I heard about the sign before I read it. A staff member called out to a browser from behind the counter. No reading, look at the sign she barked. I looked up from across the aisle as did several others. Sure ,the sign was there. Two customers put down magazines and walked out, others muttered about customer service.
Browsing is important for magazine sales. Sure, there are people who abuse this. Many do not and end up buying magazines they have browsed. I don’t want any barriers between browsers and a purchase. Signs like the one in the photo turn people off.
It’s not a very welcoming look, I’ve noticed signs like that in the past. I don’t have a problem with browsing seeing I’m a culprit and you never know, they might buy it now or later.
But my biggest problem would be kids browsing, that wouldn’t even read a sign like that anyway.
Although I do have fun by putting the speakers in the roof up high and play the sound of a fighter jet doing a pass over (when there’s just the kids and myself in store) I get startled looks and they run out to see it! There is some fun to be had.
Signs like this in Bangkok’s bookshops and newsagents would empty the places !!!
reading is much welcome in my shop
this problem unfortunately is an occupational hazard for retailers just as the fruit and vege shop has to tolerate ignorant ‘food tasters’ who want to try before they buy or the feral parents of equally feral kids who run rampant around the toy shop testing and dismantling every readily accessible toy. So I guess that in the relative quiet solitude of a newsagency where someone is perusing articles in a magazine, we should accept it as part and parcel of life.
Captain Obvious is correct this time. Signs such as those mentioned above are offensive
Chris,
I don’t think we should jut “accept it as part and parcel of life” – we should encourage it and embrace it. The more inviting a retail environment is the better the experience for the customer.