It's a nicer alternative to the "idiot chair" that's usually in shops.

With the comment about why come out at all: some shopping we'd do together, others parts not. I am not interested in (insert item here) and my wife is not interested in a bored husband for example. I'd rather spend the rest of the day with her, do the shared shopping and then head off for a while and do something I'm more interested in and let her enjoy the part she likes.

We don't have to be attached at the hip or in different towns, there's a happy medium.