News Item--stores charging fee for change rooms-Australia

Patty

" Shops slugging customers 'try-on' charges
Shops say shoppers are trying then buying online
Charge refunded if person buys product in-store"
Have you experience this yet ???
(If I'm going to be charged for a change room I want the good light and mirrors)

14 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from puffenstuff

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Thank Patty for sharing, very interesting.

I read the article and in the US we don't have the situation of duties as they do in Australia. Frequently I can find a better deal at a bricks-and-mortar than on-line. Macy's comes to mind.

If a retailer started charging for fitting rooms, I agree, they better be super comfy, large, posh and with nice lighting! They would also have to expect far more returns, or people trying things on right on the sales floor.

14 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

OMG....that is absolutely ridiculous! If I ran into that situation, I would walk right out of the store (and not buy from them online) period!

14 years ago

marianna

Veteran

I find this absurd. I can't imagine people would really pay for a fitting room. I know I wouldn't.

14 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Couldn't you just buy what you're interested, take it home and then return it if it didn't work? Sometimes if I'm not feeling like struggling through the whole try-on process, that's what I'll do.

I do feel guilty sometimes doing snoop shopping and then buying online for a better deal, or deciding to sew the item myself - but honestly I feel worse about it in bookstores than I do in clothing stores.

14 years ago

Heather

Veteran

Question: What if you pay to use the fitting room, purchase the item, but return the item? Is your refund less the change room fee?

14 years ago

Diana

Veteran

This seems rather dumb to me. I think it will cut way way down on impulse buying and cause the stores to lose a lot more money. I'd be a lot less inclined to consider buying something random and cute that I found while browsing casually if I had to pay to try it on!

14 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

that's even more absurd than airlines charging you for your luggage. Good grief! And I agree with Diana.. I would think this would decrease sales over all. I know personally I buy alot on line and then when I return those items to the B&M store, I usually look around and find something else that I want to take home.
But then again, I am speaking from the experience of US retail... I have no idea of the ins and outs of Australian retail.

Okay, just read the article. I do see the point about the ski boots. That would be like letting a Nordies salesgirl spend 2 hours with you on a bra fitting and then you go buy the bra from TJ Maxx or on-line to save a few bucks. I think this in in poor taste, and would understand if Nordies decided to charge me a bra-fitting fee in that case.

14 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I would pay $1 for a change room if it meant I could take in unlimited items (and that your store actually HAS items I actually want to try on); and I think I should get my money back if none of the items work, and if you don't have my size. And they'd better be well-lit, clean rooms.

If I see a bug in one (like I did recently), someone's head is gonna roll.

14 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

oh yes, I agree with Lyn's demands. They better not limit me to 6 items and they better be big, clean, have more than one hook, 3 way folding mirrors, and the salesgirl should be available to find me different sizes

oh, that sounds like a Nordstrom dressing room, doesn't it?

14 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Actually I have a problem with a ski boot fitting fee. Last month I spent over an hour in a local ski shop trying on boots. Nothing worked. I was told to come back in November when stock selection would be the highest.
Clothes are expensive in Australia. I bought a Quicksilver (Australian surf brand) hoodie after a day at the beach in Sydney. It cost over $90 US.

14 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Rickis, in Canada, has amazing fitting rooms. TWO rows of 3 hooks; and *gasp* a hang bar for your clothes and *gasp* a peg for your purse... and an adjustable THREE WAY MIRROR.

*in love*

14 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

you make a good point anna!

Lyn~ that is fitting room heaven. The worst is when I can't even find a place to hang my own clothes while I try on new stuff. Maybe I ought to start getting obnoxious about it

14 years ago

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

This has been doing the rounds in the news in Oz for a little while. The retailers dont like the fact that we can buy things much cheaper direct from USA rather than buying from them, why should we be limited to buying from a shop and paying a huge mark-up? The fact is that people are never going to stop online shopping, especially at the moment because our dollar is worth $1.04 against the US so everything is so much better value. I think it should serve as a wake-up call for Australia retailers to get more competitive and offer better online shopping services. One of our major department stores (Myer) doesnt even have online shopping, how backward is that!

Just to comment from some of the above posts regarding buying things & returning, Aussie retailers have a very strict policy regarding returns. You're only supposed to return items if they are faulty or damaged but most stores will offer exchanges as a good will gesture but only within a limited period of time.

14 years ago

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