Type 1 in Retail Categories – Self Service

In this type, the customer generally serves himself which means he or she chooses their own products
and makes their own decision. There is no involvement of the retail store. The epitome of a self-service
retail outlet is the AMAZON GO retail outlet wherein customers have to just walk in, pick the products
they want, and they can leave without even standing in queue for paying the bills. Through a barcode
scanner, the bill is directly raised to your bank account.

Another example of Self-service stores are hypermarkets like Walmart or Tesco or others. Here the
customers themselves select the products, compare them and decide on what they want to buy. There
is no involvement of any retail service executive. It is one of the most common types of retail services
and even restaurants are more and more opting for self-service.

Type 2 in Retail Categories – Self-selection

This is a common type of retail observed in Furniture outlets. Here, customers may walk in and
choose what they want. However, they might need more guidance and information from time to
time which is very selective. 1 executive for every 5 person is enough. Most of the selection
depends on the customer themselves.

In Ikea for example – A customer decides what he wants, collects all the material from the
showroom and assembles the furniture at home. A lot of this is done by the customer himself.
But from time to time, the customer might need guidance on the right parts or the mode of
assembly wherein he can take the help of the store executive.

Type 3 in Retail Categories – Limited service

In this type of retail, the customer needs additional assurances besides the goods that he buys.
For example – He might need more credit or he might need better facilities or even the assurance
that they can return the material If they don’t like it.

Small electronics stores can be an example of a limited service retail outlet. Here the retail
executive pays direct attention to the customer, clears all their doubts. They might offer financial
benefits in terms of EMI’s or consumer loans and will, in general, make your purchase easier.

Their limited service includes explaining and helping you with your decision and your purchase.
If you do not like the purchase or if there is the problem with the purchase they might call the
main company to assist you or take the machine back. Basically, because of these services
received, many customers stick to small retailers.

Type 4 in Retail Categories – Full service

Whenever buying complicated machines, there is a mandatory service requirement along with
the machine. For example – Buying a water purifier from a retail outlet selling all different kinds
of water purifiers in the market. This water purifier retailer has to ensure that the installation
happens after the sale of the water purifier.

Not only installation, the water purifier retailer cum service dealer has to give timely service
every three months to ensure that your water purifier is working fine. The same goes for
investors or even gas chimneys which have to be sold and serviced by the company. In some
cases, the company directly takes care of such services whereas in others and especially in
private label brands, the retail outlet has to be a full-service outlet.