‘I just needed underwear’, angers Walmart shopper who received ‘an armed escort’ – it was the fourth anti-theft measure in minutes

WALMART customers are outraged by the store’s extreme anti-theft measures.

Shoppers are complaining about long wait times caused by locked items.

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Walmart customers are angry about the retail giant’s inconvenient anti-theft strategies.

Crime prevention measures have led to unnecessary long waiting times.

In July 2024, Jeff Gunn shared your problems with Walmart on Facebook, revealing that she visited the store to buy new underwear, but the $16 item was locked behind a glass case.

“Once I finally found someone with a key, I got an armed escort and ‘Parade Rest’ on standby at self-checkout. $16.00 package… Sad,” he continued.

BATTERY ERROR

In June 2024, Dave Champion will also expressed his grievances on Facebook, detailing how he waited about 25 minutes to buy $6 Energizer 2032 batteries.

He accused Walmart of “putting the burden of dealing with its theft problem on its honest customers,” claiming that all batteries sold at the retail giant “are now under lock and key.”

According to the dissatisfied shopper, after an employee unlocked the box and took the battery, she locked it in a plastic container and told her to get in line at registration 25.

Champion said that despite only needing the $6 batteries, he waited in line for 15 minutes and it took him about 25 minutes in total to purchase the product.

“It should have – and would have – taken 2 minutes if the batteries hadn’t been locked and then locked in a plastic box before being handed over to me,” he continued.

“Can Walmart find a better solution?

“But as long as customers accept the burden being shifted to them, Walmart will have no incentive to implement a better solution.”

Other shoppers commented on the post on social media, expressing their complaints about Walmart.

“Fuck Wal-Mart,” wrote Bryce Holmes.

Ricardo Vicencio stated that the last time he visited the retail giant, “the most basic and cheapest items were locked away”, including a head scratcher, which he considered “very annoying”.

He then raised concerns about the store’s self-checkout policy.

“Self checkout became a complete ordeal with the 15 item limit and the machine stopping to say I didn’t scan something every 2 items, requiring the sole self checkout associate to enter their password each time,” he said.

According to Brent Ziegenhagel, the batteries have been locked up at his local Walmart in Oregon for about two years.

He also criticized the retail company’s controversial receipt verification policy.

“Loss prevention issues, but thieves show receipts, right?!” he said.

CREATING COMPETITION

Walmart’s poor anti-theft measures are causing customers to shop elsewhere.

In the comments on Champion’s post, Chris Schuerger revealed that he buys 2,032 batteries on Amazon.

Champion responded to Schuerger, saying he would not have purchased the batteries at Walmart if he had known they would be locked behind the box.

“Only recently did they start locking them up. I didn’t know until today,” he continued.

Ben Phillips revealed that he also buys batteries “in bulk” via Amazon.

“Major inconveniences will ensure that we will all continue to buy things like this online rather than locally,” the dissatisfied shopper continued.

Charles Matteson wrote: “One of the reasons they are losing to Amazon.”

Peter Smith said he buys batteries at Costco.

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