Samsung Electronics Opens Non-Face-to-Face Integrated Shopping Service 'VR Store'

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Samsung Electronics will operate the 'Samsung VR Store,' which allows product experience and purchase without spatial and temporal constraints using virtual reality (VR) technology, starting from the 17th.

The Samsung VR Store is a non-face-to-face integrated shopping service that provides the same shopping environment as an actual store online, enabling consumers to not only experience products but also receive professional consultations and easily purchase customized products.

Consumers can access the Samsung VR Store via the web browser on their PC or mobile devices and freely explore the store, which consists of the 1st floor mobile section and the 2nd floor video and home appliances corner, in 360-degree VR. They can also have vivid product experiences similar to reality, such as opening the doors of refrigerators and washing machines to check internal specifications.

A Samsung Electronics product specialist (Detailer) is introducing the 'Samsung VR Store' at the Samsung Digital Plaza Samsung Daechi branch, where customers can experience and shop for products non-face-to-face through virtual reality (VR). Photo by Samsung Electronics

One of the biggest competitive advantages of the Samsung VR Store is that it provides professional product consultations linked with the non-face-to-face video consultation service 'e-D’tailor,' operated through Samsung.com.

e-D’tailor is a one-on-one customized video consultation service first introduced in the domestic home appliance industry in June. When consumers apply for this service on the Samsung VR Store or Samsung.com, they are connected with professional consultants from 33 stores nationwide without installing a separate app or exposing their faces, enabling live consultations at an offline level. It is especially highly satisfactory for consumers who are concerned about visiting stores due to the COVID-19 situation or who do not have offline stores nearby and find it difficult to visit stores directly.

According to Samsung Electronics, the number of consultations increased about fourfold in September, three months after the service was introduced in June. Encouraged by consumer response, Samsung Electronics plans to gradually expand the stores linked to the e-D’tailor service.

Kwon Geum-ju, Executive Director of Samsung Electronics Korea, said, "The Samsung VR Store and e-D’tailor service, launched to reflect changing consumer and distribution environments, are expected to provide consumers with a safe and convenient purchasing experience without spatial and temporal constraints," adding, "We will continue to introduce total services linking online and offline through systematic consumer analysis."