‘What in the world?’: Detail in US Target store leaves many stumped
A woman’s video of a huge retailer in an American state has raised eyebrows around the world — including in the United States.
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A woman’s video sharing her shopping experience at a huge US retailer has raised eyebrows around the world.
Samantha Wynn Greenstone, an actress and comedian, took to social media to show something she noticed while shopping in a Target store in San Diego, which was different to what she found in her usual shopping trips at home in another city in the same state.
Ms Greenstone said the key sign she was “no longer in Los Angeles” was that instead of the laundry detergent being securely locked away, doors were open allowing customers access to the item themselves.
“You don’t need an assistant. They just trust you,” she said.
However, people around the world — and even in other parts of the US — were confused by the fact detergent was locked away in some stores in the first place.
“What in the world? They lock up laundry detergent,” one demanded to know.
Another social media user commented: “Why are there doors on the aisle? I don’t understand what is happening? They lock soap like a laptop in California.”
Another added: “I’m a very, very confused Canadian rn.”
“I’ve never seen glass cases like that in Target. Is everything locked up,” one said.
One social media user added: “Wow laundry detergent does not get locked up in Australia. Only paint and sprays.”
Others said in “parts of America” you wouldn’t see that but others shared that in some areas many everyday items were under high security. One Bostonian saying their local Target even ‘locked up socks and underwear”.
However, while Australian supermarkets may not lock up its laundry detergent it doesn’t mean the country is immune from similar sights.
In 2023, Woolworths stores in Cairns, Mount Isla and Darwin — as well as a store in the NSW Northern Rivers region — reportedly locked up deodorant cans.
To buy a can, customers were required to press a button and wait for a staff member to come and unlock the cabinet.
The move was rolled out in all Northern Territory stores and in some Queensland stores in 2022, with the supermarket at the time stating it was a necessary precaution to “reduce the abuse of these products”.
Meanwhile Coles customers were left stunned in 2023 when two varieties of Capilano Manuka Honey were placed under lock and key on the shelf.
Others, however, pointed out that given how much the honey variety typically retails for, it wasn’t that surprising.
“I mean it is $30+ manuka, basically medicinal level, that’s usually really expensive,” one user pointed out.
“Manuka honey has always been like this. It’s often (sold as) empty containers you swap at the (checkout for a full one), or they are behind the counter at the chemist. Not new,” another commented.
Lucas’ Papaw Ointment, undoubtedly one of Australia’s most popular beauty items, were also spotted in security boxes at Coles in December 2023.
Originally published as ‘What in the world?’: Detail in US Target store leaves many stumped
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