Should shops charge for trying on clothes? Regional minister's idea proves unpopular

Castilla y León's economy and treasury minister María del Pilar del Olmo made her views known at a recent Retail Industry Conference after discussing it with tourism, trade and industry minister Reyes Maroto, with whom she agreed to set up a new 'Trade 4.0 Observatory' in response to the challenges faced by the high street from the online market.

Sra del Olmo says too many shoppers are tending to try clothing on in physical outlets and, having worked out what fits them and which size to buy, hand them back, claiming they do not suit them, then go online to find them at a cheaper price.

This is less of an issue with major high-street chains whose brand are only sold in-store or on their own websites, normally at a similar price – and often more expensive, when delivery charges are added – but is more of a problem for individual boutiques selling a variety of in-season brands, given that buyers may then be able to find them on sites such as ASOS and El Corte Inglés with a lower price tag.

Critics of Del Olmo's idea point out that online prices may not differ greatly, giving little incentive for shoppers to hand back clothes at the changing room door and buy them via the internet, and that boutiques often sell very individual selections of their various labels, making them hard to find elsewhere.

And where this is the case, shoppers are more likely to strike whilst the iron is hot and simply buy what they have just tried on rather than risk lack of availability elsewhere or limited or no price savings.

It is not clear whether there is anything to be gained from charging for fitting where shoppers decide to wait until the sales to buy the same item for less.

And it is equally possible that consumers may decide not even to bother with the high street if they have to pay without even buying the item they try on.

“It's just an idea,” Del Olmo insists.

“A major part of Spain's identity is the existence of physical and often bespoke shops in town and city centres and, of course, frequently in villages, too; and the only way to ensure they survive is by seeking out innovative ideas.

“This does not necessarily mean shops will definitely start charging for trying on – this was only an example.”

Online straw polls in the Spanish media have so far shown that 91% of readers are against the idea of paying for fitting, believing consumers have the right to decide whether an item fits them properly before opting to buy, and only 7.37% would support a move like Del Olmo's.