An Australian store is making noise with a new policy to charge all customers $5 upon entering. Are they in the right?
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Redditor BarrettFox claims to have come across the sign on a store in his city of Brisbane, Australia.
You can click to see the full-size image of the sign to the left. The full text of the sign reads:
“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”
The store, Celiac Supplies, is a gluten-free shop. Experts say the door fee is an effort to curtail customers “showrooming,” basically looking for products then returning home to find cheaper versions online.
Could it become a regular practice in an age in which apps can scan a barcode and find cheaper alternatives in seconds? Only time will tell.