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A specialty food retailer in Australia has implemented a fee as an attempt to stop shoppers from using her store to research products they buy elsewhere.

Christine Kapperman, Senior Content Director

March 26, 2013

1 Min Read
'Just looking' charge an attempt to combat showrooming

BarrettFox/Reddit A specialty grocer in Australia has had it with showroomers and instituted a $5 "just looking" fee.

The story emerged after a shopper snapped a picture of the announcement posted at Celiac Supplies located near Brisbane and posted it on reddit.com.

The owner told adelaidenow.com.au that about 60 people a week ask questions and then buy the same or similar products at other stores or online. It's a practice that's become known as "showrooming" because shoppers use brick-and-mortar stores to view products and then shop price, and even buy, online.

The newspaper reported the owner saying:

"I've had a gut full of working and not getting paid,'' Georgina, who didn't want her surname published, told AAP. "I'm not here to dispense a charity service for Coles and Woolworths to make more money."

Boston-based social media analyst Crimson Hexagon has been studying the issue and shared these tips to combat showrooming with Natural Foods Merchandiser in December.

 

About the Author(s)

Christine Kapperman

Senior Content Director, New Hope Network

As the senior content director at New Hope Network, Christine Kapperman combines her 20-year journalism background with her passion for business to cover the natural products industry for newhope.com and Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine. She also led content at worldteanews.com. She loves tracking (and tasting) trends as she shares what’s next to show up in cups, plates and in pantries across the United States.

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