SHOPPERS have slammed a major grocery store chain for its new anti-theft measure being piloted at several locations.
Under the new project, Loblaw customers in Ontario, Canada, are forced to scan their receipts to exit via security barriers after self-checkout.
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Loblaw confirmed to CBC News on March 13, that the new barriers being tested at four of its locations will help tackle shoplifting.
“Organized retail crime across the entire industry is a serious issue, and has only gotten worse,” Loblaw spokesperson Catherine Thomas told CBC.
“We are working hard to balance a need for enhanced security while at the same time preserving a welcoming and convenient customer experience.”
However, just 24 hours after their introduction, some shoppers were begging for them to be removed and instead called on the retailer to return to traditional checkouts with manned registers to reduce theft.
It’s just not a customer-friendly tactic.
Paul Zemaitis
Now the CEO is allegedly receiving complaints from customers begging for the removal of the barriers, according to a shopper who posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“I just called on Loblaw CEO to remove new receipt check scanners. Send our message,” X user Mike Bujold said.
Bujold claimed that the move by various retailers to introduce such anti-theft measures criminalizes innocent shoppers.
“As Galen adds thousands of cameras in the aisles and spends millions every year on Security, this extra expenditure makes me feel like we are criminals,” he added.
“Just don’t give them your custom,” user Roger Moss replied, noting that he will “never submit” to such intrusive measures.
“If you live in a medium sized urban setting there are choices,” he added.
“I will never submit to what they are doing at Loblaw.”
A retail expert previously spoke to The U.S. Sun about the impact of such anti-theft tactics on innocent shoppers.
Molly Burke, a senior retail analyst at Software Advice, warned retailers about the dangers of pushing away loyal customers in their fight against theft.
“Those more restrictive techniques definitely impact the customer experience,” Burke explained.
“We know just from seeing memes on Twitter that people really don’t like those tactics.
“It makes them feel like criminals when they are just trying to shop for the goods that they need.”
ANTI-THEFT MEASURES USED BY RETAILERS
With retail theft causing the industry losses of over $100 billion per year, stores are being forced to crackdown on the issue with new measures.
Receipt Checks
- Target, Walmart, and Kroger are among the major retailers who have introduced controversial receipt checks at their exits.
- Walmart previously stated its intent “to check every receipt,” according to a statement from a store spokesperson.
- The policy is hoped to prevent theft which keeps inventory in check which in turn keeps prices low, and therefore leads to happy customers.
Locked-up Items
- CVS, Target, and Walmart are some of the retailers who have been forced to put certain items under lock and key in order to prevent theft.
- Images of products locked away behind plastic or glass cabinets have been posted on social media by frustrated shoppers forced to wait for help from an employee to access basic items.
- Target shoppers who have seen underwear locked away have called the practice “super inconvenient” while a Walmart shopper warned online shopping is the future or personal shoppers will be required to follow customers around the store.
Receipt Scanners
- Retailers like Safeway and Loblaw have introduced receipt scanners which see customers prevented from leaving stores by security barriers that only open when receipts are scanned.
- The move comes as self-checkout contributes to inventory shrinkage as shoplifters abuse the trust given to customers.
AI Cameras
- Some retailers are taking the fight against theft to another level with the introduction of AI cameras to detect known shoplifters.
- The technology uses face-matching and “loitering analytics.”
- A liquor store manager installed a French AI software, Veesion, to help with shoplifting in his store and found that regular shoppers were often the culprits.
- Meanwhile, Walmart uses Everseen AI cameras that monitor if items have not been scanned at a self-checkout location and then alert Walmart employees.
Proving this point, shopper Paul Zemaitis told CBC News in the first few hours of the pilot project that he was shocked at his struggle to leave the store.
“I said, ‘What the hell’s going on? I paid already,'” he recalled, noting that a staff member had to come and assist him.
“It’s just not a customer-friendly tactic,” he added.
“It’s very intrusive. It makes you feel like a thief.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Loblaw for comment.
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