Most shoppers have noticed that several big-name retailers like Walmart and Walgreens have started locking up a wide variety of products to prevent shoplifting. However, this decision has certainly ignited substantial controversy.
Many customers are quite frustrated by the near-constant appearance of locks in their favorite stores, but it’s also negatively affecting delivery companies and their workers. In fact, some delivery workers say they will no longer accept orders from either Walgreens or Walmart.
Why Are Stores Locking Up All Their Products?
At one point in time, only the most valuable items, such as pure gold jewelry or electronics, were protected with a lock and key. But now, stores have started locking up dish soap, hair accessories, and everything in between.
Retailers like Walmart, Walgreens, Target, and many more have started using this tactic to deter shoplifters, who have recently become a growing problem.
Retail Theft Is on the Rise
Retail theft is unquestionably on the rise. According to a report by the Council on Criminal Justice, shoplifting has increased by 24% in 2024 since just last year. And Forbes reported that 90% of retailers have experienced theft and 83% said shoplifting is a major issue.
In fact, in 2022, US retailers lost more than $112.2 billion in petty theft, and experts believe that number has increased substantially this year.
Locking Up Products Is Not a Perfect Solution to the Problem
However, while locking up basic products like shaving cream may minimize shoplifting, it’s far from a perfect solution.
Millions of American consumers have reported extreme frustration with the new system, mostly because it significantly increases the amount of time they need to spend in the store, which cuts into the limited amount of free time they have to enjoy their afternoons and weekends.
Some Customers Have Waited 30 Minutes for an Employee
Most of these locked cases come with buttons that, when pressed, alerts a store employee to come as quickly as they can with the appropriate key.
But several people have noted that they don’t often arrive in a timely manner. One consumer wrote on Reddit that they waited a half hour for a Walmart employee to open a locked case, and many commenters said they experienced similar wait times to access the products they needed.
Locked Up Products Are Especially Frustrating for Delivery Workers
Of course, waiting for several minutes to access dish detergent is frustrating for anyone. However, it’s exceptionally exasperating for delivery app workers.
These workers, like those from Instacart, DoorDash, or Postmates, have to shop and deliver their orders by a specific time, so waiting for an employee to open a locked case is extremely detrimental to their efficiency.
Drivers Can Tell Customers Why They’re Experiencing a Delay
Of course, drivers can communicate with customers via the various apps to tell them why their orders are taking longer than they should, but it doesn’t really solve the problem.
The locked cases do not still substantially lengthen the workers’ time spent in the store or the time customers have to wait for their products.
Some Customers Have Stopped Using Delivery Apps
One of the benefits of delivery apps is that customers can receive their products almost immediately. However, if the timeframe increases from a half hour to several hours, that advantage is no longer present.
And now, since companies like Amazon have started offering same-day delivery at lower prices, many consumers have changed their habits. Instead of paying extra and tipping a gig driver to go shopping for them, they simply order what they need from Amazon for a much lower price and receive what they need in just a few hours.
Delivery Workers Make Money Per Order, Not Per Hour
In addition to adding significant time to each delivery and alienating driver app customers, the locked-up cases also diminish the amount of money a delivery app worker can make in a day.
A worker for Walmart’s Spark delivery service in Ohio told Business Insider, “Drivers make money per order, not per hour, so every second counts for us.”
Some App Delivery Drivers Have Stopped Accepting Orders at Certain Retailers
Because shopping takes so much more time and they lose money with every order, some delivery app drivers have stopped accepting orders at certain retailers.
One Nevada-based Instacart driver explained that she refuses to take orders from a local Walgreens because almost all of the store’s products are under lock and key.
Companies Like Instacart May Have to Reevaluate Their Business Model
In response to this growing problem, an Instacart spokesperson reiterated that drivers can and do message customers when they are delayed delivering their orders. They also noted that employees don’t lose money if they are late with an order.
But neither of these statements solves the issue at hand. The truth is that these once-popular apps may have to adjust their business models if they want to retain employees and customers as retailers continue to lock up their many products.
Will Walmart and Walgreens Ever Stop Locking Up Their Products?
Some say that the locked cases at popular retailers like Walmart and Walgreens are temporary until the stores can find more efficient ways to decrease shoplifting.
However, no company has found a better way yet. So, American consumers and delivery app drivers should expect to wait for employees to open the locked cases for the foreseeable future.
