Retailers have the wrong attitude about this. I have come in to stores many times intending to buy something online and ended up buying it at the store instead.
Retailers need to find a way to present the product better (live interactive demos, friendly sales staff), have a better returns policy or servicing (many offer 30 day phone support now), and they need to convince the consumer they need this item now, rather than later. (Now vs having it shipped)
All of the complaining about show rooming is distracting retailers from making the changes necessary to make this actually beneficial for them.
This was the main thing I got from this article. When I walk into a store, try something (expensive) on and leave with a picture it doesn't mean I'm buying that thing online. It means I'm going to another store down the block - expensive clothing in particular has to be perfect, not just very good.
Really expensive goods of any kind need to be the best I can get. I'm never walking into one store, and buying anything that costs more than a couple of hundred dollars. I'm shopping around. And this happened long before the Internet.
Retailers need to find a way to present the product better (live interactive demos, friendly sales staff), have a better returns policy or servicing (many offer 30 day phone support now), and they need to convince the consumer they need this item now, rather than later. (Now vs having it shipped)
All of the complaining about show rooming is distracting retailers from making the changes necessary to make this actually beneficial for them.