Once upon a time, you could stroll through a store, grab what you needed, and head to the checkout line. These days, however, some of the most ordinary purchases are locked behind glass cases. Retailers say the move helps reduce theft, but for everyday shoppers, it adds frustration and wasted time. From beauty products to batteries, more and more items now require assistance just to buy. Here are seven common items that require a store employee to unlock before you can take them home.
1. Baby Formula
Baby formula has become one of the most frequently locked-up products in grocery and big-box stores. Because of its high resale value and essential nature, it’s often a target for shoplifters. For parents, this adds stress to what should be a simple purchase, especially during formula shortages. Waiting on an employee to unlock the case can be awkward and time-consuming. It’s one of the most well-known items that requires a store employee to unlock.
2. Laundry Detergent Pods
Those colorful little detergent pods are surprisingly high-theft items. Their compact packaging and popularity make them easy to conceal and resell. Shoppers often joke that buying laundry supplies now feels like buying electronics. For busy families, needing help just to grab a cleaning essential is frustrating. Laundry pods are a growing entry on the list of items that require a store employee to unlock.
3. Over-the-Counter Medications
Common pain relievers, allergy tablets, and cold medicines are often locked up due to theft and ingredient misuse. While these products are everyday necessities, their popularity with resellers and in certain illegal activities makes them high-risk. For customers, it creates delays when you’re already feeling unwell and just want relief. Having to find someone with a key can feel like adding insult to injury. Medicine aisles are a prime spot for items that require a store employee to unlock.
4. Razor Blades
Razors and refill packs are surprisingly expensive, which makes them frequent theft targets. Many stores now keep them behind locked glass, much to the annoyance of regular customers. It’s a hassle when you just want to quickly replace your blades before work. Some stores have even moved to requiring checkout at a staffed counter for razors. This is another everyday product on the growing list of items that require a store employee to unlock.
5. Cosmetics and Beauty Products
High-end makeup, skincare, and even drugstore cosmetics are now regularly placed behind lock and key. Their small size and high value make them appealing to shoplifters. For customers, it turns browsing into a waiting game since you can’t test or compare products without assistance. Beauty shopping, once enjoyable, now feels more restricted and awkward. Makeup cases have become one of the most noticeable items that require a store employee to unlock.
6. Electronics Accessories
It’s not just big-ticket electronics like tablets and gaming consoles that get locked up—accessories do too. Items like phone chargers, earbuds, and printer ink are frequently cased in. These products are easy to steal and often resold online for quick cash. For customers, it means a longer trip, even for small tech essentials. Electronics aisles are now filled with items that require a store employee to unlock.
7. Batteries
You wouldn’t expect something as ordinary as batteries to be locked away, but in many stores, they are. Because they’re small, portable, and always in demand, batteries often end up on theft-prevention lists. Shoppers are left having to call for assistance just to power their remotes or kids’ toys. It adds yet another step to what should be a quick errand. Batteries are a surprising but common example of items that require a store employee to unlock.
Why Shopping Feels Different Today
Retailers insist these measures are necessary to fight theft, but for shoppers, the experience is more inconvenient than ever. Everyday essentials, once taken for granted, now require waiting on employees, adding stress to errands. While the intent is security, the effect is often frustration and wasted time. Still, awareness helps you plan ahead for where delays are most likely. Knowing which items require a store employee to unlock is on the list can save you from surprise hassles.
Have you noticed more everyday items locked up at your local store? Share your experiences in the comments—I’d love to hear your take!
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