In the short run they’ll save money on AC... in the long run customers will stay away. Short term benefits, long term disaster is the recipe for bankruptcy...
I hope any retailers indulging in these practices will realize they are doing it to themselves. Consumers will react & not in a pleasant way. Maybe some day down the road they will realize turning off the A/C was a mistake (along with other decisions). When they wake up & decide to turn the A/C back on, it may or may not work. I guess it may not matter, if customers don’t return anyway.
Employees may stay away too. Lots of jobs in air conditioned places are going begging these days.
I think the Lowes near me uses little to no a/c.
It always seems hot inside during the summer months.