ebayinchighresWindow shopping may not be such a cost-free endeavor in the future if some new technologies take off.

According to a new Reuters report, Internet commerce giant eBay is slated to open a number of “shoppable windows” in high-traffic areas around New York City in a partnership with Fifth & Pacific Companies.

The windows are large touchscreens that will allow shoppers to choose from 30 products in Fifth & Pacific’s new Kate Spade Saturday brand and have those products delivered via courier anywhere in Manhattan within an hour.

Those windows, which open (rather appropriately) this Saturday, will be the only physical locations people can go to buy items from Kate Spade Saturday. That’s right — these touchscreens are replacing a full-fledged retail storefront.

In order to keep the transaction secure, the buyer will pay the courier using eBay’s Paypal Here service, a mobile payment platform that competes with Square.

According to a press release, the windows will remain open until July 6. While Fifth & Pacific’s CEO seems optimistic about the initiative’s potential, eBay has not revealed any future plans to expand the program.

What do you think? Are touchscreen storefronts the wave of the future, or just a passing fad?

Previously on GeekWire: eBay CEO touts threat of Amazon as Senate weighs online sales tax legislation 

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.