Are you tired of feeling like a suspect every time you shop for essentials? Well, you’re not alone! Over recent years, Walmart has been upping its anti-shoplifting game. But one frustrated shopper believes the company’s latest policies are a step too far.
Say hello to Keana Marie Carr (@keana.carr on TikTok), who shared her exasperating experience. In her video, Keana documents the bizarre ordeal of not being able to take her shopping cart into the makeup aisle and having to pay for certain items, like razors, right there in the aisle. That’s right, folks, if you need a razor, you better be ready to whip out your wallet on the spot.
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Keana’s frustration resonated with many, garnering a whopping 2.7 million views on her post. Viewers shared their own grievances with current anti-shoplifting policies, complaining that ordinary tasks like buying deodorant feel like breaking into Fort Knox.
“They had to unlock the deodorant for me, then carried it to the register and told me which one to go to when I was ready to check out. I haven’t been back,” griped one customer.
“Literally!!! Had to put my eyebrow pencil in a plastic box,” another voiced their dismay.
“I grabbed a nail file and they made me pay for it there, I couldn’t put it in my cart. It was 97 cents,” added a third. The disbelief is palpable, and you can’t help but wonder, have things really come to this?
Anti-theft measures in retail stores
Let’s talk numbers. Over the past few years, retailers have been beating the drum about theft. CapitalOne reports that in 2022, shoplifting losses grew 19.4% year-over-year. So, it’s no wonder that stores like Walmart and Target have doubled down on their security measures to stymie the rise in theft.
Many stores are eliminating self-checkout kiosks to cut down on the chance of items “accidentally” not getting scanned. Comforting? Maybe. Convenient? Not so much. And it’s not just high-ticket items that are getting locked up. We’re talking about everything from cosmetics to socks. Seeing a lipstick in a glass case is the new normal.
The anti-theft measures might be unwarranted
But not everyone is buying into the retail horror stories. According to CNN, shoplifting in 2022 remained below pre-pandemic levels. That’s right, despite what you might hear, the situation isn’t as dire as some retailers make it out to be.
Critics argue that retailers are inflating numbers to rationalize stringent measures, claiming almost half of inventory losses are bogus. It’s no surprise that customers are left rolling their eyes while waiting for someone to unlock the basics.
Feeling the heat, some shoppers have traded loyalty for convenience, defecting to less draconian stores. “Made me start going to Target so I don’t have to wait for baby formula to be unlocked and get walked to the checkout every time,” lamented one shopper.
Another complained: “We had to call the store and argue with a manager for someone to actually come over and unlock it”. Can you feel the inconvenience? Because these shoppers certainly can.
Conclusion: Where do we go from here?
So what’s the takeaway? Shoppers like Keana Marie Carr are caught in a crossfire of retail paranoia and genuine anti-theft efforts. But the line has to be drawn somewhere. No one wants to feel like a criminal just for grabbing a nail file.
Whether you’re Team Walmart or Team Target, one thing’s clear: these extreme anti-shoplifting policies might be doing more harm than good. Next time you’re under those glaring LED lights, remember you’re not alone in your retail struggles. The backlash is strong, and the exodus to more customer-friendly stores isn’t slowing down.
Retail giants, take note. If the aim is to keep customers loyal, maybe ease up on the prison vibes.
