showrooming

Store charges $5 'showrooming' fee to looky-loos

Celiac Supplies, a Brisbane, Australia, store specializing in gluten-free groceries, has unveiled a shopping policy that has fired up the controversy around "showrooming," the act of checking out products in-person at a store and then going online to buy them for a lower price.

Celiac Supplies posted a sign notifying customers of a $5 fee for in-store browsing. That fee then would be deducted from the cost of any in-store purchase. As images of the store's sign spread on Reddit, so did consumer outrage. Reddit user SimplyGeek summed up the sentiments saying, "I would never walk into a store with this policy. It's so incredibly ignorant, self-defeating, and hostile to potential customers."… Read more

The 404 1,235: Where we charge you just for browsing (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Jeff's review: Using Appetize at a concert.

- The end of "just browsing:" Australian store charges $5 browsing fee.

- How the P2P era of SEO-baiting, intentionally mislabeled MP3s changed our taste in music.

- Hollywood embraces the Tweaser on Vine.

- T-Mobile finally gets the iPhone.

- T-Mobile launches 4G LTE network.… Read more

Target online price match unlikely to curb 'showrooming'

Target said today that it would match online pricing in all of its stores year-round -- a move deployed by many retailers this holiday season -- in a bid to stop Amazon's "showrooming" effect.

In a statement, Target said it will match pricing from Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com and Toysrus.com (including Babiesrus.com). In a nutshell, Target will match prices on items found cheaper elsewhere within seven days.

The move is likely to be followed by Best Buy and other retailers that deployed the price matching stunt over the holidays. However, it's unclear … Read more

Apple might unwrap iPad Mini on Oct. 23

Friday's CNET Update is scanning for sales:

Best Buy plans to match prices on Amazon this holiday season, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Today's tech news roundup dives into the trend of "showrooming" and how you can use apps to get the best price at the register.

There's a fresh report on the iPad Mini. All Things Digital says Apple will reveal the smaller tablet at a news event on Oct. 23. But of course we won't know for sure until Apple breaks its silence. Pricing will be a big … Read more

General Motors launches GMC Showroom Mobile App

When you're not busy playing Angry Birds, you can check out the new GMC Showroom Mobile App from GM.

With the GMC app you can see the latest models in a virtual showroom and explore vehicle photos or videos to configure a GMC vehicle to your specifications.

The app is currently available for free for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch through the Apple App Store. It will also be available for the Android through the Android Market by the end of July, GM said in a press release.

With the app, customers will be able to check do … Read more

Is Harman the Mercedes-Benz of the audio business?

There are surprisingly few multinational audio companies.

I'm talking about big companies that just make speakers and audio electronics, so that leaves Sony and Panasonic out of the picture. Bose and D & M Holdings (Denon, Marantz, Boston Acoustics, etc) come to mind, but Harman International has a longer reach. Harman owns AKG (headphones, microphones), Harman/Becker Automotive Systems, Crown (professional audio), Harman Kardon (receivers), Infinity (speakers), JBL (speakers), Lexicon (high-end electronics), Mark Levinson (car and high-end audio electronics), Revel (speakers), Soundcraft (professional audio), and Studer (professional audio).

Some brands, like JBL and Lexicon, make consumer and pro gear, and in the case of JBL, speakers for every budget, from entry-level hi-fi and home theater all the way up to recording studios, movie theaters and stadium sound systems.

I was thinking about all that because the Harman Mobile Showroom was in NYC last week for the Architectural Digest Home Design Show. It may soon be in a town near you, or you can take a virtual tour and see and learn more about Harman's Mobile Showroom.

I liked the sound at the Mobile Showroom and chatted with Todd Packer, a technical product and project manager for Harman, about the gear. The company's intention, "To make a strong design statement," came through loud and very clear. … Read more

Turn your home into a car stereo showroom

Crave would never intentionally create domestic problems for anyone, but if we did--theoretically speaking, of course--we would dare our readers to bid on this eBay item: a "Winntech Scorpion" car media display. You know those huge set-ups in car stereo showrooms where you see and hear equipment in action? This is one of them, in spades.

It's a four-seat display (though only two are shown here), which will "switch between six head units, four speakers, four subwoofers and two video overheads, one video head unit and two headrest monitors," according to the auction's description. … Read more