Times are getting tough, no small thanks to the current administration’s tariffs, widespread AI takeovers, insurance premium hikes, and plenty of other things. Stealing things to get by has definitely become a stronger temptation now, not like it was an uncommon practice before, of course. But one shopper at a Michigan Walmart was shocked to discover that the store was now locking up dog snacks and treats behind protective glass casing. Now, an associate needs to come to open the case for you if you just want a bag of snacks for your dog.
“Has it gotten so bad that we are locking up $3.99 box of bones?” the shopper questioned on r/mildlyinfuriating. “Is this a thing now or was a just in a ruff part of town?” they quipped with a clever pun. It’s common these days in some Walmart stores or other businesses for higher-end items to be locked up behind glass, such as electronics, video games, and other more pricey items. However, the last thing few would imagine would risk being stolen are cheap dog snacks. “To be fair, dogs rarely have self control and will steal food,” joked a commenter. Not in bags and boxes they won’t, though.
While it might be true that people could be stealing cheap dog snacks for their pets, other Redditors believe that cheap products being sold behind protective glass is actually a means to dissuade customers from buying the items at the physical store. Instead, the business is allegedly pushing them to shop online. “That’s what they want. Dynamic pricing ensures each customer is paying the highest amount they can possibly afford without going somewhere else,” explains one Redditor. Since it’s such a hassle to call over and wait for a worker to come unlock the casing for some dog snacks, their theory feels like it would make sense.
Tinfoil hat theories aside, the particular store OP was at could also just have a history of thieves taking dog food. “It costs them money and costs them sales, and I guarantee they’ve done the math and come to the conclusion that the cost of doing this is less than the cost of the theft it deters,” says one user. Whatever the case, it is definitely mildly infuriating to unnecessarily deal with employees to buy something so insignificant as treats for your dog.
