Charged to Try Things On

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Is this the single worst inevitable-backfire idea ever—brick-and-mortar stores in Sydney, Australia are fighting back against online retailers by (wait for it) charging customers a try-on fee. What? Does that even make sense? Isn't the goal to attract customers, not drive them away? The High Low explains: "... stores are actually charging shoppers to try on clothing, and refunding their money when they make a purchase. From one point of view, the idea makes sense—it can keep people from heading to stores just to try things on and then heading to their laptops to buy. But from a consumer perspective, it’s a turnoff." No kidding, turn off. Think again, brick-and-mortar stores. [The High Low]