I have a question. I can see that locking up merchandise is somewhat of a deterrent, but the kinds of behaviors that people describe, such as being willing to brazenly walk past the cashier and wave and still walk out with stuff (or as one person mentioned, flash a gun), I can’t see how locking the stuff up helps. The attendant will still give it to you to put in your basket, and the person can still walk right out the store with it. I guess for a person who cares a bit more, they might be more concerned that an employee KNOWS they got toothpaste, but will that same employee be the one checking them out? I think this person could still shove the toothpaste in their pocket or whatever. Anyway, it’s just sad.
ETA Oops, this wasn’t meant only for Leigh. Curious for anyone to explain how the locking really prevents the shoplifting. I can’t quite picture it.
It is sad. But I wonder if knowing a store locks things up the thieves are less inclined to go there, kind of like the theory that a burglar skips the house with a dog.
We have an urban Target (aka “Baby Target” because it’s small) in the college town I live in. They have just in the past few weeks started locking up the men’s socks and underwear. I saw it when I was in last week. I was surprised because I went in about 2-3 weeks ago for some socks because I didn’t want to drive 20 minutes to Big Target. Baby Target doesn’t have many clothes, but they have a little section. I found the men’s socks and underwear but it took me about 10 minutes to find the women’s socks (just me being blind, they were not hidden). They were all out in the open for men’s and women’s, but when I went last week the mens, but not the women’s, were locked up. I don’t know if it’s college guys stealing socks or homeless folks. We have some of both but way more frat boys than homeless people.
I believe the proliferation of organized retail crime in these cities is the cause, rather than the political policies of these cities. New York is another city in which Target has closed stores because of ORC. I’ve also read that Target has made the choice to close unprofitable locations and blame it on crime. A recent article in Fortune magazine explains this, I found it interesting. Crime epidemic causing retail store closures in places like San Francisco is exaggerated, investment bank suggests | Fortune
They don’t give it to you. At least at Walmart, even for batteries that cost nothing, they check you out right there or give it to a clerk to hold until you are ready to check out. honestly, I bought some button batteries that were $1.97 and I had to have it held at the counter.
It was Walmart, and it was just 2 of those button batteries that are the size of a nickel. But I had to get someone to unlock the case and then check me out right then. I couldn’t be trusted with the $1.97 item, even though I could then go to self check out with everything else in my cart.
I am dreading the trend coming my way… not sure I have that much patience. Amazon might be the big winner as shoppers opt to just have their item delivered tomorrow with Prime.
Oh, funny sidebar on porch pirates: I loved the FB meme suggestion about how to get rid of your old big screen tv - put it in the new tv delivery box and leave it on your front porch
This reminds me of the Bugs Bunny cartoon from WWII. Bugs is an elevator operator in Macys and names items for each floor - rubber tires, girdles, nylon hosiery, bobby pins, alarm clocks, bourbon, butter, etc. - he ends with “and other picture postcards”. As the named items were so scarce during the war you could only get pictures of them!
