Time for a law against locking up condoms/family planning items in stores?

[ecstatic]

I had the unfortunate experience of having to wait around for almost half an hour to get a CVS clerk to unlock the "family planning" shelf in the store. I didn't appreciate having everyone in the store know about what should have been a private purchase. I would imagine that many people, especially females, would be very intimidated and embarassed by having to go through that. Why are these stores creating barriers to safe sex?

[NVMojo]

1. thanks for bringing this up again, I posted it a few weeks back

after observing the same items locked up at a local Smith's Food King Pharmacy. And I live in a town with legal prostitution.

[DaveColorado]

2. I have noticed stores with the same thing

Actually I think it was a walmart here in Austin.

I would be in support of such a law, but it would need to be at the federal level because only liberal states would pass it at the state level.

[ecstatic]

8. Not only that--but products like Monistat etc... I think its all about

embarassing women!

[bluethruandthru]

3. Didn't you get the memo?

You're supposed to "Just Say No"....even if you're married! (except if you're a republican congressman)

[Fridays Child]

4. They've never locked up the condoms here.

At least not from what I've seen. I'm pretty sure that the spermicidals and pregnancy tests are on open shelves, too.

How stupid that those things would be locked up. And, as you say, they shouldn't be.

[Texasgal]

5. This has been going on here

for as long as I can remember!

I once had to wait for someone to open the "locked" area for some monistat 7. Talk about embarrasing!

It's bullshit, and I have no idea why they do it! :shrug:

[madrchsod]

6. walgreens don`t

they put the lubes and all that stuuf by the woman`s items section. interesting isn`t it?

[U4ikLefty]

7. Perhaps they are stolen more offten than other items

Just thinking aloud...er, on the keyboard.

[CC]

9. Most places don't lock them here though

a local pharmacy has. I asked the owner why. He said they had a real bad problem with shoplifting. He also didn't like having them in a locked case because of the time involved finding someone able to get over and unlock the case then waiting for a person to decide. He finally rearranged things so they could be placed behind the counter. You still have to ask but it is right behind the register so someone is always there and well you would have to pay there anyway.

[Clovis Sangrail]

10. turn about is fair play

you may be uncomfortable asking for assistance
they'll be far far more uncomfortable constantly having customers loudly anouncing:
"COULD I GET SOMEBODY TO SHOW ME THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIRTH CONTROL THAT CVS SELLS?" in front of other customers.

Try it.
Find the most crowded checkout line and blurt that out so everyone can hear.
If they're doing it to discourage birth control I'm sure they'll really dislike the regular anouncements that they provide it.

...now I wish there was a CVS near me so I could do this

[LoZoccolo]

11. A lot of people shoplift them though.

They don't want to go to the cashier with them so they pocket them. The stores that don't have them locked up usually have them in view of the pharmacist for the same reason. I understand both sides of this one.

[ecstatic]

12. I'd gladly pick them up near register... just don't have me waiting

and standing around in front of locked shelf like a fool. If they place it in a place thats in view of the register there won't be a problem with theft.

[Warpy]

13. I managed one of those chain stores many years ago

and the one area that got shoplifted the most was the condom section. The most expensive shoplifting was in the hair care products.

I cut losses in my store by turning a blind eye to the shoplifted condoms and by taping all the hair care boxes shut as I put them on the shelves.

My store's loss figures went down quite a bit. The kids got their rubbers. The central office gave me a pat on the back.

The next manager put those condoms back of the register with the cigarettes and stopped taping the boxes. Her loss figures went up.

[oldcoot]

14. Next time complain to the manager

Next time you go to the store to pick up a family planning item, grab a basket and fill it with other items that you would use. You should then ask to purchase your family planning item. If you end up waiting too long, you should then request to see a manager. You hand the manager the basket and then tell him or her that the wait and the lack of courtesy has cost that store a loyal customer. Instead of buying what you want, you will only take the item that you need and you will not be returning. You will also tell your friends not to shop there. If the manager is smart, he or she will realize that inconveniencing customers is not a smart idea.

[tammywammy]

15. At my local Kroger

They're locked up along with nicotine patches, nicotine gum, diabetic testing supplies, etc. The case is unlocked when the pharmacy is opened.

I don't think they're anti-safe sex anymore than they'd be anti-diabetics or anti-quitting-smoking. :shrug: