An early pandemic-like scene played out at the Giant grocery store at 7142 Arlington Road at Bethesda Row last night. Shelves that ordinarily hold Tide laundry detergent and Tide Pods were nearly bare. Signs attached to the shelves gave differing messages. Some referred to particular Tide products being "temporarily out of stock." But another advised, "PLEASE SEE ASSOCIATE FOR TIDE PRODUCTS."
If Tide was simply out of stock, the latter sign would not be posted. When stores were sold out of detergent, paper goods and other necessities during the pandemic lockdown, shoppers were not told to "see associate."
It looks more like Tide is being kept under lock-and-key in the back of the store, and that you'll have to ask for assistance to buy it. This phenomenon has largely been spotted at large, national big box and drugstore chains like Walmart, Target, CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens, or smaller grocery and convenience stores in high-crime areas. Is it now making the jump to regional supermarket chains, as well?
There's nothing new about shoplifters zeroing in on Tide detergent. News articles on the topic date back to 2012. But having to ask for assistance to buy Tide has not previously been necessary at stores like Giant or Safeway in this area. Is this another sign of the new high-crime Montgomery County, where many elected officials express more concern about criminals than their own law-abiding constituents? Retail studies have shown that sales of products locked up drop significantly, as shoppers annoyed by the inconvenience turn to online retailers to order the products instead.
One other thing spotted was the store attempting to lock customers out at 10:40 PM last night, twenty minutes before the new 11:00 PM closing time. Eventually, customers were advised to use the same door to enter and exit, while the other was locked.
And coming soon, all products will be locked up. Another explanation? People grab detergent and walk right out the door.
ReplyDelete"For your convenience."
ReplyDeleteTalk about moribund. People insist to me Giant has stepped up its game since Wegmans and Harris Teeter moved into the DC area, however long ago that was. Such may be so someplace, but the Arlington Road outpost remains steadfastly forlorn. Ironic, that customers who must surely be among the company's highest per-capita earners are provided a true bottom-rung, Dollar Store "experience."
All and Gain were both cleared out at Harris-Teeter Thursday morning. Both are Procter & Gamble brands. All the other brands were OK.
ReplyDeleteProbably just a delay in the shipment.
"One other thing spotted was the store attempting to lock customers out at 10:40 PM last night, twenty minutes before the new 11:00 PM closing time. Eventually, customers were advised to use the same door to enter and exit, while the other was locked."
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck is going on around here? I had the same experience at another store in downtown Bethesda last night that is supposed to be open until 10 pm, per signs on their storefront and online. I was there around 9:15 pm. There was no notice that they had intentionally closed early or have changed their hours.
Same thing at the giant on east-west highway
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Internet Age. Before the internet, criminals had to go to jail to learn the ins and outs of stealing from the old pros. Now, criminals can learn all the latest methods of stealing that work well without stepping foot inside a jail. Just watch the training videos.
ReplyDeleteI thought that they only stole the blue container stuff and at CVS... Watch the manufacturers stop making their product with those convenient ever so tempting handles...
ReplyDeleteThe de jure vs de facto hours thing is another bit of NYC culture transplanted to Bethesda. That trick, of locking the doors 15, 20, or more minutes before the posted closing hours, has long been common practice up there. I lived in Brooklyn for 30+ years before returning here when Covid struck. One quickly learned that if Key Food* said it closed at 10:00, that meant you'd better be at their door by 9:30.
ReplyDelete*The Arlington Road Giant gives crummy, third-world-esque Key Food a run for its money in overall mediocrity.
@3:30 PM Thanks for the additional info. I suggest Giant shoppers start flooding the store at 9:55 PM demanding to be let in within the store's chosen hours!
ReplyDeleteNormal inventory of Tide products at the Giant Friday evening, and no weird advisories.
ReplyDeleteI blame it on poor morale and very poor middle management. The ethic has infiltrated us from DC. Bad habits from the politicians to the police to the pool of workers. I see it at John's Hopkins front offices even now, metastasized from the DMVs and Post Offices. It slowly contaminated Medstar and GW but is up here now.
ReplyDelete