If I were Target Corp I would have packed up lock, stock and barrel and told them AMF!

https://www.businessinsider.co...plifters-2023-4?op=1

RMD

News outlets cited it as further evidence of "a shoplifting crisis that has crippled retailers" in San Francisco.
A recent study found low-cost items in the health and beauty section are a top target for retail thieves.

They are doing what they have to do to survive in a dangerous area. But maybe they haven't gone far enough.

I think there is money to be made in places like this... as do payday loan places and pawn shops.
The key is not being robbed. You have to have bars on the windows and very tight security.
Maybe one of those bank teller drawers where your items are dispensed from behind bullet-proof glass?
Then you have to set your prices high enough to cover the extra security expenses.

The added cost of 'security' to keep a store open in crime-ridden cities will likely be passed along to the consumer at all of the other stores in the chain.

quote:

Originally posted by Cookster:
The added cost of 'security' to keep a store open in crime-ridden cities will likely be passed along to the consumer at all of the other stores in the chain.

Yeah because raising prices in only those areas where the problem occurs would be "racist."

quote:

Originally posted by architect:

quote:

Originally posted by Cookster:
The added cost of 'security' to keep a store open in crime-ridden cities will likely be passed along to the consumer at all of the other stores in the chain.

Yeah because raising prices in only those areas where the problem occurs would be "racist."

I understand security shelves are raciss too.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:

quote:

Originally posted by architect:

quote:

Originally posted by Cookster:
The added cost of 'security' to keep a store open in crime-ridden cities will likely be passed along to the consumer at all of the other stores in the chain.

Yeah because raising prices in only those areas where the problem occurs would be "racist."

I understand security shelves are raciss too.

So is closing the store and simply leaving.

Or maybe it's merely coincidental that, of 26 Burger King locations closing in metro Detroit; here's the list, better than half of them are in Detroit or similarly crime-ridden cities, with another in half dozen in locations that aren't far behind.

I can tell you that I have been to two of those locations. Their closing has a lot less to do with theft and looting and more to do with absolutely abysmal management.

I on occasion, get a craving for a double whopper with cheese and a side of onion rings. This fortunately only happens a few times a year or I'd be 400lbs. Anyway....

I stopped at one of those locations one day with a craving to satisfy and was advised they had no beef and could only serve chicken sandwiches. I passed and found something healthier.

I stopped again about 6 weeks later, this time they had no veggies so it would at best be a double cheese burger. I passed again.

I tried again when I got the craving 4 weeks later and was passing by, this time they had no onion rings or fries. It was almost laughable at this point.

Finally, that fall, I walked into a fully stocked restaurant food wise and was able to order. I said it that way as the restaurant had abandoned common sense given that the cook was in a heated argument that was just short of being physical. I placed my order and watched the show. Of course, what I received was NOT what I ordered so they had to try again. They didn't get it exactly right the second time but close enough. I chose to take it and eat it as the manager and cook almost came to blows over the mix up.

After this event I contacted the regional manager and simply stated that I had 4 encounters with that restaurant roughly 4-6 weeks apart. In each case there was a failure. Statistically that indicates massive systemic failure as that would be highly improbable. If you sampled a lot of 100 items by selecting 4 pieces and all 4 were defective, you'd scrap or inspect the entire lot. This was a mess. I'll guess the closures of many of these are due to horrible local management and lack of employees.


With regard to Target, I understand what they are doing. They are making a statement. However this might not be practical.

Target is going to have to significantly increase their staff to have associates in each aisle to open the cases and let customers have what they need. However, once the customers have all of their goods, they can still conceal it elsewhere or simply push their cart/buggy/trolley out of the store without paying.

All this will do is dampen the hoards that swoop in and clear the shelves. Trust me, if the want it, they'll get it. They'll break that glass or pry those doors open and beat anyone that gets in their way.

In the end, good customers will likely go elsewhere as they don't want to stand and wait for a cabinet to be opened for every single thing they want to buy. There is no way they'll be able to adequately staff for that. To be effective you'd need an associate assigned to each client to walk with them and open every cabinet as needed and that is a logistical nightmare.

They would be better off automating it so customers go to a single point, select items and they are provided all at once.

