For my first @bloomberg.com feature, I tried to answer a question that everyone I know has had for years: Is locking up everyday stuff like toothpaste and deodorant doing more harm than good to retailers like Target and Walgreens? (Gift link!) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-08-01/why-cvs-and-target-locking-up-products-is-backfiring?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTcyMjUyNTE1MiwiZXhwIjoxNzIzMTI5OTUyLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTSEpHMDNEV0xVNjgwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiI3MDQyN0U3REVGMkM0MDEzODNCNDUzRjAyNUE2NDc3NyJ9.sDSav8PKyhwbAxMG3CUKloF2TNlMQ3-S9UOTQB3BJHs
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Literally every person needing help just needed a cage unlocked.
CVS adds a layer of self-checkout that doesn't work on top of it. I've consistently had to abandon purchases there to the point I don't bother going in anymore.
https://bsky.app/profile/urbfuturistdem.bsky.social/post/3kxblme2px525
I simply refuse to wait for someone to unlock a bottle of laundry detergent in the middle of errands day.
Both times I waited, and they had none in stock, despite the fake box being on the shelf.
Also makes you wonder how all these products are apparently only being stolen from the drugstore
Because if it's a grocery store...yeah that's going to lead people to buy all their toiletries from Amazon.
I know it has its dark side and is bad for community. But I'm not dealing with this nonsense.
...these particular retail chains also have their dark side and are also bad for community. They're no better than online
Holy shit it actually moved
Yeah, this is only furthering the push from brick and mortar to online. Locking products (not even expensive stuff!) up is the nail in the coffin.
In one such Walmart, it's the curl treatment and washes locked up, not the expensive "organic"shampoo
If someone is stealing underwear or socks, it's probably for use.
Plus, when you lock stuff up, I take that as a personal insult that you're saying that I, as your customer, can't be trusted. Immediately becomes a hostile interaction between the store and patron.
At first there was a clerk at the register within the “beauty products” shop but lately the post has been empty.
Nothing is locked up and now you don’t even have to wait in line twice.
But still, stupid.
I barely remember the full service department stores of the early 60s, where there was staff ready to help as display counters for jewelry....
Adding a layer of hassle to shopping was a miserably stupid idea in the age of curbside pickup and delivery.
I shopped there in person this year for the first time since 2020, and it was so terrible that I felt like they were deliberately punishing me for not doing curbside
Nothing locked up, great fragrances, usually has a sale going on
And of course, there was no worker to be seen because there's a self-checkout.
I just left.
Intended to say that the corporations seem to want feedback that they should close, when they don’t need feedback. The corporations can close brick and mortar without this step.
If that helps.
Feel better soon!
There's no gun to their head keeping them in business! They don't want to but they can't even commit to quitting. Y'all can just...decide to stop.
At least you can call ahead with a pharmacy, and be reasonably sure of when someone will be there to give you your scrips!
This whole "doors open but the store might as well be closed" thing is just...so out of touch.
So, good job Walmart. You spent millions on loss-prevention that a toddler could have told you doesn't work.
This seems backward to me. CDs can go it pocket, LP cannot.
We now return you to your usual programming....
If only there were more studies on the benefits of UBI and giving those in need some money.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-31/study-details-what-happened-when-la-residents-were-guaranteed-1000-dollars-a-month
I said, "If that were true, this wouldn't be locked up."
The one thing I will say (I went on. A retail safari when I was in Chicago for vacation) is many shops are clearly using this for sales steering.
Why do I say that?
I do not think sales steering is the original cause, but it is kind of fascinating as an expert in the field to watch it evolve.
Okay, maybe it's not a GOOD reason.
https://slate.com/business/2020/05/targets-long-history-with-minneapolis-police.html
Also I can see turtles and birds on my way there.
Reasons that clearly don't apply to many other people!
i've stopped going completely and will never go to those stores again.
And the ownership class sucks.