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Is it wrong to browse at stores you'll never buy anything from?

post #1 of 50
11/19/10 at 2:05am
Thread Starter 
So I ask you, is it wrong to browse at a shop when you really know you're not going to buy anything? and what if someone offers to help you and you let them? I spend a lot of time "browsing". After all, I'm interested in clothing. But honestly 99% of the time I'm walking around a store looking at or trying on things that there's no way I'd likely buy. I'm no big timer, so usually its a matter of cash; I don't have it and what I'm looking at is way more then I'd spend even if I did. Maybe I'm scoping something out to come back to in the hopes it'll be on sale. Maybe I just want to feel like a big timer becuase I get the special treatment. Is that wrong? and what if a SA goes out of their way to try and help me and I let them show me things, spend time chatting with them, try on a suit and talk about what I like/not, etc.. like case in point, I walk into a local high end retail shop and in the Tom Ford boutique casually inquire if they have my size in stock, since "I'm curious to see the fit". I mean, I am. But it's extremely unlikely I'd ever buy it from them there at full price, maybe I'd never even buy a Ford suit ever, anywhere, so it's sort of pointless. I'm just doing it to build a knowledge base out of interest. You ever do the same thing?
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post #2 of 50
11/19/10 at 2:15am
Noor meetup this weekend? Wanna try out some free sample frags...
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post #3 of 50
11/19/10 at 2:36am
I think it's fine. Companies thrive on people striving to own their clothing. I would feel bad taking a SA's time if they could be helping someone else though.
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post #4 of 50
11/19/10 at 2:38am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hartmann View Post
Noor meetup this weekend? Wanna try out some free sample frags...

lol, that's just mean.

But you're probably right. I try to compensate them in other ways (ie the meetup) for taking up time and the occasional sample. And another reason why I did that box...
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post #5 of 50
11/19/10 at 3:34am
i might feel guilty asking to test drive a Cessna, but a clothing store? don't worry, many will compensate by treating you like crap until you pull out your wallet.
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post #6 of 50
11/19/10 at 11:17am
That's Holt Renfrew and just about every other boutique for me. But I don't ask to try things on unless I buy. I was too chicken to go to any shop on Savile Row or Jermyn Street unless they had an off the peg selection. I didn't think I could pretend I have enough for bespoke and my Canadian sensibility didn't want to waste their time.
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post #7 of 50
11/19/10 at 11:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Master-Classter View Post
So I ask you, is it wrong to browse at a shop when you really know you're not going to buy anything? and what if someone offers to help you and you let them?


I spend a lot of time "browsing". After all, I'm interested in clothing. But honestly 99% of the time I'm walking around a store looking at or trying on things that there's no way I'd likely buy. I'm no big timer, so usually its a matter of cash; I don't have it and what I'm looking at is way more then I'd spend even if I did. Maybe I'm scoping something out to come back to in the hopes it'll be on sale. Maybe I just want to feel like a big timer becuase I get the special treatment. Is that wrong? and what if a SA goes out of their way to try and help me and I let them show me things, spend time chatting with them, try on a suit and talk about what I like/not, etc..

like case in point, I walk into a local high end retail shop and in the Tom Ford boutique casually inquire if they have my size in stock, since "I'm curious to see the fit". I mean, I am. But it's extremely unlikely I'd ever buy it from them there at full price, maybe I'd never even buy a Ford suit ever, anywhere, so it's sort of pointless. I'm just doing it to build a knowledge base out of interest.


You ever do the same thing?

It's not wrong but I don't like to. When I do browse I make it a point not to ask for too much assistance from the sales associates as I don't want to waste their time.
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post #8 of 50
11/19/10 at 12:08pm
It is to both parties' benefit. You get to window shop and perhaps make mental note of things that you may be interested in buying on your terms, and the store wins because they appear more busy. There are several studies that show that people will both shop longer and spend more if there are more people around doing the same (have you ever been inside a Uniqlo? I love $2 socks, but there has to be a very deep-rooted psychological reason why I would be willing to weather a forty-five minute line to purchase said socks).
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post #9 of 50
11/19/10 at 12:34pm
I don't know if this is true, but an Italian told me that in smaller cities and towns you're not really supposed to go in shops if you're not buying something. A nice representative display in the window tells you what's available. Maybe go in w/ a question, but never just to 'browse'.
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post #10 of 50
11/19/10 at 1:02pm
If you are wasting an inordinate amount of an SA's time, yes. If it's just a few minutes, no big deal.
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post #11 of 50
11/19/10 at 1:10pm
Or trying on for size in store then buying same cheaper on line... naughty naughty
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post #12 of 50
11/19/10 at 2:15pm
Good retail stores understand that there is something very important about creating goodwill regardless of purchases. Go ahead.
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post #13 of 50
11/19/10 at 3:14pm
I would try on things I wasn't planning on buying, but I'm not going to get an SA to fetch a bunch of sizes for me if there is no chance of me making a purchase. I don't mind getting help for 1-2 things if I'm just browsing... but I wouldn't feel right spending 15-20 minutes with an SA if I wasn't even interested.
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post #14 of 50
11/19/10 at 3:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pocketsquareguy View Post
Good retail stores understand that there is something very important about creating goodwill regardless of purchases. Go ahead.
This. This is why Borders (or Indigo for the Canadians) is all about letting you browse and read their books and magazines in the store with no pressure to buy. After all, the more time you spend in the store, the more likely it is something will catch your eye and have you pulling out your wallet.
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post #15 of 50
11/19/10 at 3:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Britalian View Post
Or trying on for size in store then buying same cheaper on line... naughty naughty

I have done this before, but felt pretty awkward in the process, almost as if the SA knew what I was doing.

-LR
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