In recent years, Walmart customers across the country have encountered an increasing number of locked boxes and cabinets – a strategy the retail giant introduced to counter rising numbers of shoplifting.
Reports of locked away merchandise vary widely by location. Some stores have secured their entire lingerie section behind plexiglass, while others have gone so far as to display underwear in locked display cases.
Toys under lock and key?
Now, Walmart’s anti-theft measures seem to have reached the toy department, with a mom’s latest TikTok video generating buzz after she showed off rows of locked-away toys at her local Walmart.
The clip, posted on August 4 by TikTok user @radotv1029, has been viewed over 32,500 times on the video-sharing platform. In it, she walks through the store and films shelves full of toys, including popular Lego sets, all secured behind glass panels.
“Let me show you what Walmart is locking up now. You guys are being ridiculous,” the TikToker says at the beginning of the video. “Why do they have to lock this up, guys?”
The shocked mother continues her tour of the locked-away toy section, expressing her disbelief. “Are you guys taking them all and selling them? Look at that – all of that. Locking up toys. You all know when they start locking up toys, things get wild here.”
The TikToker also shows a “press to find a partner” button, which she says is largely ineffective. “And even if you press this button here, it takes 40, 45 minutes before they even come,” she explains.
@radotv1029 Walmart scandal !!!! What y’all doing??!!! #walmartfinds #walmart #fyp #foryoupage #walmart #targetwouldnever #kamala2024 #viraltiktok #shacarririchardson #noahlyles #parisolympics2024 #paris #dallastx #texas #alabamamade #presidentialrace #backtoschool #backtoschoolhaul #legos ♬ Original sound – RaDOTV
Walmart customers do not have it
In the comments section of the video, viewers expressed their frustration over inconvenient anti-theft measures.
One commentator was blunt: “Stores that do this are just signaling that they don’t want me to shop there because I’d rather go somewhere else than ask someone to open half the store for me.”
Another user sarcastically suggested: “So when are they going to introduce personal shoppers because who’s waiting for someone to unlock everything?”
“At this point they need to have someone shopping with each customer,” added another commenter.
The Daily Dot contacted Walmart through the media relations contact form on its website and the TikToker through a TikTok comment.
Internet culture is messy—but we break it down for you in a daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter Here. Get the best (and worst) of the internet delivered straight to your inbox.
