My Life as an iPod

Let me tell you about my experience with ordering an engraved ipod.

OK Sunday evening – I ordered it with engraving. My nephew’s name.

Late Sunday Ordered. When did it arrive? Early Tuesday. 38 hours WOW!

Let’s track what happened.

How did this iPod get to me? All the steps that were taken.

First step was – I went on the internet.

1. Order on the Internet.
What happened next after I ordered?
Your order goes where? Apple receives it.

2. Apple receives.

What happens next?

3. Confirm transaction with VISA.

So the transaction is confirmed, then what?
Oliver – send it to the factory.

4. Engraving Order request – to the factory.
5. Engraved.

6. Boxed
7. Shipped via FedEx

Where does my box go? It go to Memphis.

8. Memphis (FedEx shipping hub)
9. NY (Where I live)
10. Hand delivered by FedEx Delivery

OK NOW…What I want to draw your attention to is the question, at what point did a human being touch this iPod?

No human being has ever touched this ipod. No human being has ever touched the parts or plastic or metal. No human being has ever touched this ipod ever – its all automated. And that goes back to the metal in the parts and plastics too. From the time the metal was removed from the ground at the mine until it was held by my nephew, no human ever made contact with this product. Or even saw it.The whole process was fully automated.

Furthermore, no human being knows that I bought an ipod. It COULD be known but nobody knows. Nobody knows that you bought an ipod. Except the FedEx guy, maybe. Apple doesn’t know about it for sure. It gets boxed automatically, it transfers onto crates automatically. It goes to Memphis, nobody knows in Memphis either.

Delivery systems like this – FedEx etc. They are really the “unsung heroes” of the modern age. In America, you get next day order delivery on most everything.

Apple is now experimenting with mini-stores. After playing with the sample models of the equipment, you just go to the touch screen, scan your credit card and click ‘Send’ and guess what – you don’t even have to carry the box out to your car. You go home and next day it will be there. Wouldn’t you rather have the guy bring it to your house next day?

This is way cheaper because its all automated.

I see the future of most retail moving in this direction. Stores with no stock rooms, shipment direct from the warehouse.