As of the first of February, this store will be charging people a $5 fee per person for “just looking.”
The $5 fee will be deducted when goods are purchased.
Why has this come about?
There has been high volume of people who use this store as a reference and then purchase goods elsewhere. These people are unaware our prices are almost the same as the other stores plus we have products simply not available anywhere else.
This policy is line with many other clothing, shoe and electronic stores who are also facing the same issue.
Management
I’m sure Best Buy has looked at this idea.
Actually, I bought a laptop last Christmas. I looked on-line. I looked at Best Buy. Same price. Naturally I bought at Best Buy.
Brick and Mortar stores HAVE to be competitive with on-line retailers. I would even pay a few bucks more to have it the same day and avoid shipping costs.
Pretty soon, they will put up another sign....”Going Out of Business.”
How to Fail at Business by Actually Trying
If there is no perceived value, then there is no reason for a business to exist.
They are not going to have to worry about their customers much longer.
"I'll give you $5.00 as long as you spend it in my store!."
It’s likely the Internet, I’m guessing. People want to check out different things in person... then go out and buy it cheaper on the net. Like a shoe store. It’s tougher to buy good-fitting shoes on the Internet but somebody can just go into a shoe store and try on shoes until they find something that fits right... then walk out and buy them from Zappos or Amazon. I understand why the brick-and-mortar store would be ticked off, but charging people to shop isn’t gonna win them any friends.
Basically like a cover charge at a bar. The trick is to buy a 59cent item...
I wonder if they stamp your hand so you can leave and come back? You could end up with stamps all up and down your arm at a mall.
I think some brick and mortar retailers might not realize that it works both ways. I have bought things online after viewing them in stores, but I have probably purchased far more stuff in brick and mortar stores after researching the products on Amazon.com or other online stores.
Maybe Amazon should charge me a fee everytime I look at product descriptions and customer reviews on their site before buying the item in a brick and mortar store.
I’d leave a new sign stating I’m taking my $5 to their competitor.
I spent a lot of time a couple of weeks ago hitting every store of a chain for an item at a great sale price. One salesman finally showed me the regional inventory numbers to show which store really had an item vs. all the rest which were listed as 1 or 2 in stock, which meant either the display model or inventory miscount. Drove 40 miles to pick it up and was very happy.
No worries then, mate!
A lot of bricks and mortar stores are desperate; and on-line retailers like Amazon are free-riding on their show-rooming service. Whether or not a cover charge is a good idea, I can sympathize.
I enjoy looking around electronics and hardware/building supply stores on occasion. It’s like going to a trade show — except for the pushy sales clerks. If I could get some sort of “just looking” badge (or other identifier) in return for the cover charge — and then be left alone to wander about, I might think that was a good deal.
My strategy now, for being left alone to wander about, is to try to look like I really, really want a sales clerk to help me. That usually seems to keep them away; but not always.
I’d play this for them
We got a five dollar fine for whinin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hgDQqjKErA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
“This policy is line with many other clothing, shoe and electronic stores who are also facing the same issue”
My behind it is! I predict this policy won’t last six months before it is scrapped due to lower sales.
Just curious how they plan to collect the $5 fee? Do you need to pay them before they let you enter the store?
All the more reason to “just look” at the stupid Store - then but it elsewhere - you just saved $5 if not more!
Hell - I would buy it elsewhere even if it WERE $5 more, or even more than $5 more. Just because I don’t want to be charged a fee for “just looking”.
“HOW DARE people be smart shoppers and compare prices!!!! I’ll put a stop to that by discouraging them (from eventually buying from me) via a $5 fee!”
This is a very stupid business practice. I always say “I’m just looking” when visiting a brick-and-mortar store, but usually wind up buying something.
The day someone tells me I have to pay $5 to “just look” is the day I walk out, never to come back again.
I don’t understand how they could possibly think this is a good idea. If a potential customer is unsure whether or not they will be making a purchase if they enter this store, they will not bother to walk inside, thereby saving themselves $ 5.00 they would have been charged “just for looking.”