Multi-Service ATMs
7-Eleven(R) Launches E-Commerce Shopping Services
1-800-FLOWERS.COM(R) Among E-Commerce Merchants
DALLAS, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- What's on your holiday shopping
list? Whether it's CDs for the kids, jewelry or flowers for mom, or a round
of golf for dad, you don't have to fight the crowds at the mall to buy the
perfect gift. In fact, you don't need to go farther than a 7-Eleven(R) store,
where the Vcom(R) kiosk has become a virtual "shopping mall in a box" with
hundreds of gift-giving options for smart Santas.
Just in time to ease the hassles of holiday shopping, customers at close
to 1,000 selected 7-Eleven stores* across the country can now use Vcom to shop
for selected products 24 hours a day from e-retailers including
1-800-FLOWERS.COM(R), FreeJewelry.biz, eBags.com, TopWebBuys.com, and U.S.
Health Services and pay for their purchases with cash or by credit card.
Shopping is the latest service added to Vcom, which stands for "virtual
commerce" and is unique in the world of kiosks because of the variety of
offerings and payment options on a single device. The kiosk's bunch-note
acceptor can handle up to 30 bills inserted at one time and dispense exact
change.
As 7-Eleven's e-commerce, advertising and technology partner, Cyphermint,
Inc. recruits e-retailers for Vcom. Its patented Pay Cash(TM) system allows
people to pay cash for their Vcom purchases, making the kiosk a convenient
shopping alternative for customers who do not have access to the Internet, a
credit card or don't want to use their credit card for e-commerce purchases.
The virtual shopping mall experience begins with the customer choosing a
product category such as flowers, books, gifts, music or electronics, from the
touch-screen menu featuring a Shopping Mall button. The participating
merchant's screen then displays a selection of products, descriptions and a
sales price, including special offers available only through Vcom. Customers
will now have access to the merchant's most popular online offerings.
The customer can see additional detail on any item offered, add to a
shopping cart and proceed to check out. There is a $1 service fee for each
transaction. Some merchants are offering next-day shipping or free shipping,
while regular shipping will take three to five business days via UPS ground or
U.S. Postal Service.
In addition to e-shopping, Vcom customers can conduct ATM transactions
(American Express provides the ATM service on most Vcom machines), cash checks
through Certegy Check Services(SM), and purchase Western Union money orders
and conduct money transfers. Verizon customers can view and pay their
residential phone bills, order calling features and request repair service
through the kiosk. Bill payment services provided by e-Money Systems and car
and motorcycle insurance coverage through Public Access Insurance are expected
to be added to Vcom in the future.
"We now have the variety of offerings we always envisioned for Vcom," says
Brady Giddens, 7-Eleven, Inc.'s managing director for Vcom. "It is our intent
that customers can shop for products and services they want, but which are not
available in our stores. Thanks to Vcom, we have a mini shopping mall inside
our stores."
"We have had enormous success in attracting established e-retailers with
broad selection of products for Vcom," says Joe Barboza, CEO of Cyphermint,
Inc. "We are pleased with the partnership we've established with 7-Eleven
and, in particular, the successful integration of our patented Pay Cash
System(TM) to Vcom. Customers can expect more well-known brands to offer
products and services through Vcom in the near future."
Some of the top e-retailers that have partnered with Cyphermint to sell
products and services on Vcom are:
-- 1-800-FLOWERS.COM(R) -- With one of the most recognized brands in
gift retailing, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM(R) provides a broad range of floral
arrangements -- including flowers, plants, and bouquets. Currently
there are 12 arrangements to choose from, ranging from a dozen red
roses to a holiday bouquet. In the future, there are plans to sell
gourmet foods, candies, gift baskets and other unique gifts on Vcom.
-- eBags.com -- The world's largest online retailer of bags and
accessories for all lifestyles will offer some two dozen popular
products on Vcom and feature premium and popular brands such as
Samsonite, JansSport, The North Face and Liz Claiborne. With
competitive prices, consumers will choose from backpacks, messenger
and carry-on bags to computer cases and handbags.
-- FreeJewelry.biz -- This American-owned jewelry company is offering
free fine Italian jewelry, 14K-gold jewelry as well as genuine pearl
jewelry on Vcom. Customers pay a shipping and handling charge for
each item ordered among the wide selection of products ranging from
rings to pendants.
-- TopWebBuys.com -- Run by parent company Infopia inc., this category
will offer the top-selling books and video games.
-- U.S. Health Services (USHS) -- This national, "to-your-home" consumer
pharmacy for prescriptions, vitamins, supplements and nutraceuticals
offers numerous health-related products, such as the popular Atkins
diet program foods, on the Vcom kiosk. Product categories will
include bone and joint; lifestyle; vitamins, minerals and herbs; diet
and body building; Atkins, and EAS.
-- Universal Tickets, Inc. -- For tickets to more than 1,800 golf
courses and 200 ski mountains, customers can press the Gift Card
Category on the Vcom Internet Shopping screen. Select a tee time and
choose the Universal Golf Ticket Gift Card at $49.95, the SwingPack
(includes six Nike golf balls) for $59.95 or a half-hour golf lesson
good at one of 500 participating facilities for $49.95.
About 7-Eleven, Inc. (NYSE: SE)
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience
retailing industry. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven, Inc. operates
or franchises close to 5,800 7-Eleven(R) stores in the United States and
Canada and licenses approximately 19,700 7-Eleven(R) stores in 16 other
countries and U.S. territories throughout the world. During 2002, 7-Eleven(R)
stores worldwide generated total sales of more than $33 billion. Find out
more online at http://www.7-Eleven.com .
About Cyphermint, Inc.
Cyphermint, a privately owned corporation headquartered in Marlborough,
Massachusetts, develops electronic payment software and scalable kiosk-based
systems. Cyphermint's Pay Cash System(TM) is the most secure payment system
on the Internet today. Through a unique combination of public kiosks, stored
value cards and the Pay Cash payment system, Cyphermint brings a range of
financial services and electronic commerce to consumers, regardless of whether
they have a bank account or a credit card. Find out more at
http://www.cyphermint.com .
* E-commerce is not available on Vcom kiosks in the Austin, Texas;
Ft. Myers, Fla., and Richmond, Va., areas.
Posted by Craig at December 11, 2003 03:01 PM