Is Showrooming Rude?

Last time I checked, they open their doors to the public to showcase items. There is no expectation that you must buy something, or that there is some sort of "price of admission."

Hell yes, I've specifically gone to BB with ZERO intention of buying the item there - simply to look at it in RL. I'm not wasting anyone's time, but I'm sure as hell not hiding the fact I have online retailer's websites open on my smartphone, comparing the deal. 99% of the time, I conclude I can get the same thing MUCH cheaper online if I am willing to wait a little bit and have some patience (like BB ain't even in the same ballpark). Occasionally, they are competitive, and I buy the item at the store.

Every time you turn around, someone in this world is eroding your rights. But choosing when, where, and how I spend my hard earned money is my business, and I see no reason to tiptoe around it. Brick and Mortar retailers don't like it? pfft - tough sh$t - welcome to the capitalist system that you got rich off of in the first place. Quit looking for help when the system works against you. As another person said - they weren't helping the mom and pop stores they replaced - F em. :p
 
If the price in the store is too high I tell them, and buy online giving them the opportunity to at least reduce the price to try to be competitive. If they act like a call center and act indifferent, that my business doesn't matter than what advantage do I have by buying from a local retailer anyway?

It might be rude to audition if you know you won't buy from them, but generally speaking most people don't go in with that in mind. They either get treated like cattle, or the price is too high. Both are the stores, not the customer.
 
It depends on exactly what you are doing. If you just want to see the item in person but plan on buying it online then there is nothing wrong. But you are kind of an ass if you go in and get the sales person to spend time advising you and then go buy online.
 
Ducman69 said:
I gave many shits because:
1) commission
2) at place that wasn't commission, I still had sales goals and if I wanted to make $11 an hour instead of minimum wage I had to sell stuff
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no commission at home depot, even though i sold tens of thousands of dollars worth of outdoor power equipment
 
I use an app that does barcode scans and compares with local stores and online. Sure as hell would not occupy a clerks time to get info on something I do not intend to buy at the store.
 
Its not rude

I call it fucking reality

You think Amazon etc doesn't have tons of staff running warehouses, delivery services etc? Yet they offer lower prices.

There's no reason a retail store should be extravagantly higher then online, when online retailers have to pay for acres and acres of storage space, staff to run them and send out deliveries etc.

Does Futureshop/Bestbuy just assumes these online retailers deliver for fucking free? That there's no cost overhead too this?

No Amazon makes a killing etc because they sell -SHITLOADS- of stuff at or often lower then retail prices

Futureshop/Bestbuy, you want people to buy your shit, stop marking up the value of everything in the fucking store because you morons still think "You are the only game in town"

You -WERE- the only option 10-15 years ago, now your policies are fucking killing you.
 
I've never run into a sales person in a store that I would trust more than myself from having done research on what I intend to buy.
 
You mean those same big box stores that adjust the settings on a TV to give you the impression that the picture is better? Or the ones where they hook one TV up in SD signal, and the other in HD to get you to buy the better TV?

Yea no, fuck em.
 
No more rude than pricing an HDMI cable at $50.

Is the store staffed by knowledgeable people who care about their customers?
Probably rude to showroom.

Is the store staffed by ignorant employees that don't know anything about the products they're pushing? That are going to try to rip you off on 1000%+ marked up cables/accessories? And sell you additional warranty protection, whether it is necessary or not?
Not rude to showroom.
 
Kueller said:
No more rude than pricing an HDMI cable at $50.

Is the store staffed by knowledgeable people who care about their customers?
Probably rude to showroom.

Is the store staffed by ignorant employees that don't know anything about the products they're pushing? That are going to try to rip you off on 1000%+ marked up cables/accessories? And sell you additional warranty protection, whether it is necessary or not?
Not rude to showroom.
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Couldn't have said it any better.
 
dr.kevin said:
More often, the salesperson doesn't know his shit, and wastes your time.
I don't think I'm being an ass in that case.
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Well, if you go to a place like Microcenter where the sales guys get paid commission, they usually know what they are talking about. Wasting those guys time is definitely rude. The hourly wage Best Buy employees generally don't know anything about the stuff they are selling, they just know what to recommend.
 
