On a comic listing types of bad websites I found this gem:

That about sums it up. Would you put any impediment outside the door to your store, especially a loud, obnoxious one? Of course not. The only businesses I can think of that do this are car dealerships, furniture stores, and places having "Going Out Of Business Sales". And even then you are not required to interact with the guy dressed like Uncle Sam on stilts; he's just an attention-getting device.

Even worse are the cases where if this guy's not there, because he's on break or something, you can't get in at all. Most people won't spend time looking for an alternate entrance; they just leave and may never return.