Paying for browsing? (best, money) - Frugal Living - City-Data Forum

elnina · 03-28-2013, 09:23 AM

Do you think it could happen here?
This happen already in Australia ( Brisbane)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57576395-1/store-charges-$5-showrooming-fee-to-looky-loos/

LongtimeBravesFan · 03-28-2013, 09:32 AM

So is there someone standing at the door collecting a cover charge? What kind of business is this?

I could see it for a certain kind of business. For example, a high end car dealer may have people who want an ego boost driving a fancy car for ten minutes and wouldn't want some jerk like that wasting their time. Or a store owner might spend a lot of time giving advice and suggestions to someone for home supplies and they go to Lowe's instead with the info in hand.

But charging me five bucks just to walk in and browse when all I''m doing is killing time? I wouldn't go in and wouldn't go in even if I heard they had something I needed.

ragnarkar · 03-28-2013, 09:38 AM

I could only see this happening to a few stores.. namely the Apple Store.

Other places, it'll likely turn off too many potential shoppers and drive down revenue to make it worthwhile.

oregonwoodsmoke · 03-28-2013, 01:47 PM

Shrug. Take $5 at the door and hand the customer a coupon worth $5.

Some stores are having a serious problem with people who come in to get advice about what to buy and then leave and order on line once they have decided what they want (with a lot of input from the store's clerk, which has cost the store money). The $5 would be more like a consultation fee.

I also know that some stores in some locations have a problem with the homeless coming in to "browse" for hours in order to get out of the weather. I happen to think the homeless should have a place to go, but not to drive paying customers away from a business.

There is also a problem with groups of teens coming in to shoplift.

duster1979 · 03-28-2013, 04:09 PM

Porn shops have been doing this for years, they collect a "cover charge" at the door which is applied to your purchase if you buy anything.

And no, I don't know this from personal experience. I saw it in a movie then asked an acquaintance who worked in one if it was a common practice, which he confirmed.

LongtimeBravesFan · 03-28-2013, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

Shrug. Take $5 at the door and hand the customer a coupon worth $5..

And if they don't have anything you want, you're out five bucks.

oregonwoodsmoke · 03-29-2013, 02:14 PM

The particular shop that is doing this in Australia, you wouldn't have any reason to be in the shop if they don't have anything your want. It's gluten free foods. There is no reason to be in a gluten free shop if you are not looking to purchase gluten free foods.

The owner was having people come in, examine the products, get advice on how to use them, and then walking out and ordering on line. I suspect that the shopkeeper was spending a lot of hours trying to teach people how to use the gluten free diet, because it is confusing to newbies. But they were using her time and then not buying.

pvande55 · 03-29-2013, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duster1979

Porn shops have been doing this for years, they collect a "cover charge" at the door which is applied to your purchase if you buy anything.

And no, I don't know this from personal experience. I saw it in a movie then asked an acquaintance who worked in one if it was a common practice, which he confirmed.

I have seen other shops with that policy. Usually they have such weird stuff they could be considered museums.

silibran · 03-29-2013, 10:06 PM

I think the problem is that people go in a specialty shop and ask for advice on products, then go home and order online. Best Buy has huge problems with this, and it is a large retailer.

For a small, local business this attitude is disastrous. I believe the proprietor plans on charging an extra $5 if customer does come back to purchase. This plan sounds counter productive to me.

Hedgehog_Mom · 03-29-2013, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duster1979

Porn shops have been doing this for years, they collect a "cover charge" at the door which is applied to your purchase if you buy anything.

And no, I don't know this from personal experience. I saw it in a movie then asked an acquaintance who worked in one if it was a common practice, which he confirmed.

I've never been to one that did that. The ones I have been to check ID's at the door but it's free to look around.

It's an interesting idea though...the stores I have been to seemed to have mostly couples shopping, I wonder if the charge is per couple or if each person has to buy something to get their cover charge back.