Retail behind glass
2024-09-25 17:50:44.052611+02 by
Dan Lyke
2 comments
Retail Brew: Two in three shoppers won’t buy products in locked display cases
A September 13 CNN article noted that retail executives seem to be sounding the alarm less about theft, which they speak about under the rubric of “shrink.” Mentions of “shrink” on earnings calls for the first two quarters of 2024 were down 20% compared to the same period a year ago according to a FactSet analysis cited by CNN.
“A year ago, America’s stores declared a shoplifting epidemic,” stated the CNN article. “This year, retailers are telling a very different story—or no story at all. It’s as if the shoplifting crisis suddenly vanished.”
Consumer World: Shoppers rebel against stores with products in locked displays, most say they will buy them elsewhere
So on Saturday evening, we needed a COVID test. I checked the CVS website, but foolishly didn't order. I went over to CVS and bought a single test in a box, that the guy retrieved from behind the counter, for $10.
Later we needed a few more, so I went on to the CVS website and ordered the two-in-a-box for $16.
If you're gonna put stuff behind the counter or behind locked glass, online ordering becomes the way to shop, and fulfillment is a different business than retail browsing.
And, of course, my previous experiences with Petco apply here.
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#Comment Re: Retail behind glass made: 2024-09-26 02:01:17.527966+02 by:
Mars Saxman
[edit history]
That's certainly my experience. I *might* put up with the locked cases the first time, because I'm already there, but afterward I will certainly just avoid that store and find somewhere else to shop.
#Comment Re: Retail behind glass made: 2024-09-26 14:23:32.286041+02 by:
DaveP
I don’t even know for sure what products are behind glass in the local Target. Last time we were there, we
saw that they had started putting glass cabinets in some aisles, and we talked about it and decided, “we
may go there again if there’s something we can’t get elsewhere, but Target will never again be our first
choice for anything.”
Haven’t been in since. We’re managing to find things online with Walmart (because Amazon has sent three
boxes without all the ordered items in them this year, and reporting that and getting a refund is a worse
process than trying to find an employee to help you in a Target) or some random seller on eBay, which
generally is a better experience, except when it’s one of the people who just drop-ships from Amazon.
And Kleenex / toilet paper, the one thing that we only bought at Target, we now get that at one of the
grocery stores we shop and sometimes pay about 10% more, but it’s worth it to avoid the crap there. I
mean we could just join the people who are ringing up every third item in the self-checkout, because
there’s nobody to stop you, but I’d rather just avoid the whole shitty, not even as nice as K-Mart vibe.