Tim Richards

Interesting piece about supermarket theft and its intersection with the cost of living crisis. I shake my head at supermarkets installing customer-hostile security measures, when they could just reinstate staffed checkouts. (Also their dodgy behaviour over illusory discounts hasn't won them any friends.)

[gift link] https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/22860/2OX13elG

Inside supermarket surveillance measures

Australian retail crime costs an estimated $9 billion a year. It is a growing problem, with 70 per cent of retailers reporting increased theft in 2024/25. Total retail loss includes “shrink” – goods lost between manufacture and point of sale – internal theft and vendor fraud. The biggest contributor by far, though, is theft by customers or other third parties.

The Saturday Paper
Mar 22 at 11:33pmWeb
Show threadAndrew Jennings3d ago
@timrichards it's interesting that Woolworths is the most hated brand in Australia. Quite an achievement when you consider the contenders
Show threadTim Richards3d ago
@andyjennings Quite a crowded field in fact
Show thread00Pete3d ago
@andyjennings @timrichards espcially considering Coles is now signed up to use palantir systems for facial recognition and mass surveillance of customers - an american system linked with the US military complex... great... I can see some benefits from it, IF it was used properly, but we all know it won't be.
Show threadPaul Armstrong3d ago

@andyjennings Wow, I'd missed the fall of Woolies. From most to least trusted in only 2 years, that's quite the feat.

Still, at least in my local area, I'll take Woolies over Coles every day. The local Woolies doesn't treat everyone like a crim, the local Coles does. And, of course, there's Palantir. That was really the final straw.

I also make a habit of using the staffed checkout lines. Dunno how much difference it makes, but it's nice to have a human conversation.

Show threadKirsty3d ago

@timrichards

As a teen, I worked at a supermarket and learned a lot!
It was a real start to a career for many people.

Now they have no kids and stupid security systems.

I used to love browsing products at the supermarket. Now I feel like I’m in a jail.

Show threadInsurgo Formica3d ago
@timrichards yes, i was at a self serve and made a mistake scanning cat food of all things.
The staff member basically accused me of theft and stood over me the rest of the transaction.
In hindsight, I wished I'd packed it all up and made the check out person do it to ensure "no mistakes"
Show threadvandenberglegs3d ago
@InsurgoFormica @timrichards I accidentally walked out of the shop without paying for a couple of things the other day. Was self-serving and my empty bags fell in the trolley on top of the items. Didn't notice til much later, and it definitely wouldn't have happened if if there were enough staffed tills.
Show threadInsurgo Formica3d ago
@vandenberglegs @timrichards exactly!
Show threadMaude Nificent3d ago
@timrichards
considering both major chains have consistently underpaid staff, and been fined less than the millions they stole from staff, they’ve got a cheek accusing customers of theft