It’s very much become a reality to walk into CVS, Target, Walmart, and many other stores only to be confronted with products being locked up. Essential items like deo, toothpaste, and laundry detergent now all locked up. There’s a certain irony in the fact that my local Walmart locks up things like toothpaste but they literally have six rows of cosmetics that are not locked up. So, wait, you’re telling me people are stealing the $4.99 toothpaste and leaving behind the Maybelline Mascara for $17.99? The math isn’t mathing with the lockdown situation. It’s not only Walmart but also, Target and CVS. These places have aisles of makeup that isn’t locked down but they’ll lock up deodorant. I mean, I guess there’s some sort of method to the madness and these items are high theft items but I know if I was a thief I wouldn’t be headed in for the toothpaste.
I’ve always been a huge online shopper but the last year or so a lot of my local stores have started locking up virtually everything and it’s annoying to shop there now. First off, I like to touch things, read the back of the packaging, sometimes I even take a little sniff of a body wash (If it’s seal I’m SO NOT THAT girl that opens it but I’ll steal a sniff if it is open!). That’s become impossible to do now with everything being locked up. You really need to know what you want and not waste the person’s time who is unlocking the case. They aren’t going to stand their while you read the bottle, browse the other options available, etc…! They want to unlock the case, give you the item, and get out of there. That’s also, a problem I don’t understand the solution to. How does locking something up only to hand it to someone prevent theft? I mean, ok, you locked it up and maybe that will prevent someone from stealing a few of the same item but what’s to say they won’t steal that one item you did unlock?
Here’s my main issue with locked items though…
My main problem with the locked up items is actually getting someone to unlock the case. Both Target and Walmart is AWFUL about this! It’s a hit or miss situation as sometimes when you ring that little bell they come fast but in my experience they either don’t come at all or it takes about ten minutes to get someone to unlock the case. Most times at Target I end up leaving as I’ll ring the little bell and absolutely no one shows up. If I have the time I’ll hunt someone down to open the case for me. It’s just not a good situation. Also, employees are so SLAMMMED with work already and I’m sure having to run to open a case for someone to buy something every five minutes can be a pain. So really, it’s not only the consumer that has an issue here but also, the employees.
Well, apparently Walmart is working on a solution for those locked up products! They are apparently testing a new technology in stores that will allow shoppers to unlock the cases with their cellphones. Supposedly the technology is already in a few hundred Walmart stores. There isn’t much information about this as of yet but it appears the discussion is that Walmart+ Loyalty Members will have this optional available.
What do you think the solution is for theft? How can we prevent it and how can we keep the shopping experience for consumers a less irritating one?
