Amazon.com is opening brick and mortar bookstores known as Amazon Books, like a 4,000 square foot location at The Shops at Columbus Circle in New York City. The shops, despite being physical stores are still driven by Amazon’s data on internet book sales. Tonya Garcia reports at Market Watch:
Amazon Books will have about 20 associates and stock 3,000 books, all presented with their covers forward and accompanied by a placard featuring a customer review and a bar code that can be scanned using the Amazon AMZN, +0.43% app for pricing and additional information.
Every book in stock will have reached a four-star-or-more rating on the Amazon website with the exception of certain bestsellers and new releases.
Amazon devices like the Echo and Fire tablets, candles and other gift items, AmazonBasics brand merchandise like cables and batteries, and select other items were also in stock on Tuesday, when the store was open for a preview for media and customers.
Amazon Books, like the Amazon Go store, doesn’t accept cash. Instead, Prime members can use the Amazon app on their smartphone to pay for purchases. Non-members can use a credit or debit card.
Pricing on all items matches the website for members. Non-Prime members pay the same price for devices as shown on the site, but pay list price for books and other items.
Read more here.
