Big Take Yes, Those Locked Shelves Are as Pointless as You Think
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Jul 18, 2025 Amanda Mull, a retail columnist for Bloomberg, dives into the increasingly common practice of locking up essential items in stores like CVS and Walgreens. She discusses the questionable effectiveness of this anti-theft strategy and how it has negatively impacted sales and customer experience. Mull highlights the chaotic effects of understaffing and how management's theft concerns have led to a frustrating shopping environment. She also points to innovative shifts in retail, advocating for customer empowerment over restrictive practices.
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Expansion of Locked Essentials
- Stores have expanded locked shelves from high-theft electronics to everyday low-cost essentials like socks and deodorant.
- The scope of locking items has dramatically increased, often enclosing aisles fully behind plexiglass for products averaging under $10.
Stable Shrinkage Amid Shoplifting Panic
- Despite media panic about increased shoplifting, actual retail shrinkage rates have remained stable for decades around 1.5%.
- Retailers rely on perception-based data rather than solid evidence to claim rising theft.
Staff Cuts Drive Locking Shelves
- Retailers have cut staffing to minimize labor costs, making stores understaffed and harder to manage.
- Locking shelves and self-checkout serve as systems to operate stores with fewer employees.