A WALMART shopper has criticized the chain for one of its controversial anti-theft measures.
This customer was furious with store staff as she struggled to retrieve products during her visit.
Sunita (@sunniimee) shared his rant in a post X and complained about the store’s merchandise being blocked.
This anti-theft measure occurs when stores use acrylic boxes or doors to cover certain products.
Shoppers would then be required to call a member of staff to unlock the lid and retrieve their item.
Sunni explained how this affected her time at Walmart.
“#Walmart is getting tougher with their security tactics,” she wrote.
“They’re locking more and more things and you can’t find anyone to unlock them.”
Sunnis then claimed that buyers like her were facing unfair consequences.
“Those who are honest are the ones who suffer,” she wrote.
Other customers responded with negative thoughts about this anti-theft measure.
“I was at Walmart the other day and saw that the things I use to get off the shelf are now locked,” another X user wrote.
“Then you stand there pressing the attendant button, waiting for a long time for someone to come and unlock the shelf so you can get your item.”
Someone else responded and shared what they do to avoid blocked items.
“It’s a war zone. I stopped shopping in stores,” they said.
“I order online and pick up my order. It’s safer that way.”
KEY INSIGHTS: Locked Items
In November 2023, WSL Strategic Retail interviewed shoppers about using theft-proof lockers for its How America Shops report.
Here are the key findings:
- 70% of shoppers have faced blocked merchandise when they were hoping to purchase an item.
- 78% of these shoppers said they received help from an employee and waited to purchase a product, although this number dropped for customers under 26.
- 12% of buyers said they refused to buy the product and many turned to the Internet or another store.
- Meanwhile, 10% said they had purchased a similar product that was available in the same store. Again, among Gen Z customers there was a difference, with 19% of them saying they did this.
Why 22% of customers didn’t wait for service?
- Most wanted to avoid additional complications.
- Many were unable to find a store employee and those who did said the employee had difficulty opening the locker.
- A third were angry that products were locked away
- A quarter said they did not have time to wait for assistance.
Source: WSL Strategic Retail
ABANDONED
Other Walmart shoppers also shared their frustrations on social media, US Sun previously reported.
One person explained that this led them to start shopping at another chain.
This customer complained about trying to buy washing powder.
“You press a button, wait for an attendant to get the detergent, then take it to the front register and are not allowed to put it in the baskets,” they wrote.
“Walmart, this is awesome. I’m officially shopping at Target….”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story