I'm not interested in any stores feelings. Just give me the best price and I buy. Simple :)
 
It's not rude - the first company to really embrace showrooming is going to do very, very well. Why not have a purely showroom store for electronics or other products? Secured, hands-on access to the devices where it makes sense; deeper product information or access to a phone representative simply by scanning a QR code; a tablet/phone app to guide you through the showroom to the products you're interested in. Scan another QR code or press a button on the app to add items to your cart. Make your purchase via app as you head to the exit, where you grab your items out of a locker (opened via the app)--for bigger items, you go to a larger loading bay or request direct shipment. All the merchandise is moved into the lockers/bays by a minimally staff warehouse system located on premise. Get your stuff the same day, without having to deal with lots of staff who are rewarded for pedaling crap, or long checkout lines. Prices stay similar to online since theft/shrink is dramatically reduced, the actual storage of all the product is done in a more efficient warehouse, and staffing needs are much lower.

As people become more accustomed to buying things online, the number of people who want to talk to a sales monkey continues to drop, and most of the time, an app could do a vastly better job at selling.
 
When circuit city went out, Best buy was kinda the only major electronics retailer, but with growing consumer confidence in shopping online through lower price, ease, etc, those really were the formulas in gaining market share especially for the major e-retailers.

The only thing good thing about best buy is just showcasing the products for people to buy online. But with videos, product reviews, feedback, I think those can still nail brick and mortars out as we have seen with best buy.
 
Skripka said:
There's showrooming and then there's comparison shopping. It gets tacky when you go to a retailer without any intent of buying from the place you're going...and are going there purely to see and play with a product.

If I'm shopping for a Galaxy Note 2, I'm going to go to my local Sprint store to play with one. If I'm comparison shopping, and ask about pricing and leave it is one thing...If I go there purely to look at a toy only to go home and buy one off Craigslist it is kind of tacky.
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Look, as "rude" as people may think it is - all I can say is screw off.

You hired those employee's TO answer questions. They are simply hired with the intent that the questions will lead to sales. I don't see it as being rude at all. Like someone else said - welcome to basic capitalism economics, no go adjust or die a slow painful death.
 
If I make the decision to get off my ass and head to a retail store for an item, it usually means I want it ASAP and would rather pay a little higher price to have it in hand rather than wait a few days.

I'm pretty sure I'm too f'in lazy and cheap (ie, wasted gas) to drive to a store, check out, say, a 55" flatscreen, then drive back home to make a purchase online.
 
To the original question though... I think it would be rude to advertise the fact that you're showrooming to a sales rep. Unless, you intend to buy online from the retailer's store.

If you want to showroom, just don't advertise the fact that you have no intention of buying at the store.
 
I only got to B&M stores of I have to, but I'll go if it's an item that warrants up close and personal inspection that no amount of online research can give. If the price is within a reasonable margin of online prices including any S&H, I'll buy locally, but if not, then I'll get it online. "Reasonable" margin depends on the cost of the item. $5-10 is a no brainer...as long as it's not a $20 item I can get w/free shipping (more like a $50 or more item). I still have to have large items delivered, so that's a factor as well since B&M's sometimes slap on delivery charges as well. If they're willing to work the numbers to my satisfaction they make a sale, if not, then it's online I go.
 
I don't tend not to enter B&M unless I can't wait for shipping times.

I am very guilty of instructing people on the art of showrooming, though this is the first time I've heard there was a name for it.. I've taken several people into BB so they could look at all the computers, find the one they want and then have them order it online. (In one instance, we ordered it online on their smartphone, while still standing in the store... I'll admit, that instance *was* rude.)

But we're really talking about Best Buy right? Screw Best Buy.. seriously.. right in the mouth. Why would I pay more for something at that place when there are ZERO people in the store who can have an intelligent conversation about the products? It never fails, every single visit to that place is an exercise in frustration.

