modern theft?

[Allegra]

I guess I find it hard to believe that the circumstances under which this could be considered sinful would be met very often. I am huge on saving money, but I wouldn’t go into a store simply to research a product with **no **chance of buying it from that retailer. I might not buy it that specific day, and I might end up buying it elsewhere if I buy it at all, but I don’t think that’s sinful. The retailer always has the opportunity to make its case that I should buy it from them after all.

Right. Every person who comes through the door is a potential customer. That’s one of the first lessons in sales. The company and the sales person have an opportunity to offer a better deal than the online store. And even if they can’t match the deal because of their overhead, they have the opportunity to sell any number of other products and services to the customer. Once when I was 15 and working at TJ Maxx, my boss rewarded me as associate of the month because I sold a new jacket to the mailman. (He had spilled something nasty all over the front of his jacket and I pointed out that we had some really similar ones that had just been put on clearance.)

 

[on_the_hill]

One time we wanted to buy hardwood flooring. We went to the locally owned flooring store and found what we wanted. Then we found it on the Internet for a lot less. I went back to the store and told the owner the truth–we couldn’t pass up the online deal.

He got upset–but not with me. He said the Internet price was in violation with standard industry contracts signed by the manufacturer. He went as low as he was allowed to (by contract) and reported the online retailer to the manufacturer.

He got our business and then some.

 

[pianistclare]

One time we wanted to buy hardwood flooring. We went to the locally owned flooring store and found what we wanted. Then we found it on the Internet for a lot less. I went back to the store and told the owner the truth–we couldn’t pass up the online deal.

He got upset–but not with me. He said the Internet price was in violation with standard industry contracts signed by the manufacturer. He went as low as he was allowed to (by contract) and reported the online retailer to the manufacturer.

He got our business and then some.

I think I’d be more upset knowing that retailers had bonded together to lock in high prices.

 

[exnihilo]

I don’t think it is theft at all. If it was then going to an open house for a home you absolutely can’t afford or would ever buy is theft. A business open to the public is allowing you to window shop. They have no expectation or right to a sale. If their prices are so far off they have no possibility of making a sale then they need to and will go out of business.

 

[vz71]

Specifically, if there is no chance of purchase at the brick and mortar store, then I see a point.
You are at the very least wasting their time.
Time does translate into money.

But this assumes knowledge of the future.
Everyone walking into a store is a potential customer.

 

[John_Lazarus]

I don’t think it is theft at all. If it was then going to an open house for a home you absolutely can’t afford or would ever buy is theft. A business open to the public is allowing you to window shop. They have no expectation or right to a sale. If their prices are so far off they have no possibility of making a sale then they need to and will go out of business.

I think it would depend if you waste the realtor’s/salesperson’s time with questions, as if you were a buyer, but in actuality with no intention to buy there.

 

[pensmama87]

I think it would depend if you waste the realtor’s/salesperson’s time with questions, as if you were a buyer, but in actuality with no intention to buy there.

Well, there can be other reasons for questioning.

When my husband and I began looking for a house, we looked at several houses that were probably not in our price range, because we wanted to get a feel for the process, to see what was available and to figure out what kind of house we could afford, and so we could meet agents and find one we liked.

A person might very well go into a store without any particular idea about a specific product there, but may want information or expertise about another related product. The retailer may still benefit from the connection. I’ve been dismissed by people before because apparently the immediate sale seemed too hard for them to get, but really (IMO) they should have taken the long view. Once a person has my trust and I believe in their expertise I’m much more likely to purchase from them in the future - especially when it comes to large purchases like appliances, furniture, or cars. I’m also more likely to recommend them to other people.

 

[GEddie]

Methinks a weebit of scrupulosity is at work here?

How often do people go to a store and end up buying something they never expected to?

Against that, those who end up not buying are a “time cost” of doing business.

ICXC NIKA

 

[didymus]

Stores open. People browse.
They encourage people to browse. It’s their job to persuade me to trade with them.

They find something they think or KNOW they can get at a better price online.
They find it on Amazon.
They have it shipped to their home for free.
I don’t see the sin here.

Sounds like good stewardship of their money to me.

OK, I think the problem comes in when you plan to buy from Amazon in the first place. I had a coworker who also worked at Best Buy, on commission. Let’s say you already shopped at Amazon and looked at some computers but really didn’t understand what all the specs meant. My friend would ask what you wanted to use it for, explain you didn’t really need a souped up processor, &c. You say thanks and head home to order from Amazon. You have just wasted time he could have been making another sale.

Even more egregious is bookstores which have been basically turned into showrooms. Hear about a new author but not sure? Head to a brick & mortar to leaf thru it to see if you want to plunk down down your cash.
Again, these are cases where there is no intent to buy at the store you went to and I think it goes on a lot.

Certainly there is nothing wrong with shopping around. I used to own a used bookstore and on the same street was a new bookstore and an antiquarian shop. We’d send customers to each other. Of course this was before Amazon. I went out of business in 1995.

 

[Allegra]

OK, I think the problem comes in when you plan to buy from Amazon in the first place. I had a coworker who also worked at Best Buy, on commission. Let’s say you already shopped at Amazon and looked at some computers but really didn’t understand what all the specs meant. My friend would ask what you wanted to use it for, explain you didn’t really need a souped up processor, &c. You say thanks and head home to order from Amazon. You have just wasted time he could have been making another sale.

Even more egregious is bookstores which have been basically turned into showrooms. Hear about a new author but not sure? Head to a brick & mortar to leaf thru it to see if you want to plunk down down your cash.
Again, these are cases where there is no intent to buy at the store you went to and I think it goes on a lot.

Certainly there is nothing wrong with shopping around. I used to own a used bookstore and on the same street was a new bookstore and an antiquarian shop. We’d send customers to each other. Of course this was before Amazon. I went out of business in 1995.

The customer may expect to buy the item on Amazon, but I they go into the shop, the sales person still has the opportunity to make the sale, if the business owner gives them enough tools. Best Buy can price match, offer packages, service plans, and discounts on other merchandise in order to persuade the customer to buy from them instead of Amazon. They also have the benefit of their merchandise being immediately available. And if they still can’t make the sale, they can always try pointing out the clearance power cords or the DVD collection on the way out the door. In the case of the book store, if they really can’t match the price of the book on Amazon, they may be able to sell other item to the customer.

 

[Rosebud77]

I Needed a small hand held vacuum cleaner. Went into one shop and priced them at well over E20… went into the shop two doors down and they had them at E12… No contest.