‘It’s stupid,’ blasts Walmart shopper as policy has him ‘waiting 10mins’ for underwear- then he was followed to checkout

A WALMART customer is in an uproar after a new policy ruined their shopping experience.

The customer took to X to express their grievances after an anti-theft policy forced them to wait 10 extra minutes.

Getty

Getty

“Went shopping with my dad today. He said he needed to buy underwear,” the shopper began in an X post .

“Walmart had them locked up. Had to wait 10 minutes for someone to get them,” they continued.

“Then they wouldn’t let us put them in our cart, they escorted my dad to a register and made him pay for them right then.”

The shopper included a graphic that wrote, “stupid,” under their post.

Walmart has joined other major retailers including CVS , Target , and Walgreens in implementing a variety of anti-theft measures.

A study conducted by Capital One Shopping found that retail theft cost companies $121 billion in 2023.

That number is expected to rise to $150 billion by 2026.

Retailers have been forced to confront theft by locking up items behind plexiglass and even asking customers to show their receipts before exiting the store.

‘FELT LIKE A PRISON’

Walmart shoppers nationwide have expressed their frustration with recent anti-theft measures .

Another customer took to Facebook to share a similar experience with the retailer.

“Last week, I took my grandmother shopping,” the post began.

“We went to Walmart, it felt like we were in prison. Everything was locked up and the employees were following us around,” they continued.

“Today I go to pick up my prescription from Walgreens and I see this, theft is at an all-time high. This is crazy.”

US stores that lock shelves to combat theft

Retailers have started to lock shelves to combat rising theft.

• Walmart
• Target
• Walgreens
• CVS
• Duane Reade
• Rite Aid
• Dollar Tree
• The Home Depot
• Sephora

The post was accompanied by two photos, one of an employee checking customers’ receipts at the exit, and another of a large plank of plywood at the entrance of the store.

Security detectors were also pictured near the doors of the customer’s local Walgreens.

Shoppers have also expressed frustration with anti-theft measures at CVS .

“I don’t get CVS’ anti-shoplifting attempt by locking everything behind glass,” a customer expressed on X.

“Like, once an employee unlocks something for you, couldn’t you just walk out?” they asked.

Retailers have previously defended the anti-theft measures as an essential tactic in protecting the store.

“Locking a product is a measure of last resort,” a spokesperson for CVS told the Los Angeles Times in April.

“Right now, the best approach in many instances is putting it behind lock and key,” vice president of assets protection and retail operations at the National Retail Federation David Johnston told the publication.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Walmart for comment but did not immediately hear back.