I would never "showroom" a mom&pop shop or local franchise though, those people's lives are tied up in their businesses and I'm not going to waste their time.
 
Kueller said:
No more rude than pricing an HDMI cable at $50.

Is the store staffed by knowledgeable people who care about their customers?
Probably rude to showroom.

Is the store staffed by ignorant employees that don't know anything about the products they're pushing? That are going to try to rip you off on 1000%+ marked up cables/accessories? And sell you additional warranty protection, whether it is necessary or not?
Not rude to showroom.
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There are plenty of B&M stores that sell affordable HDMI cables and how is unchecking the box for additional warranty from your online shopping cart different from an experience at a B&M store. Furthermore, why is this discussion limited to electronic B&M stores? Can you imagine shopping online only for your kitchen and re modeling needs for your home? It would be an absolute nightmare.
 
I think a company that frowns upon showrooming is being stupid, because the alternative is that person buying the product elsewhere anyway if the prices is cheaper.

At least when someone physically enters the store then the retailer has the chance to compete by matching prices or whatever they need to do to get the sale. If they can't compete, it's their loss.

Welcome to the digital age, retails dinosaurs.
 
Wierdo said:
I think a company that frowns upon showrooming is being stupid, because the alternative is that person buying the product elsewhere anyway if the prices is cheaper.

At least when someone physically enters the store then the retailer has the chance to compete by matching prices or whatever they need to do to get the sale. If they can't compete, it's their loss.

Welcome to the digital age, retails dinosaurs.
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retail*

The no edit thing is such a pain.
 
If the retail store is providing additional value by giving me the option to see and demo a product then I'm ok paying a small premium for that and I'll give them the business. Or if they offer more service. For example, I paid a premium for my Webber BBQ from Home Depot because they offered to deliver and assemble it. Worth every extra cent to me.

The worst offenders are the ones that will have a custom home theater shop come out, measure a room, write up a custom proposal, then take it and shop the pieces and bid out the work. Or people that get good advice and consulting on photography equipment who then buy it online. That's abusive and rude.
 
I don't consider it rude at all unless you are specifically wasting the time of the sales people.

I never buy anything instore unless I absolutely need it right then, or it's cheaper to do so.
For instance, I almost always buy everything from Office Depot in-store, because in-store, they still accept competitors (Staples, Officemax) coupons for technology items (which their own coupons don't allow). Also, I also almost never purchase anything without using a coupon, or % cashback, etc (preferably both).

The simple answer is, never spend more than you have to and use whatever resources (i.e. showrooms) are at your disposal to make a better decision. If a business makes dumb choices and can't compete, they will go broke and close -- which is good. In business, the weak SHOULD go broke and close.

The one exception to showrooming and being rude I make is at Best Buy. That said, I still don't like to take up the staff's time -- it's not fair to them. However, when showrooming at Best Buy, I do typically make a point of telling any other customers I see looking at the same items what the current prices are at Amazon and Newegg for the same items (and even occasionally write down the URL for them off my phone). I think it should be quite obvious that I loathe them intensely.
 
I don't think I've ever showroomed. I usually buy when I go somewhere unless I'm just tagging along.

That said, I also don't go to stores unless I already plan to buy something.
 
Omegas said:
When the consumer changes, the business must change
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Stupis no edit...

Any time I showcase I tell them straight up I am willing to pay at least 10% more then the cheapest reputable online store (not including tax). If they are not willing to at least meet me there then I feel no pity or shame at all. If you think about it, that increase plus tax is a 20% total increase I am willing to pay them for their service, if that's not good enough, so sorry...
 
I do but only because i want to see and possibly test the product physically first. An example would be a mouse. I see one online, looks interesting but the description of it is vague. So I HAVE to go look at one, see if it has the type of scroll wheel i prefer, any buttons on the right side of the mouse(im left handed) the weight and feel etc etc. And in this case I can almost always get it cheaper online. So I do so.
 
