Inside a Florida lab few have ever seen, a team of researchers is engaging in secretive work on behalf of some of the country’s biggest retailers: “loss prevention,” or trying to stave off a purported epidemic of theft. With results both highly visible to consumers—like the locks on drugstore shelves—and more subtle, the lab has been at the center of corporate panic about shoplifting and lax enforcement. But who is this really for, and does it even work? In a sharp, wide-ranging, and at times hilarious report, Slate’s Alexander Sammon goes inside the lab and learns more than he bargained for about the war on “shrink” and what’s really happening inside America’s stores.
An interesting article, though I personally think a lot of the LP stuff is “we were so busy thinking of if we could….” My local CVS has pretty everything locked down. If you want to do any actual amount of shopping there, you basically need to walk around with an employee opening every shelf for you. It’s horrible. I pretty much only go there now for the pharmacy or if I absolutely need an OTC medicine right now and can’t wait for Amazon. I guess they have less shoplifting, but I have to imagine revenue is so, so far down.
We could just go back to to model where everything is behind the counter and you just have to order online and pickup everything an hour or 2 later. Basically the way it was in 1850 but you don't have to wait as long.
It’s the same in my city but I live in the urban part of town. I’ve found that going to a CVS in a neighboring suburb when possible is a much better experience, as there’s way less things locked in the aisles. Same goes for Target.
I can't count how many times I've just given up on buying a product because I don't want to ask an employee to unlock it. It's bad enough that I want to buy a pint of ice cream to eat my feelings after a rough day. It's worse that I have to humiliate myself by asking an employee to come unlock the dairy section of CVS.
I admit, I could not get through this article because of the writing style. Its short sentences and generally tone are so twee that it just got annoying and distracting.
Pair that with the fact that shoplifting rates are justifiably up because of soaring prices and corporate profits, and it's just not a fun article to read.
I mean this is a very skeptical article, definitely can argue the writing style but the author is definitely casting all of this LP stuff in a fairly negative light.
The subject was interesting but the writing was not good. Meandering and poorly structured. Why spend five paragraphs on the bow tie thing? So unnecessary.
AiReine | 17 hours ago
“Sometimes you cure the disease and lose the patient.” Chef’s kiss.
[OP] Slate | 17 hours ago
Inside a Florida lab few have ever seen, a team of researchers is engaging in secretive work on behalf of some of the country’s biggest retailers: “loss prevention,” or trying to stave off a purported epidemic of theft. With results both highly visible to consumers—like the locks on drugstore shelves—and more subtle, the lab has been at the center of corporate panic about shoplifting and lax enforcement. But who is this really for, and does it even work? In a sharp, wide-ranging, and at times hilarious report, Slate’s Alexander Sammon goes inside the lab and learns more than he bargained for about the war on “shrink” and what’s really happening inside America’s stores.
Read the full story here (no paywall!):
https://slate.com/life/2026/07/shoplifting-walmart-target-amazon-retail-florida.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_content=shoplifting&utm_campaign=&tpcc=reddit-social--shoplifting
thesphinxistheriddle | 15 hours ago
An interesting article, though I personally think a lot of the LP stuff is “we were so busy thinking of if we could….” My local CVS has pretty everything locked down. If you want to do any actual amount of shopping there, you basically need to walk around with an employee opening every shelf for you. It’s horrible. I pretty much only go there now for the pharmacy or if I absolutely need an OTC medicine right now and can’t wait for Amazon. I guess they have less shoplifting, but I have to imagine revenue is so, so far down.
lyndseymariee | 15 hours ago
I refuse to summon an underpaid employee to unlock the damn laundry detergent for me. It’s asinine.
FanClubof5 | 8 hours ago
We could just go back to to model where everything is behind the counter and you just have to order online and pickup everything an hour or 2 later. Basically the way it was in 1850 but you don't have to wait as long.
MarandTierra | 15 hours ago
It’s the same in my city but I live in the urban part of town. I’ve found that going to a CVS in a neighboring suburb when possible is a much better experience, as there’s way less things locked in the aisles. Same goes for Target.
butter_milk | 12 hours ago
My Target went full lock down on all its products. The employees have gotten so tired of it they just leave everything unlocked.
DyllCallihan3333 | 16 hours ago
Yeah, makes me want to shop at the corner store. How much money are these knuckleheads paying these goons?
rkgk13 | 13 hours ago
I can't count how many times I've just given up on buying a product because I don't want to ask an employee to unlock it. It's bad enough that I want to buy a pint of ice cream to eat my feelings after a rough day. It's worse that I have to humiliate myself by asking an employee to come unlock the dairy section of CVS.
SmileSagely_8worms | 16 hours ago
I love this article! So many modern ills covered. The broken “social contract” looms large!
Quouar | 14 hours ago
I admit, I could not get through this article because of the writing style. Its short sentences and generally tone are so twee that it just got annoying and distracting.
Pair that with the fact that shoplifting rates are justifiably up because of soaring prices and corporate profits, and it's just not a fun article to read.
draftylaughs | 9 hours ago
I mean this is a very skeptical article, definitely can argue the writing style but the author is definitely casting all of this LP stuff in a fairly negative light.
MicromagicFriesRIP | an hour ago
The subject was interesting but the writing was not good. Meandering and poorly structured. Why spend five paragraphs on the bow tie thing? So unnecessary.