more CDs than usual) and had a pleasant post dinner entertainment listening to differen t CDS.

I now will not be surprised if you all come back with statements like "yawn yawn - so what - that has been around for ages" ets etc

Derek

<<Have you checked your PTs today>>
Posted on: 30 June 2003 by Brian OReilly
I often meant to post something along similar lines.

The MediaMarkt store near my office has a lower tech version of the Barns and Noble systen, consisting of about a dozen CD players complete with headphones - you unwrap the cd, stick it on and push play.

I also believe it has lead to me auditioning, then buying, more cds than I would have without this facillity.

I note recommendations from The Music Room, and check 'em out at lunchtime.

Good idea.

Regards,

Brian OReilly
Posted on: 30 June 2003 by Derek Wright
Brian

It is very trusting of Media Markt to allow the punter to unwrap the CD - what happens to the tried and rejected CDs.

Derek

<<Have you checked your PTs today>>
Posted on: 30 June 2003 by the other nickc
'Borders' have got them too.
Often call in to check out a CD before going to buy it somewhere cheaper Wink
Posted on: 30 June 2003 by Brian OReilly
quote:
Originally posted by Derek Wright:
Brian

It is very trusting of Media Markt to allow the punter to unwrap the CD - what happens to the tried and rejected CDs.

Derek

<<Have you checked your PTs today>>


They are just put back on the shelf......
I imagine the increase in sales offsets any problems.

Brian OReilly
Posted on: 30 June 2003 by Not For Me
My local Virgin Express has a simllar device, but seems to be down a fair bit.

What about introducing a similar device to try out DVDs. - You know, watch the film in a little screen ?

Does being able to listen encourage sales? You would think it probably does, but it depends whether the punter would buy an item on the name of the artist or not if they heard it.

DS

ITD - Beyonce - Crazy in Love

DS
Posted on: 30 June 2003 by ErikL
How long are the excerpts on the B&N server? Comparable to online shops (30 seconds +/-) or much larger?
Posted on: 30 June 2003 by Derek Wright
Excerpt time on the B&N server -
non authoritive answer - probably about a minute and for about 6 tracks from a CD

I did not time the excerpts, sometimes the excerpts seemed longer than others.

They quoted that they had a very large set of CD excerpts that one could sample.

The sales clerk speculated that video would be treated in the same way - currently all one gets is details of the films.

The technology caused us to buy 3 times as many CDs than we would normally do when browsing in a Cd shop.

Derek

<<Have you checked your PTs today>>
Posted on: 02 July 2003 by JeremyB
I tried it once too and the selection is really huge - had a lot of the music I wanted but none of it was in stock. Got the somewhat unhelpful suggestion from the sales associate that I could always go to the web site and buy it there!

Apparently (so I was told anyway) the idea of allowing you to look up a CD and hear excerpts is to eventually help modify the centralized stocking policies so they are more accurately matched to local demand in a particular store.