Major disadvantage of large shop retailers are that they lack in providing personalized service to the customers.
Major disadvantage of large shop retailers are that they lack in providing personalized service to the customers.
The correct option is A True
Disadvantages of large-scale retail businesses
- Less ability to offer personal service
A small retailer may know all his clients personally due to constant interaction with them. He would know the tastes and preferences of his clients to be able to offer them a better personalized service, catering for their unique needs. A large retailer would not be able to do this as its aim is to sell, sell and sell. Time is money is such a large business and the more rapidly it sells, the higher the profit. Special small orders from customers are rarely accepted, especially if these do not generate enough cash to generate the required rate of return for the business. The customer may be considered nothing more than a number in a large superstore, but he would be a treasured regular customer for the small retail store.
- Labour problems
The fact that it is constrained by time, pressure is transferred to the large retail store’s staff, which is expected to do more in less time. Most of the work is repetitive and they can hardly engage in conversations with the client or with colleagues. This leads to lower morale on the place of work and more costs of recruitment and retraining if workers regularly resign from their work.
- Less control over pilfering
With a huge surface area full of thousands of items, it is difficult to have eyes all over the place to control pilfering. Large retailers are faced with the problem of people stealing small amounts from the shelves while no one is looking. The temptation to steal is higher in a large shop than it is in a smaller shop where it is easier to be spotted by someone. Thieves may also think that it is less likely for larger retailers to notice occasional pilfered items due to the large quantities of material. Shoplifters are regularly convicted by large retailers than they are by the smaller ones. The business is faced with a loss-loss situation where it either invests in security or else it suffers the loss of pilferage.
Disadvantages of large-scale retail businesses
- Less ability to offer personal service
A small retailer may know all his clients personally due to constant interaction with them. He would know the tastes and preferences of his clients to be able to offer them a better personalized service, catering for their unique needs. A large retailer would not be able to do this as its aim is to sell, sell and sell. Time is money is such a large business and the more rapidly it sells, the higher the profit. Special small orders from customers are rarely accepted, especially if these do not generate enough cash to generate the required rate of return for the business. The customer may be considered nothing more than a number in a large superstore, but he would be a treasured regular customer for the small retail store.
- Labour problems
The fact that it is constrained by time, pressure is transferred to the large retail store’s staff, which is expected to do more in less time. Most of the work is repetitive and they can hardly engage in conversations with the client or with colleagues. This leads to lower morale on the place of work and more costs of recruitment and retraining if workers regularly resign from their work.
- Less control over pilfering
With a huge surface area full of thousands of items, it is difficult to have eyes all over the place to control pilfering. Large retailers are faced with the problem of people stealing small amounts from the shelves while no one is looking. The temptation to steal is higher in a large shop than it is in a smaller shop where it is easier to be spotted by someone. Thieves may also think that it is less likely for larger retailers to notice occasional pilfered items due to the large quantities of material. Shoplifters are regularly convicted by large retailers than they are by the smaller ones. The business is faced with a loss-loss situation where it either invests in security or else it suffers the loss of pilferage.
