A WALMART shopper has blasted the retailer after complaining they were left waiting around for an employee to unlock an in-store item.
The customer had a less-than-ideal experience shopping with the chain and flocked to X to air their grievance.
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They claimed that workers in the store were more interested in having a hearty chat than leaping to their support.
“Hey Walmart, before I blame the managers at your store in Fayette Alabama I need to ask… is it policy to not have anyone around or a way to contact someone to unlock a case and have multiple employees just lean on displays and talk rather than help customers?” they fumed.
Walmart responded, demanding further details on the incident.
“That doesn’t sound right, Duncan,” a spokesperson replied.
“Can you please DM us with more details on your experience?”
The cabinets are not only a feature at Walmart stores either.
Bosses at Target, CVS, and Walgreens are among the execs that have turned to the anti-theft measure.
Timothy Wentworth, the CEO of Walgreens, admitted the anti-theft measure had consequences on the amount of sales.
“When you lock things up, you don’t sell as many of them,” he admitted in an earnings call as reported by USA Today.
“We’ve kind of proven that pretty conclusively.”
CVS is trialing a new feature within its app that allows customers to open cabinets themselves.
Tara Burke, a CVS spokesperson, told The New York Times the company knows the cases can be inconvenient.
“But it’s important that we ensure products are in stock and available for customers who need them,” she warned.
Burke confirmed the feature was being tested in three New York City locations.
But there are plans to try the concept in around 10 stores on the West Coast.
Locked cases have been a feature in Target stores for several years, but CEO Brian Cornell told Yahoo Finance he hopes chiefs will be able to remove the cabinets.
Receipt checks at the end of the checkout process have begun at certain Walmart stores.
And, the inspections have caused division, irking some shoppers.
This is because there is no law or rule that requires a Walmart shopper to show their receipt.
This is unlike membership clubs, like Sam’s Club, where receipt checks are listed under their terms and conditions.
If shoppers refuse to comply with the inspections, they risk a permanent ban.
Anti-theft measures rolled out by retailers
Retailers across the US and Canada have rolled out strategies designed to combat theft. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of measures that have been implemented at stores.
- Locking items in cabinets
- Security pegs
- Security cameras
- Signs warning about the impact of theft
- Receipt scanners
- Receipt checks
- Carts with locking technology
