Best Buy kiosks, coming to an airport near you

(Credit: Best Buy)

Electronics retailer Best Buy is picking up on the trend of installing vending machine-like kiosks in airports, in order to appeal to stressed travelers who left their cell phone charger at home or need a last-minute gift to appease cranky relatives.

Called Best Buy Express, the kiosks will show up at a total of 12 airports as part of a "pilot program." (Ha, ha.) They are already installed around Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Minneapolis (MSP), and San Francisco (SFO). The rest of them are expected to be in place by September 1. Best Buy hasn't said which terminals they're located in or whether you need to get past security to access them, but has said that prices are "similar" to its own in-store ones.

For obvious reasons, you won't be able to get an HDTV at Best Buy Express kiosks. Products include media players, unlocked cell phones, digital cameras, portable gaming devices, plenty of chargers, flash drives and other storage, cell phone and computer accessories, headphones (important!), and Best Buy gift cards.

[mikefarren]

This isn't new at all. SFO had such a vending machine (which even looked just like the one in the picture) at least three years ago. You can date it more exactly by noting that the machine, back then, sold iPod Minis.

[Public_Relations]

Perhaps large office buildings in major cities could have small rooms in the lobby where these could be installed.

If someone knows what they want, why travel to a store and deal with salespeople and long checkout lines.

People are usually so busy - and ordering online is annoying because of the shipping delays and costs

[rosswaldo]

i can just imagine the displeasure when the machine jams your newly purchased digital camera and you have to "write to the management" for a refund.

Why do people seem to think people want to spend so much money in an airport.

[livecrunch]

I guess some people just can't live without technology anymore so it is a "MUST" to buy 2 charges, or another flash drive.... God knows where technology is leading us to.