Soliciting is OK, as long as you pay up
June 19, 2009
Greensboro’s Moore Music has a slightly more-creative-than-usual approach to solicitors. This is the sign on its door:
The man at the counter said that no one had ever taken them up on the offer. I guess the expected value of sales at a particular store on a particular day isn’t worth the cost.
At what price it would be worth it for solicitors to pay up? Or are the transactions costs so high that it would just be too much trouble at any price?
The store could probably make some dough if they found a more optimal price. Those prices per employee and per customer are pretty big barriers to entry for a typical peddler.
Maybe that’s the point though.
I doubt it. At the price point where solicitors are actually paying the per person fee, they will be paying it for every customer/employee they see. The presence of solicitors in your place of business probably drives away enough customers that it wouldn’t be worth it at any price point.
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Great stuff. I think it is fantastic that store owners are fighting back.
Divided by a common language.
Here in the UK, and perhaps in other parts of the English speaking world, solicitors are the people who do legal work (OK, we also have barristers and Queens Counsellors in our system as well). So I’m completely baffled by this piece.
On the other hand, “soliciting” in the Queen’s English has distinct sexual overtones. But I don’t think anyone would succeed in soliciting much business for $2.50. So what’s it all about?
Interesting; I had no idea.
In the U.S., you’ll see a lot of businesses with signs that say “No Soliciting” or “No Solicitors,” and they’re referring to people who come asking for (“soliciting”) donations (or petition signatures, etc.) for their causes. Mostly, businessowners consider them a nuisance to customers and a barrier to employee productivity.
Don’t worry — in most contexts, “soliciting” retains its sexual overtones. But the “No Soliciting” sign is a pretty common feature at businesses here.