A RAPIDLY growing number of retailers are threatening to charge "fitting fees" to stop shoppers trying items in store - only to buy them online for less later.

Fed-up sellers of everything from cameras to wetsuits, ski boots and wedding gowns say they have been forced to consider charges to protect themselves from what they consider to be exploitation, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The move comes as a survey by The Daily Telegraph of more than 1000 people revealed that 61 per cent had tried a product in a store, then later bought it on the internet. Nearly half of them said they had done so at least five times.



Hanna Kossowska, who owns Hanna Couture, is contemplating charging brides-to-be $300 for a six-hour dress fitting, which is refundable if they buy from her."I'm now lucky to get one job from 10 fittings because girls tell me they can get either the same dress or a similar dress on the web for less," she said.

Camera House Caringbah owner Craig Mackenzie charges a $30 "explanation fee" to customers looking to test out his high-end cameras."I've got to pick the people who won't screw me over," Mr Mackenzie said.

"If I pick the wrong one, he'll waste half an hour of my time and will then ask me to write it all down."

Heritage Surf manager Steve Collinson said "online cannibalisation" was a major factor in the decision to close the Manly store in two weeks."People can just now get on their iPhone to actually look up prices in comparison - all while they stand right in front of you," he said.

"Surf stores have had big meetings with RipCurl recently to decide whether or not to start charging people for testing wetsuits in store," he added.Earlier this year Sydney ski store InSki made global headlines after announcing a $50 boot fitting charge, refundable on purchase.

Nearly two-thirds of all respondents to The Daily Telegraph survey said they bought more goods and services online in the past year.

The findings are backed by a recent study by Macquarie Equities Research, which found 18 per cent of visitors to shopping centres preferred to window shop before buying on the internet.

Survey respondent Carlie Arnot, 22, said she shopped on the web more than ever.

Ms Arnot said that while she could understand the logic behind stores charging people for trying items, it was going to be a tough sell.

"I think that it will just push more people to buy online," she said.

Choice spokeswoman Ingrid Just said that while she sympathised with retailers, they were playing a dangerous game in charging people to try on items in-store."Historically, people have always shopped around to find a better deal, but it's just now that they've got the internet as the ultimate tool of price comparison," she said.

Results of our shoppers' survey:

In the past 12 months would you say you have bought:

More goods and services online: 63.9%

Fewer goods and services online: 6.9%

About the same amount of goods and services online: 22.5%

I don’t buy goods and services online: 6.7%

What is the most appealing aspect of shopping online?

It's cheaper: 49.1%

It's quicker: 8.6%

I can shop when I want: 24.9%

Better variety: 11%

Shopping online does not appeal to me: 6.4%

Have you ever tried a product in a retail store only to then buy it online for less?

Yes: 61.7%

No: 38.3%

If you answered yes to the previous question, how often have you done it?

Once 10.7%

Twice 16.2%

Three times 16.8%

Four times 9.5%

5-10 times 29.2%

11-20 times 6.4%

More than 20 times 11.3%

What is your opinion of the GST exemption for goods bought via the internet from overseas?

It saves shoppers money and should remain in place: 69.2%

It's bad for local retailers and should be removed: 11.2%

I don't have an opinion on this: 19.5%

Do you subscribe to any 'deal-a-day' websites?

Yes: 57.5%

No: 42.5%

If you answered yes to the previous question, how satisfied were you with the deal?

Extremely satisfied: 23.3%

Very satisfied: 26.7%

Quite satisfied: 37.3%

Quite unsatisfied: 8.4%

Very unsatisfied: 1.8%

Extremely unsatisfied: 2.5%

