You have got to see this

[Raskal311]

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/page ... geId=3.2.1

During one of our monthly meetings my partner has suggested this as a joke but I never thought someone would do it He suggested not because of the slow down but he’s just sick of all the people who are just killing time while waiting for a doctors appointment, a table at a restaurant, waiting for their husband/wife/girlfriend for one reason for another.

He doesn’t mind them being there as much as all the random questions they ask wasting 10-15min of his time when he could be helping paying customers. I know I know, potential future customer…..... He’s also suggested charging $20 for every tank quote obviously its never going to happen at our store but its funny to see someone giving it a go.

 

[Anonymous]

I hear some porn shops do this sort of thing too.

Makes sense to me.

I wouldn't mind paying a buck or two at all, especially if its refundable on purchase... - I like keeping my local brick and mortars open and in business.

Shops I don't like I don't go to anyway, so it wouldn't change anything there. One or two bucks isn't going to be a deciding factor whether I walk through someone's door.

 

[jhemdal1]

More telling was the sound bite from the worker regarding their daily receipts dropping from $1000 per day to $200. When I managed a pet store back in the early 1980's, a bad day was $1000 for us - I cannot imagine this guy staying in business long, if he is doing just a fifth of that, 25 years later! Sound slike a last-ditch effort to me.....

Jay Hemdal

 

[Raskal311]

A good idea is to actually setup a short term daycare in the back room!!!! We’ll watch your kids for $1 and minuet. We get people dropping off their kids at the store while they run next door to shop for grocery all day long. The kids run around like its play time and they wonder why we kick them out.

 

[IconicAquariums]

he might save money by catching the lions off florida instead of importing them from PI :lol:

 

[JennM]

LOL! I've contemplated charging a "babysitting" fee when people leave their little darlings to wreak havoc while they tan or have their nails or hair done down the mall.

I've finally had to put up a sign that visitors under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian - one day I had some guy leave his 2 girls, aged about 8 and 9, and he drove away! I asked the girls what was going on and one said, "Oh he went to pick up his *other* kids..." WTF?

He never even said a word to me - had he asked, I would have had the option of whether I wanted to do him a good deed or decline the liability (I'd never seen the man before)...

I think charging 'admission' might cut down on looky-lous but it would likely turn off potential customers.

It's just part of the business - time spent chatting up a customer, giving advice and suggestions - they *pay* for that when they do make a purchase. And not everybody will make a purchase, at least not every time - but that just comes with the territory.

Unless he's getting 800 lookers each day, he's not going to boost his sales numbers by charging admission.

He likely got some free publicity from the news article, but how many viewers will want to run out and pay $1 to see?

Sad sign of the times, I guess.

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

I think charging 'admission' might cut down on looky-lous but it would likely turn off potential customers.

From this consumer's POV, it'd cost them a good customer. I support my LFS, and buy 100% in terms of livestock and a large proportion of dry goods from them. Okay, okay I admit when I've been up against it I have hit the big box store's salt mix sale but that's a rarity for me. From where I live now it's a minimum 50 mile round trip to the nearest LFS so the decision to buy local isn't one of convenience. In fact there is one specific LFS that I regularly drive 150 miles roundtrip just to do business with them. I've spent tons of money there over the years and gotten great value for it.

Now, if that same place charged a non-refundable cover of some sort I'd have scratch them off the list purely on principal.

my

...

 

[RichardS]

That's hilarious. It's one of those things every LFS owner wishes they could do but I didn't think anyone would be dumb enough to try it.

I found a thread on a TB forum about it. Funniest post...

WOW what a joke if i walked in a store and didnt buy anything and they said it would cost me a dollar for looking around what would follow would be on the news....new at 10pm owner of lfs beat down for being a dumb a&$...................................

 

[Raskal311]

Now, if that same place charged a non-refundable cover of some sort I'd have scratch them off the list purely on principal.

my

...

What about paying $5 to see the ‘back room’?

 

[Anonymous]

Now, if that same place charged a non-refundable cover of some sort I'd have scratch them off the list purely on principal.

my

...

What about paying $5 to see the ‘back room’?

:lol: not a chance, I already paid for the stuff back there once

 

[Twisted1]

I would rather close the brick and mortar and open an online then t have to more or less ask for hand outs.

 

[Raskal311]

Your better off getting a job doing something else… The online thing isn’t as easy as it may look.. You’re either directly competing with the big boys or your competing with someone’s little brother’s garage operation.

It’s ok if you’re doing it on the side with low to no real over head. I wouldn't bother if you have a mortgage to pay.. One day you could make $3000 practically all profit then run dry for the next weeks.

The only reason why we even bother with the website is it great advertisement for the store. It really does get a lot of people through our doors. Sales are ok but its more work then its worth otherwise… It takes 2-3x as much energy with the packing, answering email, phone calls, and dealing with other packing issues then it is to make the same sale at the store.

 

[Twisted1]

Yeah, if I made a move to online retail, it would more or less be a side business, just selling my own stuff online, maybe pulling in some trans ships and selling what I don't want to cover some of the cost. I know recent trans ships haven't been much, but rumor has it, every once in awhile you will find that one jewel...

 

[Raskal311]

Yeah, we get a gem out of about every Three-four box which could pretty much cover the cost for an entire box or more if you market it right. But then again you’re going to get plenty of junk in the mix so it all averages out.

 

[dizzy]

The only reason why we even bother with the website is it great advertisement for the store. It really does get a lot of people through our doors. Sales are ok but its more work then its worth otherwise… It takes 2-3x as much energy with the packing, answering email, phone calls, and dealing with other packing issues then it is to make the same sale at the store.

You're s'post to let the wholesalers do all the packing and shipping for you. :lol: