Richard J Kinch wrote:

I was at the West Marine store looking around and musing over different
projects in prospect, and wound up wanting to actually buy only a baggie
with $4 worth of loose stainless hardware out of the bulk bins. This was
about closing time on a weekend, and the boss waved me out of the store,
saying "that's all you have today, then we'll get you next time".

Now I don't mind getting something for free, but I sure felt like, man, you
must get scalped at the chandler's every day if they can do that for guys
that look like they're they're three times a week. This was a store in the
next town that I hadn't actually visited before.

It was a good call. It's not worth the time or paper to make, at best,
$2.00 in "profit". You will (and did) remember the gesture and will
be back at some point or at least tell your friends.

I own a business where the average ticket is about $300.00. We don't
have a lot of walk in business but when someone needs a small part
that's under $5.00, or so, I thank them for stopping by and send them on
their way. I have only seen good results and no one has been back for a
similar small purchase that I can remember. I do write it off as a
no-charge sale after they leave to keep the inventory straight.

Dan