Posted on 03/08/2021 3:48:50 AM PST by real saxophonist
‘I won’t go back’: New Walmart checkout policy called racially biased
by: Aimee Lewis
Updated: Mar 7, 2021
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (KDVR) — A new checkout policy at the Walmart in Centennial is under scrutiny for its security measures around beauty products for people of color.
The allegations of racial bias come almost a year after Walmart changed is practice on locking up beauty products for people of color at its stores.
“I honestly will probably not go back there again because of how I felt,” said Rachel from Aurora, who visited the Walmart store around 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
Rachel was purchasing shampoo in the beauty products for people of color aisle when allegedly stopped by a clerk who told her she needed to pay for the bottle at a special register near the back of the store before she could continue shopping in other parts of the Walmart store.
“I asked the sales associate, if I am purchasing Caucasian products do I need to do the same thing? She said no you can walk around the store with those products,” Rachel told the Problem Solvers. “I told her I had more shopping to do, she said it didn’t matter I still needed to pay for it back there.”
There’s also clearly more surveillance around that particular aisle. There are three cameras over the beauty products for people of color aisle and only one over the other shampoos and conditioners.
“Honestly, I was shocked, because this is 2021, racism and discrimination are still happening,” said Rachel. “It’s either one or the other. You monitor all haircare products, or you don’t. It’s not okay to point out one group.”
A Walmart spokesperson responded to the alleged incident saying:
“We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind at Walmart. We serve millions of customers weekly, crossing all demographics, and are focused on meeting their needs while providing the best shopping experience at each store.Like other retailers, we have policies in place that allow security for some items, such as cosmetics and other personal care products. In the case of this store, the entire section of products is under additional monitoring. However, we do not want those policies to create an unfriendly shopping environment for any individual customer. The goal is to keep the products our customers want in stock while providing a convenient and friendly shopping experience. We have followed up with the store to ensure those policies will be followed properly in the future, and to provide a welcoming environment for our customers.”
Rachel hopes to hear a personal apology from Walmart after calling its corporate stores but hasn’t yet heard back.
“The more we speak out about it and just let other people know what’s happening, maybe they will change the division and discrimination we have in the country right now,” said Rachel.
“I am hoping to hear an apology, I’m hoping to hear they will change this policy immediately, that’s what I’m hoping to hear.”
Walmart is associated with conservatives so the liberals want to put them out of business so they can have the land for Democrat real estate investment deals.
Good point. There must be a good reason why Walmart sees the need to secure these particular products ... or else, why do it?
reallY?! Now that’s just stupid... no one is going to ask to get the case of rubbers open, they can just go to a gas station and buy them.
Maybe hookers steal them!
The Walmarts with predominantly minority customers lock up the things being stolen from that store just as the Walmarts with predominantly white customers lock up the things being stolen from that store.
Guess what’s being stolen from the Walmarts with predominantly minority customers?
Minority hair care products.
They don’t need to lock up minority hair care products at the Walmarts with predominantly white customers because, well, the predominantly white customers aren’t stealing minority hair care products.
Walmart isn’t the problem in this instance.
Women shoplift way more than men.
7
At my Walmart they only check the receipt if you have unbagged items. If everything is in a bag they just say to have a nice day.
To get around this they had the entire beauty section cordoned with a scanner you had to walk through to get in and out. You had to pay for anything from that area before you left.
This is very simple. Retail theft is not prosecuted in many states. Also, the police are trained as to what/whom to pursue. Watch the retail stores burn once again when the weather improves.
Therefore, Walmart has to do what is appropriate for thier business model.
Why? Right at the beginning you stated you wouldn't be going back to that store, so what's the point?
As a native from Centennial, this community could hardly be more white. IF there was/is a discriminatory policy at that store, it was certainly derived from an outside area where the demographic is has proven cause.
In downtown DC at the CVS type stores anything worth more than 1.00 is locked up behind glass.
You really think she thought that far ahead? 8~)
One place we lived wanted ID to purchase super glue, spray paints, etc..
It sounds disgusting, but sadly, this store seems to be giving a tacit acknowledgement of higher crime rates within the Black community.
Star Parker and Thomas Sowell would be their guiding lights in a sane world, not Al Shaprton and Je$$e Jackson.
My Food Lion has larger bottles of Advil gel caplets locked in their little cases. I guess some folks looooooove them some Advil. Can that be used to make meth?
Yes, to get an apology from corporate. I’d rather have somebody pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.
Has anyone asked (axed?) for the DATA behind the devision? If the data say blacks steal substantially more hair products than non bkacks, it is not a stereotype, it is a trend.
WM should just stop carrying these products if the theft rate makes them unprofitable.
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Highly doubt it is about the race of the shopper. They are simply requiring immediate purchase of the products that are highly pilfered...I suspect a Caucasian buying one of the targeted high-theft item would have to pay at the special register as well...
You are right about not carrying high-theft items...Hard to be profitable when localities have decriminalized shoplifting. All of which means that other law-abiding shoppers are footing the bill for what is stolen.
i believe that is true- but i think it is even split among under 20’s.
I was in a Wal Mart and actually saw a major theft. It shocked me. The cashier was in on it, and it involved the shopper putting the clothes on the belt and the cashier just shoving the stuff in bags and handing it over. Must have been $300 worth of items. OF COURSE THEY HAVE TO CHECK YOUR RECEIPT AT THE DOOR!
When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans they brought many of the people here.
For the first time ever Walmart had to lock down the store as so many items were being stolen when the bus load of Katrina refugees hit the isles.
At the camp where they stayed, the police had to put guards around “to prevent outsiders(whites) from harassing the people.”
Actually it was to prevent wife beating and problems WITHIN the camp.
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