Walmart Testing New Method of Dealing With Locked Up Products

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Key Takeaways

  • Walmart is testing a new way for customers to access locked-up products using their phones.
  • This new technology will make it easier to purchase items like video games, laundry soap, and toothbrushes.
  • Concerns exist about potential downsides if the unlocked doors are left unattended.

As a long-time customer who has spent countless hours waiting for help to unlock those glass-encased treasures at Walmart, I can’t help but feel a wave of excitement about their new anti-theft method. It’s like they’ve finally heard our collective sighs and rolled their eyes in unison with us as we wander the aisles hoping for an employee to appear.

Walmart is experimenting with a novel approach to let prospective shoppers view locked goods while still preventing theft effectively. Lately, customers shopping at stores like Walmart or Target have observed a trend that may seem puzzling and even annoying: products they wish to buy are kept behind glass cases, securely locked. To acquire the desired deodorant, baby formula, or mascara, potential buyers must either press a buzzer and wait for an employee to assist, or wander around aimlessly in search of a staff member with a key. In some instances, it might even seem like these items are trapped in prisons.

Despite a significant drop in the sale of physical video game copies, these anti-theft measures are applicable to them too. In fact, video games were among the initial products to receive this “view but don’t handle” policy, making it unusual to find an unsecured game on display. Though understandable, this practice can frustrate customers and potentially harm sales.

As reported by Bloomberg, Walmart is experimenting with a novel approach to address the inconvenience of locked items like video games, laundry detergent, and toothbrushes. The technology being tested seems to enable customers to unlock these goods using their mobile phones directly. Although specifics are scarce, this innovation has been implemented in several hundred Walmart stores so far, but it’s only being utilized and evaluated by staff members at present.

Walmart’s New Anti-Theft Method Could Ease Customer Frustrations

In many social media videos, people witness shoplifters casually strolling out of stores with bags full of merchandise, often without any interference from employees or security personnel. A new technology at Walmart could potentially alleviate some customer frustration, but it may also come with its own set of issues. Similar to how grocery store freezer doors are left open by customers, causing many establishments to install self-closing ones, these anti-theft doors could end up being left open and unused if unlocked, rendering them ineffective. Moreover, a thief could potentially gain access to items using their phone and take more than they paid for.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that the recent approach by Walmart in video game sales might have come just when the market is shifting too fast. If other stores follow suit, it could be a case of ‘too little, too late’. More and more traditional retail stores are abandoning physical game sales, leaving only a handful like Walmart, Target, and online giants such as Amazon standing tall in the marketplace. These are now among the few places left where you can still purchase physical copies of newly released games.

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2024-11-17 18:34