The massive supermarket down the street from me has somewhat recently become very 'user-unfriendly'. The aisle consisting of toiletries and headache remedies is now under lock and key. Given that the store is perennially understaffed, it was a challenge for me to find someone to 'liberate' the hairspray. The elderly gentleman above was fetched by someone I had flagged down who did not have a key to the goods cabinet. It only took a few minutes for our man to appear. I take that as a win.
I couldn't quite suss out why all of this product would be treated like the liquor aisle until another customer mentioned that some folk steal such products in order to sell them 'elsewhere'.
She told me: 'One time I saw a man open a box of tampons and stuff the tampons down his jeans.'
'Maybe they were for his girlfriend?' I ventured.
Whatever the reason, I really don't enjoy having to ask for assistance in obtaining hair care products.
 |
| --off to aid another customer. |
Sigh.
ReplyDeleteInconveniencing the many, because of a few. It is only booze which is locked up here. So far.
Well said.
DeleteSpeaking of booze, I remember visiting a 7-Eleven store in Japan and seeing booze just set out on shelves with nary an anti-theft device in sight. It sort of blew my mind!
Even booze is rarely locked up here.
DeleteOh, really? That's interesting. It's like America in the 70s/80s in terms of alcohol access at markets. :)
DeleteHow strange! I've never heard such of such a thing. You wonder if they did the cost/benefit analysis of building lockable cabinets and losing sales to irritated customers etc versus the shoplifting losses. Surely a security guard at the door would be cheaper in the long run? Your photos are quite unsettling.
ReplyDeleteYour Japanese 7-Eleven bedazzlement reminded me of the time I went window-shopping jewellery shoppes in Zurich one night and Mr P and I were amazed that not only was the loot left on display overnight but the handy price tags were there to marvel at! There were fabulous gems sporting prices in the tens of thousands twinkling under the lonely streetlights. Robbery must be a shocking concept for the Swiss, too!
Good question re: cost/benefit analysis. It's a rather bleak experience shopping at that particular market and I usually tend to avoid it, but needed to access their pharmacy dept. today. There happened to be a security guard--elderly and not very robust-looking--standing at the store's entrance. I don't expect he'd be much good in a chase.
DeleteI lived in ZH for three years and marveled at how sort of relaxed the retail experience felt. Loot galore for the sticky-fingered!
I would not have that old fellow representing any store I owned.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed more than a few elderly folk in such positions. I wonder if they aren't quite able to retire.
DeleteSome years ago, we adopted the American practice of hiding the cigarettes. I first encountered this in Colorado when I asked a man in a small shop if he had 'American Spirit' tobacco. He said he wasn't allowed to tell me. I had to go through a sort of word game with him for a few minutes until he pulled a packet from under the counter.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a bit frustrating.
DeleteSounds like one long pain in the butt to me.
ReplyDeleteHuge pain in the butt.
DeleteDear Bea, I wonder if people that steal our identity and steal from stores and put in false insurance claims, etc., etc., etc. have any idea that their actions are affecting all the rest of us. There seems to be a basic selfishness to some of these actions. Of course, as you said, maybe the young man's girl friend or wife didn't have money for tampons. That's another thing--those who do things just because they can get by with it bring out the judgments in us and unfortunately, we often extend those judgments to people who deserve our compassion so that's another reason why I get upset at those "bad apples" who spoil the bushelful. Peace.
ReplyDeleteDee, your reply is certainly food for thought. I wonder if folk who pilfer do think of others, but I suspect that they may not.
DeleteI don't know what the solution is to high theft of certain shop items, but I can't imagine that locking down toiletries is the best response to the problem.
Well that is certainly not a convenience. We haven't had those items locked up around here but all of the razor blades and shavers are locked down. I think some stores also do the laundry detergent because of kids doing the Tide pods challenge.
ReplyDeleteTide pods!! I had forgotten about that little bit of 'fun'.
DeletePaint spray cans are often locked up here. I think people sniff them for a high.
ReplyDeleteI don't doubt that!
DeleteEchoing Mr Shife above, I've heard of a convenience store but not an inconvenience store.
ReplyDeleteHa. We're up to our elbows in the latter here! :D
DeleteThat would be enough to make me shop somewhere else. It must have an impact on sales too. I noticed all the spray paint in Walmark is locked in cabinets.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I can believe that. I'm with you, Joey, I'm not inclined to return to that particular shop. Too much of a hassle.
DeleteShrinkage is a huge problem in retail. Small high dollar items are a big draw. Yes, it's annoying. I suppose if they weren't understaffed, they wouldn't really need to keep things under lock and key.
ReplyDeleteUnder-staffing is a massive problem. The rent-a-cop stationed at the entrance/exit doesn't seem to be much of a deterrent, I guess. This happens to be the one Safeway in town that has SO much on lock-down. There must be stickier fingers in the area, I suppose.
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