Gate-side Best Buy Express kiosk saves some tech emergencies
This is an unstaffed Best Buy Express vending machine in the Main terminal at MKE, selling earbuds, chargers, headphones, and small electronics at fixed prices 24/7. Think last‑minute Lightning cable, USB‑C charger, or basic over‑ear headphones when your original gear dies right before a 06:30 departure or after a 22:00 arrival.
Prices run higher than normal Best Buy store tags, but frequent flyers on Reddit say it still feels “less of a ripoff than InMotion” for a $30–$80 emergency purchase. Each item shows its make, model, and price clearly on the touchscreen before you swipe your card, so you can pause for 30 seconds and decide if that $40 wired earbud is worth it compared with a silent 2.5‑hour flight to DEN.
Selection is tight: you’ll typically see just a handful of models per category, maybe 2–3 types of earbuds, 2–3 power banks, and a couple of travel adapters. Don’t expect sale tags, open‑box deals, or rewards points here; you pay the kiosk price, which will not match the $19.99 sale you might see on BestBuy.com that same day.
Regulars open Amazon or Best Buy’s main site on their phone right in front of the machine and compare the SKU and price; if the markup is under about 30% and their boarding time is inside 20 minutes, they tap purchase and move on. Quick tip: screen shows the exact model number, so snap a photo first, compare online, then decide before you insert your card.