High Street High Jinks

Bit of a ranty one this, so bear with me and hopefully it will eventually make sense and then we can all move on with our lives...

Hutch and I were in the market for a rucksack style baby carrier for hauling m'boy about the fells and getting off those "designed for push chair" walks which have worn a little thin.

So, to the internet we went and were delighted that the best deal we could find was from a shop in Ambleside. "Perfect" we cried "we can try the thing on and purchase it there and then from a local shop. We've got what we want instantaneously and we've helped support the local economy" and hugging each other in gratuitous gratitude we jumped in the car and sped as fast as we could (within the speed limit) to Ambleside.

Once in the shop we tried the rucksack thing on and agreed that it was exactly what we were after with the slight wrinkle that it was £30 more expensive than it was online - remember, the website that started this anecdote is the shop's own one.

A shop assistant chimed in uninvited with advice we didn't need, but seeing as she was there we let her know we wanted to buy them item but that we noticed it was £30 cheaper online. Within an instant the defence shutters came down and we were told in a tone - that was a little too patronising for my liking - "It's more expensive in store as you get to try it on. If you want to buy it from us you should go home and order it from the website."

£30 extra for trying it on once (without m'boy in it) and for unsolicited advice.

Now, if we'd entered the shop quoting a competitors price and demanding with menaces that the shop matched the other price, then I would understand completely. But this was the shop's OWN website!

When we got home, we made every effort to find the item cheaper elsewhere - literally down to the penny - but Gaynor Sports did turn out to be the cheapest and rather grudgingly we have ordered the item via their website.

I'm happy to recommend Gaynor Sports but for the love of God, don't buy from the Ambleside shop they've got no interest in having you in there and offering goods at the same price they've offered elsewhere. Save yourself the hassle and buy direct from their website.

People look at the slow death of the High Street wondering where it all went wrong and how it can be turned around. I have two suggestions:-

1) If you have a customer in store who wants to buy something from you at a price that you've advertised online, sell it to them at that price. You were happy to accept it via the website, why not in store where your customer is standing in front of you cash in hand? Surely it's easier for the shop. No packaging and posting effort to worry about etc.

2) Why not make the internet price higher and then say to your punters "It's cheaper if you buy it in store" and then, once they're in store... "Oh, seeing as how you're now in the shop, have a look at some of our other stuff..."

There we go, I've done my Mary Portas bit and started the ball rolling, has anyone else got any suggestions as to how we save the High Street?!

Here endeth the rant.