Customer Experience
GameStop Is Testing Different Store Layouts
The retailer will experiment with different store layouts to increase foot-traffic. “Some of the store concepts will be focused on competitive gaming and ‘home-grown e-leagues.’ Other concept stores will exclusively sell retro games and hardware. The new stores will be piloted in a ‘select market,’ though GameStop didn’t say exactly where they’ll be tested or if it’ll be somewhere in the United States.”
Toys ‘R’ Us Announces First New Stores
The retailer has unveiled its new store concept. “The new stores won’t have aisles and aisles of toys stacked high. They will be smaller, with toys on display for kids to play with and spaces for toy demonstrations and events. Brand partners will have dedicated spaces within the store.”
Uber Glitch Charges Passengers 100 Times the Advertised Price
Would you pay $2,000 for a six-mile ride? Last Wednesday, a glitch found the ride-hailing service charging 100 times its usual fares. “One social media user reported that Uber maxed out her husband’s card with a charge of $1,905, when it was supposed to be $19.05. ‘Not cool, especially on his birthday,’ she added.”
Netflix Tanks after Whiffing on Global Paid Subscribers
The streaming service lost some consumer’s interest in the second quarter. “In addition to blaming its content slate for the quarter for weak subscriber growth, Netflix said its first-quarter subscriber growth was so strong that ‘there may have been more pull-forward effect than we realized.’ The company also said in its letter to shareholders that the missed forecast was most pronounced in regions that saw price increases.”
Data
Viral App FaceApp Now Owns Access to More Than 150 Million People’s Faces and Names
A popular app finds users giving full use of their names and likenesses to a Russian firm. “While according to FaceApp’s terms of service people still own their own “user content” (read: face), the company owns a never-ending and irrevocable royalty-free license to do anything they want with it ... in front of whoever they wish.”