A WALGREENS shopper is taking to social media after encountering "bizarre" anti-theft measures.
The customer shared a photo of the toothpaste aisle and a majority of the products were locked up behind plexiglass.
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Popular brands such as Colgate and Crest were locked up, but two brands on the top shelf were oddly free to grab.
The picture revealed that products on sale for $5 were behind the glass, while two products were available to take.
One of the products was Tom's of Maine Antiplaque & Whitening toothpaste, on sale for $8.79, and the other was Burt's Bees Charcoal + Whitening paste, available to purchase for $5.99.
"We are at a Walgreens where all the toothpaste is locked up, except the Tom’s of Maine toothpaste we want," the tweet read.
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"The expensive toothpaste is free for tall people?" one comment read.
"Why would the most expensive toothpaste not be included in this bizarre toothpaste lockup?" another questioned.
A third speculated, "My best guess is that they think people familiar with the bougie toothpastes can afford to pay?"
TOOTHPASTE LOCKUP
Walgreens is not the only major retailer that has begun locking up products as an anti-theft precaution.
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The measure has also been implemented in some Target locations, and customers are taking notice.
"The target in Lancaster got everything locked up, s**t pissed me off. Like toothpaste?!" one customerwrote on X, formerly Twitter.
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A Duane Reade customer recently shared their frustration with anti-theft measures on social media, "It's sickening how drug stores like Duane Reade are forced to put virtually all their HBA items behind locked barriers because if they don't then scumbag piece of s**t thieves will rob them blind."
"Can't even buy a tube of toothpaste without calling an employee to unlock the case."
The anti-theft measures can impede customer service and even impact what customers decide to buy.
A survey conducted byWSL Strategic Retailfound that 22% of shoppers opt to just buy a similar product on the shelf instead of waiting for an employee to unlock items behind a plexiglass.
Molly Burke, a retail analyst, previously told The US Sun, that customers don't want to ask for help and would prefer to "get in and get out as quickly as they can get back to their busy lives."
"I understand the balance retailers are trying to strike with preventing theft and ensuring a good customer experience," Burke said.
"But, I do think when you take away opportunities for the customer to have a sensory experience with a product and form a relationship with the brand through the product, that's always going to worsen the customer experience."
US stores that lock shelves to combat theft
Retailers have started to lock shelves to combat rising theft.
- Walmart
- Target
- Walgreens
- CVS
- Duane Reade
- Rite Aid
- Dollar Tree
- The Home Depot
- Sephora
INNOVATIONS AT WALGREENS
The customer complaints come just a few months after Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth spoke about how the company was innovating.
He spoke to CNBCin March on Walgreens' progress and how they would compete with Amazon.
“We will beat Amazon because of the human interface that we offer in communities and neighborhoods," he said.
"[That's] 8,600 locations today where you can come in, if you actually are getting a drug that you want to talk about, if you have ahealthconcern, if you want to get an over-the-counter product to go along with your drug."
Despite Walgreens' new strategy, customers may struggle to feel the human interface with an increase in anti-theft measures.
"When the customers encounter these very sterile, almost inherently accusatory loss prevention strategies it kind of takes away that feeling of shopping somewhere where maybe you’re more of a friend or family member than just an anonymous customer," Burke previously told The U.S. Sun.
When asked for comment on anti-theft measures, a media relations representative for Walgreens told The U.S. Sun, "We are focused on the safety of our patients, customers and team members, and take preventative measures to safely deter theft and deliver the best patient and customer experience.
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"We continue to take measures, like installing anti-theft devices to deter theft and ensure safety and security in our stores.
"These steps are taken in response to theft data and for that reason only, and these additional security measures allow us to improve on-shelf availability of products to customers."