^^^^^^^^
You quote your own posts?

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
^^^^^^^^
You quote your own posts?

They need a store run like an Amazon warehouse with just a place to pay and pickup in the front. With robots in the back pulling the order and delivering it to the customer upon payment.

quote:

Originally posted by braillediver:
They need a store run like an Amazon warehouse with just a place to pay and pickup in the front. With robots in the back pulling the order and delivering it to the customer upon payment.

Armed robots, maybe.

ETA: As we've noted before, someday when enough businesses close and leave, some agitator will declare that these commerce deserts are because business, capitalism and YT are rayciss. And the affected people will believe him because the alternative is to examine the truth which convicts the culture that created those deserts. Easier to burn the neighborhood down and demand reparations.

The reality of the dystopian science fiction stories I used to read is coming closer every day.

At some point all these stores will close and the thieves will migrate to the suburbs.

Everything bad that happens in San Francisco is well deserved. You deserve what you vote for.

quote:

Originally posted by braillediver:
They need a store run like an Amazon warehouse with just a place to pay and pickup in the front. With robots in the back pulling the order and delivering it to the customer upon payment.

Remember Service Merchandise.

But the animals would probably steal the displays.

quote:

Originally posted by braillediver:
They need a store run like an Amazon warehouse with just a place to pay and pickup in the front. With robots in the back pulling the order and delivering it to the customer upon payment.

In the beginning...'shopping' was a different experience. You went to the store, you told the clerk what you wanted and they would get it for you.

Supermarkets and department stores are largely a creation of the early 20th century, "so much under one roof AND you can take your time as you move about throughout the merchandise". Post WWII, with the growth of suburbs, malls, low cost of automobiles and ease of travel, self-shopping stores became the norm and the model for all retail environments. Warehouse stores have become very common, where there's even less service and less options.

For certain parts of the country (urban areas), if retailers don't leave entirely, I can see retail resembling electronics or, auto repair shops: you either know what you're purchasing or, you will have to engage with someone, as the majority of goods will be behind the counter. Some retailers will likely require you to shop entirely online, and your only interaction is bringing your claim code to pick-up your purchase; we're already doing that for many places. Like brailledriver posted, having robots select your goods for you may likely be the future or, some combination of the above.

San Francisco had several Amazon Go stores recently shut-down, same also in SEA and NYC. My understanding it was a mixed-bag, many enjoying the convenance of cashless and zero employee interaction, while others didn't care for the limited assortments. Leave it to the Lefties however, they accused these Amazon Go stores of discrimination, as it 'further marginalizes people of color' because they're more likely to NOT have a bank account and a smart phone, two things that are required to shop at Amazon Go.

These people are OK living like this. They behave as if they don't even know the difference. The reality is that the merchandise should be on the outside and the people should be locked behind glass. Buncha loons.

Fill a store with vending machines like the small electronics ones seen at airports. Put them behind security bars. Pay for each item, one at a time.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
At some point all these stores will close and the thieves will migrate to the suburbs.

Everything bad that happens in San Francisco is well deserved. You deserve what you vote for.

quote:

Originally posted by braillediver:
They need a store run like an Amazon warehouse with just a place to pay and pickup in the front. With robots in the back pulling the order and delivering it to the customer upon payment.

Remember Service Merchandise.

But the animals would probably steal the displays.

I used to work at Service Merchandise, good job. I was the guy upstairs sending the stuff down the chute.

This wont help. They don't even need to tuck it away after you hand it to them, they can just stroll right out as brazen as they want. Employees aren't allowed to interfere, and the justice system wont do a damn thing.

Part of this goes right back to prosecutors. They don't want to prosecute these shop lifting crimes which led them to get out of control. Then the younger crowd realized the whole strength in numbers thing and do those coordinated attacks where they outnumber the workers 10:1 and police 100:1.

Community leaders want to blame everything and everyone but the suspects so there you have it. A lawless nightmare.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
Fill a store with vending machines like the small electronics ones seen at airports. Put them behind security bars. Pay for each item, one at a time.

Better yet, put everything in those arcade claw machines- sometimes you win, sometimes you lose...

In a related action by a retail chain in Portland, Oregon