Loblaw, Walmart step up anti-theft measures with gates, receipt checks, cart alarms

"theft and organized retail crime" - you mean what Loblaws is doing to the rest of us?

Hot take: Don't FORCE me to do a cashiers job then stop me on the way out to make sure I did the job properly. If you're not 100% sure that I'm not stealing or cheating the system with bad procedures then PUT CASHIERS BACK ON THE GODDAMN REGISTERS! Stopping "random" customers, (let's face it, this is some of the worst profiling I've seen in my life), to look over my receipt and then go over my entire purchase to verify I played "by the rules", then STOP FORCING US TO BE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES! Jesus, this isn't rocket science.

Problem solved - get rid of self-checkout. No brainer.

The grocers created this problem when they installed self checkout

Remember, if you see someone stealing food; you didn't. Loblaws reported $529 Million of profits in Q4 of 2023. They're doing fine.

You know what would stop theft? Paying people a living wage and controlling rent hikes

Also they forgot to make it VERY clear, you are NOT required under law to comply with any receipt checks at anything but membership stores!

Stealing food, i aint seen anyone stealing food... But i sure as hell have seen companies stealing labour produced profits

Buy your $100 of groceries, if you are annoyed by the receipt check take it all straight to the returns counter and get a refund. If everyone did the same they'd change their policy very quickly.

if I ever get receipt checked at a retail store, the product goes back and I want my money back. I'll find another way.

As a retired lost prevention officer who was active for over 20 years in retail loss prevention I can tell you now that there will be lawsuits. As stated in the criminal code of Canada , if a store owner or staff member physically detains a suspected shoplifter, they could potentially face charges related to assault, false imprisonment, or other offenses depending on the specific circumstances. Some Provinces may also have even more strict laws that apply to false imprisonment.

Walmart now has cameras in your face at the checkout machines

Hire some cashiers, shut down self checkouts. Problem solved. This wasn't a problem until most customers were forced to check themselves out, or wait in lines for hours, because the company doesn't want to hire cashier's. If you look at it, the companies are actually stealing free labor from their customers, or hours of their time.

Lower prices, than maybe the thefts will lower too!

🤦 Living minimum wage, tied to inflation. So our aristocratic overlords can't price gouge us right back down into poverty.

In Canada merchant privledge does not apply. A receipt check is not legal without just cause. Because the merchant is under no obligation to provide a receipt they are not permitted to ask for a receipt. If you are clearly visible purchasing items at a point of sale, then by law theft could not have occoured. This is true in the US. Refuse to show a receipt unless they provide a reason for the request. When you are stopped for a receipt, you are being detained with out cause. Govern your self as such. Why am I being detained, am I free to go, and I want my lawyer are all perfect ways of engaging with security or police, especially when you have done nothing wrong.

Simple solution, hire more cashiers and remove self checkouts. There is no legal obligation to show receipt other then membership organizations. They can not detain you without physical proof your stole. This will open lawsuits and rightfully should!

Walmart has no authority to detain me.

what was wrong with having cashiers? Teres still about 10 employees standing there watching u scan ur items anyway??? how are they saving money?

Since they don’t have to provide plastic bags and cashiers I bet they are saving some money there.