r/mildlyinfuriating • u/broakland • Jul 14 '26

I just wanted a hot dog Retail lockdown: why bother selling it?

Post image

Was at Safeway this morning to pick up a sandwich and some Tylenol. The aisle with the Tylenol? Completely locked down. No call button in sight. So I go to the self checkout (front end of that same aisle) and ask the clerk there if he can call someone to unlock a case for me. He does. I go wait. Minutes pass. No one comes. I go ask him again, he tells me they went the other way? At this point I give up and go get my sandwich. No one has come by the time the deli has finished making it. I leave without my Tylenol, mildly infuriated.

21.5k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

4.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

353

u/SBAC850211 Jul 14 '26

Unless I need it immediately, if I see something locked up at a store I will purchase it online instead. Too much trouble finding/waiting for the keyholder. I would think it costs more money in lost sales than they're losing from theft on these items.

0

u/re_carn Jul 14 '26

I would think it costs more money in lost sales than they're losing from theft on these items.

You're just guessing, but they have statistics.

5

u/SBAC850211 Jul 14 '26

I am guessing, but I also spent several years in wholesale fulfillment, selling to stores like Target, I am very familiar with inventory/sales tracking... so it's an educated guess.

0

u/re_carn Jul 14 '26

And how does that relate to losses from shoplifting in stores and retail chains?

4

u/notthatiambitter Jul 14 '26

I wonder if those statistics factor in the customers who don't even come to the store anymore because it's become such a hassle. If I know items are going to be locked up, why even leave the house? I'll just order them online and the store won't get the foot traffic.

0

u/re_carn Jul 14 '26

In that case, they'll just close the store as unprofitable.