> wrote

> Nancy Young > wrote:
>
>> My first experience with a greeter was not at a WalMart, it was some
>> other chain. I was walking in and some guy stopped me and told me
>> about some special. I was polite, I don't want anyone to think I said
>> anything to the guy, but my reaction was What, I have to talk to someone
>> just to get in the store? Get lost? Heh. My idea of personal service
>> is
>> there is someone around to ask when I need them. Not at the door.
>
> Some bright light a few years back, maybe 20 or more now, did some sort
> of study and figured out that stores where the customer was greeted
> within X amount of time of entering the store had lower shoplifting
> rates. This spawned the idea of having a greeter at the door of large
> stores like WalMart so that *every* customer got at least a "hello"
> on the way in. I don't know if this translated into actual lower
> shrinkage or not, but the belief in the industry is strong.

I thought it was some kind of southern thing.

> Some time later the store management types decided to also have
> the greeters check receipts of people on the way out. This has had
> varying success. For example the local WalMart here tried it for a
> while but gave up. Presumably, it caused to much bad will with their
> customers.

I'm not thrilled Costco does it, either. I don't even know how I'm
supposed to steal anything betweent the cashier and the door anyway.

Worse was the electronics store that had all the cameras behind
a counter (as they should, I guess) and no one to sell them. So I
left the store with no camera, but there was a guy waiting to check
my bags on the way out. Thanks for nothing. If, theoretically, I can't
get out of the store without paying for it, don't lock it up.

Gee, and they're having financial trouble. Can't think why, they
don't sell you anything but they'll pay someone to search you.
Get me outta here!

nancy