That’s after years of back and forth between retailers, who wanted stricter regulation of online sales, and online marketplaces, who didn’t but eventually came around. But you will starting this summer, when the INFORM Act (PDF) goes into effect. “Right now, it’s way too easy to use a fake business address, made up a screen name, and essentially fence stolen product from an online marketplace,” said Brewer.Ĭurrently, you don’t have to verify your identity to sell online. So if you see it for half-price online … do you stop to wonder whether it might be stolen? How would you know? A luxury item like jewelry might fetch a higher price, but everybody needs laundry detergent. When you think about it, basic necessities have a guaranteed market. Household goods are easier for people to steal and sell and so have been a target. He said people are stealing stuff that’s easy to carry out of the store, and easy to sell. But it’s only done when it’s impossible to keep a specific product on the shelf.” “No retailer wants to lock up product,” said Jason Brewer, executive vice president with the Retail Industry Leaders Association. They’re aware they lose some money when customers just leave impatiently instead of waiting around, but they don’t know exactly how much. Target representatives say the items in the cases vary city by city. “Is it a reflection of the larger economy in my neighborhood?” “Why are these things locked up?” Shimon asked Bay Curious. So are vitamins, toothpaste, toothbrushes and lotions. All the pain relievers are locked up, as are the sleep aids. We walk through the aisles, noticing what else is in the cases. For a while.Įventually an employee comes along with a key, and hands us the Advil. He waves his hand below a little plastic square sticking out of the case, and then we stand there. NPR One or your favorite podcast platform. Please place hand below the sensor to activate,’” Shimon says.īay Curious is a podcast that answers your questions about the Bay Area.
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Noam Shimon and I are at the Emeryville Target, peering at a plexiglass case, trying to figure out how to buy the Advil locked inside of it. “Hmm! Is there any kind of button to call someone?”
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