SHOPPING AT THE INCONVENIENCE STORE
- Kean Huy Alado
- 18 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Diana Morose
Imagine you’re running late to an event, and you forget to pack something with you. For the sake of time, you can’t double back home. So, you stop at a corner store on the way to your destination thinking you’ll be in and out in just a couple of minutes. However, you’re perplexed when you reach your desired aisle and find the product you need locked behind a case, leaving you in limbo waiting for a worker to unlock it for you. Should you wait or do an immediate 180 and leave the store, cutting your losses?
In recent years it has become more and more commonplace for businesses to lock merchandise behind cases in what they say is an attempt to stop theft. However, this practice has led to people choosing to shop at these establishments less and less, and while these businesses have realized they are losing sales, they continue to do it.
Is this accelerating the rate at which brick and mortar stores will be replaced by online shopping?
In January, Walgreens admitted that their practice of locking everyday household products like shampoo and toothpaste behind cases has hurt their sales, but they’re still doing it. The reason, they say, is due to the rise in shoplifting.
Anise Lowe, a communications and media studies senior, shared her thoughts of the practice.
“It makes me not want to go into the store, if it takes this much effort to get a product. I would most likely prefer online [shopping], but I can see why they may lock it up because people do steal,” said Lowe.
Corey Sykes, a junior majoring in communications and media studies with a minor in pre-law, believes that there is a racial aspect to an increase of goods being locked up.
“It really only happens in black areas. For instance, Walgreens locks up everything. I’ll say around here, in Miami Shores, they don’t really lock anything up, but up in North Miami they do,” he said. “So, obviously I think it’s just racism. I shop more around [Miami Shores] since it’s easier and I don't have to wait 20 minutes for somebody to get something from the store.”
While products being locked behind display cases is a deterrent that inconveniences the consumer, stores are now testing out a security tool that will let customers use their phones to unlock the shelved products.
The main hiccup? Customers will have to give their phone numbers, which begs the question: Are convenience stores becoming too inconvenient?
“Honestly, I think that’s too much. I kind of understand, but it’s too much. And then they’re going to end up sending me messages and emails about their company,” said Lowe.
According to Forbes, over half of Gen Z shoppers in the United States prefer to shop online rather than in-store, and over 96% make purchases online at least once a month.
With these barriers impacting the in-store experience, will it further push consumers to use services like Amazon to have things delivered to them for the sake of convenience?
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