I like this store but hate that they treat their target customers as criminals. Last time I was there, I was appalled and horrified to find that I had to put my purse into a clear plastic tote which was locked with zipties, to be unlocked only by the cashier at checkout.
When I asked the ladies locking up my purse, if this is how they treat their customers, I was given a smile and a "Yes, Madam."
I understand the concept of loss prevention and that any company needs to take measures to protect themselves from loss. I do, however, think that they have missed the point (dismally) and that there are probably other alternative solutions for this problem.
For example, one cannot get through one aisle at the store without having to go around the 5-7 employees who are casually hanging around and talking to each other. Maybe one of these employees in each aisle could look at the customers instead and watch for thievery?
Or how about the extra guy at each register? Not the checker, not the bagger. It's the other guy. He can't possibly be the price runner, because when my olive oil didn't come up (after 8 attempts), I had to go get another bottle myself. So I'm left to wonder, what is that third guy for?
Maybe there should be some undercover Loss Prevention associates at each store. This is probably a better investment than the thousands of insulting plastic totes and zip ties that are telling your customers that you don't trust them.
Maybe they will decide to invest in handcuffs for their customers. If you handcuff each customer, and give them an employee to walk around with, then the employee can pick out what the customer wants and carefully, crimelessly place it into the cart to be unsuccessfully scanned at the register. It doesn't matter because regardless of how safe they keep that olive oil from being stolen - you can't actually BUY it. It doesn't ring up and therefore you can't BUY it. I think that olive oil is going to sit in the store until the end of time.
sakoide
