In an increasingly online world, it’s human interaction that distinguishes a bricks-and-mortar store from the convenience of “just getting it from Amazon.” Between improved customer service at retail locations and ever-easier online purchasing, Americans have grown to expect exceptionally quick, streamlined buying experiences. When they step through the doors of a physical store, they expect a pleasant connection with knowledgeable staff.
DOES YOUR BANDIT BARRIER BOG DOWN SALES?
Two inches of solid acrylic, a tiny cash tray, and a crackling intercom don’t really lend themselves to personal connections. Many retailers–even those in high-risk areas, and especially in need of advanced bullet proof security–have been scarred by the sub-standard bandit barriers of the 1970s. They unconsciously believe that a bullet resistant barrier invariable muffles, clutters, and slows retail transactions.
But this is no longer the case. According to Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards, “a well-designed bandit barrier maximizes contact while minimizing exposure.” The adroit use of rotary passers and operable transaction windows (like the one shown below) keep worker-customer interactions smooth and natural.
Even a large vertical sliding window–able to fully open during low-crime, peak-shopping hours, and then lock down during high-risk periods–can be installed with almost no retail downtime.
COSTS AND BENEFITS OF BULLET RESISTANT BARRIERS
Any business owner does a cost-benefit analysis before installing a bullet resistant barrier. The owners ask themselves if the reduction in risk, liability, and insurance rates will balance the cost of the bandit barrier itself, as well as any slight dip in sales they might see as a result of the system bogging down their business practices. But Jim points out that customers do a similar analysis when they patronize a business. “Most people understand that, in the places these are installed, there’s a need for it.”
Jim often notes that the true value of a bullet resistant barrier isn’t simply in stopping bullets–it’s actually quite rare for a barrier to be assaulted–but in deterrence: armed bandits choose victims who are most likely to be easily cowed. Workers secured behind a bandit barrier are just not as impressed by a waving gun as those with no protection. Customers understand that an establishment with a bullet resistant barrier is less likely to see any sort of criminal activity, and vote for this added sense of security with their wallets.
