I'm a simple guy. Surely, though, I can't be the only one to see that introducing phone unlock cabinets to those who pay for a + subscription is actually creating a two tier shopping experience. In Walmart. The very definition of everyman shopping.
Here's a thought... move the solution for shoplifting further up the chain. Devise a method for verifying people during entry and exit. They already have greeters and people checking receipts on the way out the door. There's probably enough camera's to cover every square inch of the building. Post notices that shoplifters will be prosecuted and be prepared to enforce it. Then there's no need to lock things up anymore. I know we're not going back, but I'm not sure when shoplifting became a norm. Watch some of the Smash & Grag scenes and you gotta wonder how that's tolerated.
Everyday retail items locked up in cabinets is not a universal experience. I have seen it in some places when traveling, but not where I live. My main "canary in the coal mine" for a dangerous area was bars on residential windows. It's now retail lock-and-key arrangements. If this were commonplace where I lived, I would demand better law enforcement and accountability rather than rolling over and just accepting a worse quality of life because of unchecked criminal behavior. Because, the next shoe to drop after locking everything up is that the store closes. It's not speculation -- it's happening now. Example: 25% of Walgreens stores are on the chopping block because of low profitability, proximity to other stores, and retail theft problems. Shrinkage hits profit directly, so those two overlap a lot. If two stores are in close proximity, which one closes? The less profitable one. Even California is cracking down on retail theft -- the legislation they passed in August reverses the decriminalization trend that was destroying their retail sector.
What I wonder is if the stores put more employees on the sales floor would that help with some of the shrink? Used to be that retailers had enough staff on the sales floor to help customers and to monitor what’s happening on the floor. We all know that companies are loathe to have real people on the floor on a level that actually helps the customer because they’re trying to save money on staffing costs. As it is, the workers at these stores are mostly part time with no benefits. How much would it cost to staff a store properly versus the amount stolen? Plus there’s the benefit of giving good customer service. What a novel idea!
What could possibly go wrong? Surely not a poorly-calibrated scanner frying someone's retina, or Walmart using the record of the user's opening the the cabinet to build a dossier of their buying habits and start sending unwanted marketing materials (which I suppose they're doing anyway with preferred members' IDs).
Stores like Walmart plan for losses due to shoplifting, it's not a new phenomenon (I was quite good at it, myself, as a teenager back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth). What they're doing now is an extreme overreaction to an age-old problem.
So glad I’m no longer dependent on US stores! There may be bars on windows down here but so far, stores are open and unlocked. Christmas officially begins Dec 1 and yes, it’s crazy with traffic and crowds but shopping isn’t so over the top. The disposable income isn’t what it is in the US so purchases aren’t quite as extravagant. It’s refreshing. New Years is a pretty big deal but Carnival is bigger yet so Christmas isn’t as high on the celebration ladder as in the US. My first year has been eye opening and fun. I’m learning something every day and my Spanish is coming back slowly.
As for scanning anything, mines been done already at Heathrow and at my eye doctor’s office; but that was strictly for medical purposes.
Wow. I've heard of merchanidise being locked up, but except for very expensive/easily disposed of items...high dollar liquors/jewelry/guns/ammo...I've not seen it and I've been in about 20 states and Canada this year (Canadians are MUCH better drivers). I've been to many WalMarts as well...it's where I get my cheap boxed wine (don't ever expect that to be locked up).
OTOH, we are WalMart+ members - so I guess we're ready.
I'm a simple guy. Surely, though, I can't be the only one to see that introducing phone unlock cabinets to those who pay for a + subscription is actually creating a two tier shopping experience. In Walmart. The very definition of everyman shopping.
Here's a thought... move the solution for shoplifting further up the chain. Devise a method for verifying people during entry and exit. They already have greeters and people checking receipts on the way out the door. There's probably enough camera's to cover every square inch of the building. Post notices that shoplifters will be prosecuted and be prepared to enforce it. Then there's no need to lock things up anymore. I know we're not going back, but I'm not sure when shoplifting became a norm. Watch some of the Smash & Grag scenes and you gotta wonder how that's tolerated.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/ar-AA1snNAQ
Everyday retail items locked up in cabinets is not a universal experience. I have seen it in some places when traveling, but not where I live. My main "canary in the coal mine" for a dangerous area was bars on residential windows. It's now retail lock-and-key arrangements. If this were commonplace where I lived, I would demand better law enforcement and accountability rather than rolling over and just accepting a worse quality of life because of unchecked criminal behavior. Because, the next shoe to drop after locking everything up is that the store closes. It's not speculation -- it's happening now. Example: 25% of Walgreens stores are on the chopping block because of low profitability, proximity to other stores, and retail theft problems. Shrinkage hits profit directly, so those two overlap a lot. If two stores are in close proximity, which one closes? The less profitable one. Even California is cracking down on retail theft -- the legislation they passed in August reverses the decriminalization trend that was destroying their retail sector.
The bigger problem here is that shoplifting is a huge issue in American society.
I always wonder why a membership store would have to lock up anything? Is it that hard to keep shoplifters out of the store that requires ID to enter?
Having a membership ID doesn’t mean someone will not steal.
What I wonder is if the stores put more employees on the sales floor would that help with some of the shrink? Used to be that retailers had enough staff on the sales floor to help customers and to monitor what’s happening on the floor. We all know that companies are loathe to have real people on the floor on a level that actually helps the customer because they’re trying to save money on staffing costs. As it is, the workers at these stores are mostly part time with no benefits. How much would it cost to staff a store properly versus the amount stolen? Plus there’s the benefit of giving good customer service. What a novel idea!
What could possibly go wrong? Surely not a poorly-calibrated scanner frying someone's retina, or Walmart using the record of the user's opening the the cabinet to build a dossier of their buying habits and start sending unwanted marketing materials (which I suppose they're doing anyway with preferred members' IDs).
Stores like Walmart plan for losses due to shoplifting, it's not a new phenomenon (I was quite good at it, myself, as a teenager back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth). What they're doing now is an extreme overreaction to an age-old problem.
Accumulation (billionaires) = maldistribution = shoplifting = systemic problem mirrored by homeless.
BIG BROTHER ALREADY "SEES" TOO MUCH NOW - BIG BOXES WANNA BE LIKE THEM
The comments today are quite humorous.
So glad I’m no longer dependent on US stores! There may be bars on windows down here but so far, stores are open and unlocked. Christmas officially begins Dec 1 and yes, it’s crazy with traffic and crowds but shopping isn’t so over the top. The disposable income isn’t what it is in the US so purchases aren’t quite as extravagant. It’s refreshing. New Years is a pretty big deal but Carnival is bigger yet so Christmas isn’t as high on the celebration ladder as in the US. My first year has been eye opening and fun. I’m learning something every day and my Spanish is coming back slowly.
As for scanning anything, mines been done already at Heathrow and at my eye doctor’s office; but that was strictly for medical purposes.
Wow. I've heard of merchanidise being locked up, but except for very expensive/easily disposed of items...high dollar liquors/jewelry/guns/ammo...I've not seen it and I've been in about 20 states and Canada this year (Canadians are MUCH better drivers). I've been to many WalMarts as well...it's where I get my cheap boxed wine (don't ever expect that to be locked up).
OTOH, we are WalMart+ members - so I guess we're ready.
Well, if you are patient, there is another option, just order it from Amazon!