You have to wonder how often this happens these days. High-speed coverage (or at least coverage that’s advertised that way) is now widespread, and there have to be times when a solid 3G connection can beat an understaffed checkout line hands-down.
Which means customers are bringing the competition into the bricks-and-mortar stores with them — and they can switch allegiance as easily as point, click, swipe, call up the keyboard, tap tap tap, dammit, backspace, no, that wasn’t it, tap tap (repeat eight or nine times)… submit.
So maybe stores should think twice this holiday season about trying to trim costs by thinning their staff. Longer lineups don’t just discourage shoppers, they give them the means, motive and opportunity to shop elsewhere.
How about you, have you bailed on a big box store mid-expedition in favor of a virtual shopping spree recently?
