Deliberately narrow question.

KIOSKS

By "kiosk" I mean internet connected PC wrapped in robust but pleasing industrial design perhaps with a printer. Shows retailer website for delivery to home or store.

Typically found in out of the way locations in store with a Windows error message in the middle of the screen.

But where have they been well executed? I'm looking for examples of people that have deployed these well, got them used AND made some money. Where is the best practice?

I'M VERY AWARE OF AND CAN BELIEVE IN OTHER IN-STORE TECH...

Argos/Kiddicare type kiosks. Very focused tasks that directly improve the in-store experience. These are self-service checkouts. All good.

Bespoke sales apps. Can probably convince myself that I could build a narrow browsable sales app for certain categories. Which leads to point-of-sale.

Assisted sales. Nice man helps complete order for me - helps me choose and configure - typically larger more complex items. This is sales force using technology to sell and take order. All good.

Mobile in store. Customers with smart-phones can do all this and more with their own devices in store. The future. All good.

Cool displays and installations. Big funky in-store displays that are part of general retail engagement and merchandising. Very cool. All good.

I'm just talking here about the little old kiosk. The vanguard of multi-channel strategies - perhaps second only to the store locator.

The Local Government example highlights the flaw I think. The rationale is "access to services".

If the technology is new to me then I'm not about to start learning to use a computer stood-up in a retail environment for the purpose of making an online transaction that I'm not comfortable with.

If I'm comfortable with the technology then I'll have access to it at home and even more so now I've got my phone with me which does all this stuff anyway (well it will if the retailer has sorted their mobile bits out).

Now there's a niche of needs in between there somewhere, maybe, and that's what I'm trying to flush out.

Instinctively - kiosks have had their day, if they ever had a day. Focus should be mobile and more functionally useful 'cross-channel' connections to customers.

My grammar ain't always the best but I don't normally apologise as its sort of OK in posting normally. But the above don't read well.

But thank you for picking the key points out.

Kiosks. What are they like?