Walmart is testing new method for handling locked-up products

Walmart is testing a new way to give potential customers access to locked products while effectively preventing theft. In recent years, many consumers have noticed a growing and sometimes frustrating trend: the products they want to buy at stores like Walmart or Target are trapped behind tightly closed glass doors. To get their hands on that coveted deodorant, baby formula or mascara, potential buyers must press a buzzer and wait for a strolling employee to help them. Or worse, getting into these product prisons often requires wandering around aimlessly for several minutes, hoping to meet an employee with a key.

Although sales of physical copies of video games have declined dramatically in recent years, this protection against shoplifting applies to them too. In fact, video games were among the first products to receive this “look but don't touch” treatment, so much so that finding a game easily accessible on a shelf is more surprising. And while this practice is somewhat understandable, it can also annoy customers and even negatively impact sales.

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According to Bloomberg, Walmart is testing a new method to ease the frustration of finding physical copies of video games, laundry soap and even toothbrushes locked up. Although details are few, this new technology will apparently allow people to bypass the blocks using their cell phones. This system has already been rolled out in a few hundred Walmart stores, but is currently limited to and being tested by employees.

Walmart's new anti-theft method could ease customer frustration

Most people have seen videos on social media of thieves entering stores, grabbing handfuls and bags full of items, and then casually walking out, unhindered by employees or security guards. While this new Walmart technology could ease some of the frustrations of regular customers, it could also have downsides. People regularly leave freezer doors open in grocery stores, so many stores have even installed self-closing doors. Once these anti-theft doors are unlocked, they can easily be left open and unattended, negating their usefulness. There's also nothing to stop a thief from accessing the items they want on their phone and then getting more than they paid for.

When it comes to selling video games, Walmart's new method, if adopted by other stores, could be too little, too late. Many brick-and-mortar stores are stopping selling physical games altogether, leaving Walmart, Target and sites like Amazon among the few remaining places to purchase physical copies of new releases.

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