Before the next federal-state summit on March 3, the retail sector is calling for relaxation.
A look at neighboring European countries shows that shopping could soon change for customers.
Munich - "Anger and despair" is spreading among the merchants, complains the German Trade Association (HDE).
In a letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel, dealers criticize the blanket lockdown that has been closing their stores since December.
After Click & Collect, the next opening strategy should now be used during the corona pandemic.
With Click & Meet, customers could rummage through the shops again, inspect and buy goods after reserving an appointment for their shopping experience.
With a mask and distance, of course.
From Monday, however, the change will only apply to one state.
Click & Meet: Rhineland-Palatinate is pushing ahead with its shopping concept
Starting next Monday, customers in Rhineland-Palatinate can go shopping after booking an appointment.
The Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann is also in favor of shopping by appointment.
In concrete terms, however, only Rhineland-Palatinate is starting to implement it.
As
reported by
chip.de
, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse will follow next week.
Saxony-Anhalt also seems to be convinced of the concept, so that the remaining federal states may soon follow the initiative in Rhineland-Palatinate and so Click & Meet may soon be possible throughout Germany.
According to
chip.de
,
customers who buy by appointment can
book appointments with dealers via the Internet, by phone or by email.
The offer is aimed primarily at smaller shops, it remains to be seen whether the individual appointment bookings for large chains are worthwhile.
Click & Meet asserts itself in neighboring European countries
As
chip.de
writes, Click & Meet is particularly popular in major European cities.
According to reports, customers of large fashion houses can book a one-hour appointment window during which they are allowed to enter the stores.
In Greece and Spain, the concepts should be well received by customers.
The Greek news portal
ekathimerini
writes that the brands Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius and Oysho have decided to open branches in Greece according to the Click & Meet concept.
The Click & Meet concept, which was developed by some country bosses, does not meet with much approval from the German Trade Association (HDE).
Shopping by appointment can be "a first bridge to normality in the short term," said managing director Stefan Genth to
Heilbronner Demokratie
on Friday.
Many business models in retail would only be financially viable if a corresponding number of goods were sold to many customers, he pointed out.
So it remains to be seen whether customers will be able to look forward to a shopping experience at large department stores by appointment.
(
jjf / AFP
)
