Stores too cheap to turn the lights on

[frankthedm]

Anyone else dislike stores, notably department stores, who keep the lights too damned low? A lot of times the lights are up there, just off. In a regular pattern, so it is not like a bulb or circuit is out.

B&M has to win customers over, not drive them away and last i checked, most folks don't like to shop in dark and dank unless they walked into a Spencers gifts or a head shop.

 

[Asmor]

I've never noticed this, and further have no idea what B&M is. Unless the "&" stands for "DS", in which case this thread is wholly inappropriate for Eric's Grandma.

 

[megamania]

I would think that would be bad for security.

 

[RangerWickett]

As a fervent opponent of light pollution and a supporter of energy conservation, I'm all for stores keeping lights slightly dim. Like 'overcast day' dim, not 'inside a tunnel' dim.

 

[LightPhoenix]

I've never noticed this, and further have no idea what B&M is. Unless the "&" stands for "DS", in which case this thread is wholly inappropriate for Eric's Grandma.

Brick and mortar, as opposed to online.

 

[Relique du Madde]

Have you ever thought that it's not a matter of them being cheap, but instead its a matter of them NOT HAVING THE FUNDS to keep them on all on, all the time and at full blast? Remember overhead for a store includes electricity, so if you are not making a huge profit because you cater to a drying up fringe market of hobbyists, you might want to keep overhead as low as possible so you can purchase merchandise, pay your handful of employees, and pay your bills*.



* Note, in regions with run-away environmental regulations that are put in place by a group of unelected activists (without oversight) purchasing monthly/yearly allotment of "carbon credits" will become part of your overhead and fines accrued for having kilowatt hours over your allotted amount will become part of your bills.

 

[Crothian]

None of the places I've seen do this. Many keep the lights dim during times they are closed but have people working.

 

[ssampier]

The big box stores, like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and some grocery stores chains, are famous for this. It's done simply for energy savings (money savings).

For security, I am pretty sure they alternate which lights are dimmed.

I dislike it, too, but money talks.

New York Times article discussing Wal-Mart and Sam's Club lighting

 

[Aldern Foxglove]

Lol, never noticed it in my local B&M - we call it Bum because we are filled with childish exuberance, and not because we are idiots . But well they are a bargain store, and if they are not getting the customer volume to justify the expenditure... Plus who would steal from a Bum? Everything is cheap as chips anyway.

 

[LightPhoenix]

What I would love to see is these box stores throw up solar panels on their roofs. It's not being used for anything else, and might actually save some money, especially now that solar power is starting to mature.