Walmart customers speak out on security measures that make shopping 'hell'

Shoppers are increasingly frustrated with Walmart's stricter security measures, which many believe are causing inconvenient delays and a decline in customer service .

A recent social media post shared a customer's ordeal of waiting 10 minutes for a store associate to unlock spray paint, triggering a wave of similar complaints.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Walmart has heightened security by placing more items behind glass and implementing additional receipt checks.

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Customers are expressing their grievances online, highlighting prolonged waits for assistance and a reduction in available cashiers and self-checkout lanes. One dissatisfied shopper vented on Twitter, labeling their experience at Walmart as "hell,” per Finger Lakes 1.

Despite the implementation of these security measures, Walmart has yielded significant profits, reporting a $5.1 billion quarterly profit in May, which is three times higher than the preceding year's figures.

Nonetheless, the company is continuing to downsize its workforce, attributing the cuts to theft and inflation, while simultaneously making substantial investments in technology such as digital price labels.

A survey conducted by WSL Strategic Retail unveiled that 70 percent of shoppers have encountered locked-up items, with 12 percent opting out of purchasing them due to the inconvenience.

Critics argue that although Walmart is prioritizing technological advancements, it is neglecting the experiences of both employees and customers, resulting in a more challenging shopping environment.