To Mask Or Not To Mask
It started with a few national retail stores…then more jumped on the bandwagon as the week went on; stores announcing that customers must wear a mask or some sort of face covering, just like those stores’ employees have for some time.
I’ve said before I don’t really have a problem with stores setting their rules; it’s their business, and I as a customer can then choose to shop there or not.
What I don’t really understand is a business announcing it one day, and not putting it into effect until almost a week later…or in the case of one of the stores, more than two weeks later.
If the public health crisis is that acute, requiring everyone in the building to wear a mask…then put it into immediate effect. Otherwise, all you’re doing is creating a panic, with those of us who don’t care for masks rushing in to the store to make big purchases before the mask rule goes into effect…arguably, leading to greater danger to the public from all these unmasked folks gathering at one time…and leading to mass purchases and empty store shelves for no good reason.
I understand the desire to give customers fair warning. I also understand the public relations benefit of making a big announcement. But that big announcement can come by saying, “the next time you shop with us, you’ll need a mask” after closing time one evening.
I’m not going to debate whether it’s a good idea to require masks or not; but from an implementation standpoint, it flies in the face of common sense. Businesses always try to create a sense of urgency; that’s why they have limited duration sales. But this is hardly a way to do that.
