When someone show rooms they are taking money out of the local community, putting local jobs at risk, and making it less likely that the local business or hometown big box store will still be in business the next time you need to make a purchase.

Apple has an app that allows you to stand in a place of business, scan a bar code, and get a price on the same product from Amazon. That seems particularly heinous to me, but is just a sign of how wide-spread show rooming has become.

To help make ends meet, I worked for a local home theater company. I was amazed that so many people would pay big money to have someone set-up their components, program their receiver, and set-up their universal remote.

Unintentionally, my side job was teaching me an important lesson. What was easy and obvious to me was not to everyone else. Charge for it.

Great post Mark!