Gate-area tech stop at ROC: Best Buy Express vending
This is the blue Best Buy Express machine you see past security at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, stocked with small electronics and accessories. It runs 24/7, so it’s your backup when your charger dies on a 6:00 a.m. departure or a 10:30 p.m. arrival. Think of it as a mini Best Buy in vending form, not a full store.
Expect travel basics: phone charging cables, headphones, earbuds, over-ear headphones, portable batteries, and sometimes small cameras or GoPro gear. Prices usually sit close to regular Best Buy online pricing, but you’re paying airport rates plus New York sales tax. Inventory is hit-or-miss; if you absolutely need a specific Lightning, USB-C, or USB-A cable before boarding, check the screen carefully before you swipe.
Payment is via credit or debit card only; no cash slot and no Apple Pay tap on many of these older units. The touch screen walks you through product details and price before you commit. Keep the printed receipt that comes out of the machine — it’s the only proof you’ll have if something jams or a box comes out empty.
Biggest tip: buy and immediately open the package right next to the machine, then plug it into your phone or laptop at the nearest gate outlet so you can fix any issue with airport staff still around.