WHILE some anti-theft policies can increase the time it takes to leave a store, some shoppers say the measures prevent them from leaving altogether.
As robbery and shoplifting run rampant in the United States, large retailers have been forced to find a number of ways to recover from huge financial losses.
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In 2023 alone, approximately $121.6 billion was lost to retail theft nationwide, according to data from the Capital One.
This number is expected to skyrocket to close to $150 billion by 2026.
Major retailers like Walmart and CVS have warned that companies are implementing new safety measures to protect their merchandise, employees and customers.
These new policies often impact the shopper’s shopping experience, with employees asking customers to show their receipts or bags before leaving the store.
The measures also expanded the store layout, with products such as electronics, shampoo, razors, baby formula and more locked behind plexiglass barriers.
However, store products are not the only items subject to theft.
Search for Food Marketing Institute in Washington found that companies around the world can suffer annual losses of $800 million due to cart theft.
Large retailers typically have hundreds of these carts available to shoppers, and they cost a lot of money.
Alex Poulos, sales director at stroller supplier RW Rogers, said CNN that each cart can cost around $250.
As some local municipalities tried to curb cart theft by issuing fines, retailers turned to technology to protect their products.
Specifically, large companies have started using carts with self-locking wheels.
The technology used involves underground grid structures that connect to the wheels of the store’s carts.
When the cart reaches a designated limit – often the edge of the parking lot – the wheels automatically lock, making it impossible for the consumer to push the cart any further.
Not all shoppers are aware of the security measure and are surprised when they are stopped.
A shopper shared a recent experience with locked carts at the popular Meijer supermarket on Facebook, saying he was at first confused as to why he couldn’t move on.
Anti-theft measures implemented by retailers
Retailers in the US and Canada have implemented strategies designed to combat theft. The US Sun has compiled a list of measures that have been implemented in stores.
- Lock items in cabinets.
- Safety stakes.
- Security cameras.
- Signs warning about the impact of theft.
- Receipt scanners.
- Receipt checks.
- Carts with locking technology
“I was at Meijers last night about to leave with my items and the cart stopped,” said the shopper he said.
“I thought I had run over something, but the carts now have ELECTRONIC BRAKES ON THE WHEELS!
“A new anti-theft system… thoughts??”
In a separate comment, he revealed that the cart stopped while he was leaving the store, and not in the parking lot.
Other shoppers revealed in comments on the post that Meijer has been using the technology for some time.
Images shared on Reddit in 2022 revealed that some grocery carts even have a warning label informing shoppers about the technology.
“Shopping carts may stop unexpectedly at exit doors and carts will stop if taken beyond the perimeter of the parking lot,” the label says.
Shoppers have criticized other retailers like Walmart for using similar shopping carts, calling the technology “stupid.”
However, there has been some support from customers who say they understand why retailers would make the move to protect expensive carts.
Meijer did not immediately respond to US Sun’s request for comment.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
