[5thGenTexan]

In a way, theft of service. The store paid to provide the customer with the pre-sales work that the online house got the sale from.

[GunRunner]

No, it is not theft in any way, shape, or form, and the assertion is completely laughable. The store provides that service in hopes that they'll attain a certain close ratio with people that they talk to. The sales associate talking to you for five minutes or helping you out with a question about a product is not in any way contingent upon the shopper actually making the purchase.

Wow, I'm amazed at the sheer ignorance of some Freepers here who don't even have a basic knowledge of how the sales process works, or the difference between a prospect and a customer. You guys know less than Obama.