These companies sell their stuff at a loss (once a year on "black friday") just to get you in the door in hopes you'll buy something else while you are there and to get other people in there as well.

I do think that it's not morally right to waste retailer time and money. I wouldn't go in and ask for assistance, for information on products, spend a bunch of time with a salesman, then thank them and go buy it online.

However, I have no issues with going into the store just to look around. When the Nintendo 3DS came out I went to a best buy and looked at it and played some games on it. I didn't buy one there and haven't purchased one anywhere else either, but I wouldn't feel bad if I had purchased it on amazon after testing it out at the store.
 
I don't consider it rude when i'm forced to wait an hour to talk a salesmen about a product, only to have them ignore me and not know anything about the product
 
It gets people in the door. How much do B&M stores pay in advertising to do just that? My guess is that it does more good than harm. I've gone to a lot of B&M stores to check out a new product. I usually end up buying something.
 
It is because of the silly prices they ask for. I recently got a gift voucher for a store, and first went and saw the stuff they had on their website. Saw a few games I wanted, then read the terms on the site and found the voucher was "retail store only" (which is kind of silly). So I went to the store, and those two $25 items were $50...
 
How about the people who take advantage of lavish return policies and return a 10yr old rusted out gym back to Costco? Same could be said for the guy who returns a PA system back that they used over the weekend for their Quinceanera.
 
The whole concept of "showrooming" would be completely irrelevant if most B & M stores actually charged competitive prices.

Fry's Electronics for example. I buy stuff there all the time because there is plenty of stuff where they charge about the same price, sometimes less, than most online stores. That tends to not be the case at places like Best Buy, etc.

I don't find the idea of "showrooming" any more rude than them thinking they can charge considerably over market price for no good reason.
 
BurntToast said:
How about the people who take advantage of lavish return policies and return a 10yr old rusted out gym back to Costco? Same could be said for the guy who returns a PA system back that they used over the weekend for their Quinceanera.
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Or people who RMA stuff they broke or RMA stuff that wont meet the clocks they wish for. It just raises prices and probably harms support contracts. RMA is for stuff the manufacturer broke, not the consumer or for stuff not actually broken but all the time you see people go "just RMA it" like it's some insurance. :D
 
d_stilgar said:
These companies sell their stuff at a loss (once a year on "black friday") just to get you in the door in hopes you'll buy something else while you are there and to get other people in there as well.
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That's a lie. They might've .... once. Might have. But black friday was a day where they got rid of stuff for cheap because they want them gone. Nowadays, they advertise false sales, under the guise of saving money when they aren't.

The last black friday and couple ones before that, were not really sales. Or if they were they would be the type of "sale" that comp usa had when they were going out of business.
 
Is there even ONE person in this whole damn thread that understands WHY a B&M store CANNOT price match mail order companies?

Or is basic econ not taught to anyone anymore?

The only B&M stores I've ever heard of that attempt to even get close to mail order is Microcenter... and I think the one in Santa Clara went under recently.

What do you consider "close" to mail order pricing? What do you consider "enticing enough" to buy from the store you are standing in? If the answer is "price match a mail order company" then you need to GTFO of their store and let everyone get back to work that might make them some money.
 
Advil said:
Is there even ONE person in this whole damn thread that understands WHY a B&M store CANNOT price match mail order companies?
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Do you really think a 100% price increase is needed? If their costs are so so much higher then they need to reduce overheads. If you can't compete, then you find a way to make yourself competitive or go out of buisness.

Do you understand why a store cannot not price match? If they can't compete on price, or cannot be bothered to, they need to add value to the customers visit so that it is worth all the extra money. Which they don't bother with.

But also, it's also harder to sell things that are more expensive. Selling lots of something at 10% of the profit is better than selling 1/20th as many for 90% more.
 
Name something computer electronics related besides cables that a are 100% more B&M than at Newegg?

The assumptions about profit margins are breathtaking. I don't think most people have a clue how thin the margins are. Especially in computer hardware.
 
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