Bay Area innovator stops shoplifting, gives shoppers power to open padlocked shelves

[@f.demascio1857]

The message he is sending is "Thank you for helping me expand my business. "

[@lovedove2661]

Exactly

[@andrewhofmann5453]

I was just thinking this... Necessity is the mother of innovation...

[@shaggydawg5419]

Yup. Just like antivirus companies thanking malware creators for keeping them in business.

[@tiberianexcalibur]

Only problem to retailers is the credit card companies charge money per swipe rather than lump the items all together in one checkout.

[@yongchen4158]

Bottom line is all business vending machines business

[@radolfkalis4041]

The problem is punishment. Shoplifters know they face little to no punishment. Until this changes, there is little that can be done.

[@mindful_clip]

They voted to defund police and make this a civilians job. I think it was a choice really.

[@brodriguez11000]

Raising the wrong kind of kids. Guess what they grow up to be.

[@0IIIIII]

What should the punishment be for shoplifting? How would it be enforced? Talk is cheap, let’s see your plan

[@radolfkalis4041]

@@0IIIIII there are already laws in place to punish shoplifters, look to your local laws to answer your own snarky questions. The real issue is politicians set policies(and they control law enforcement) and they are not interested in punishing thieves, so they steal everything in sight.

[@chuck7415]

@@0IIIIII You know we have these things called jails. So, you put the criminal inside and they lock a door and they can't come out until they've served their time.

[@erhnamdjinn14]

Imagine wasting all these locks , sealed cabinets instead of actually prosecuting criminals

[@TerriTemple]

tough laws don't stop crime, a better economy does.

[@erhnamdjinn14]

@@TerriTemple not doing anything condones this

[@rrrrrrrr1033]

@@TerriTempleokay leach

[@anthonyd8997]

They would just do it again and again because it’s not a crime that is serious compared to some other crimes

[@erikk77]

That requires adequate law enforcement funding. It also requires jobs and services to boost the economy.

[@dupre7416]

From video: "David Ashford wanted to buy and item at a drug store" - camera pans to a rack of pink "personal massagers". Comedy gold right there!

[@Oheeeoh]

Even more innovative: Parents raising children that know that stealing is wrong.

[@kenc2257]

Those "smash and grabber" shoplifters are often part of an organized crime ring. They aren't stealing for their personal use, but to resell (usually on some Internet marketplace).

[@TheRealScooterGuy]

Even more innovative: "Parents" (plural) raising children.

[@TheZorch]

Even more innovative, prosecutors who actually punish criminals, and politicians who push common sense policies and not communism.

[@thehighllama8101]

If White people would actually raise their kids, then we wouldn't have this problem of White teenagers stealing everything in sight. Not surprising, since 75% of White households have no father at home. San Francisco never had an epidemic of shoplifting until White people decided they would just take whatever they wanted. It's not helped by the fact that conservative, White politicians refuse to prosecute White shoplifters.

[@MegaLokopo]

You can also punish people for stealing things that cost less than a thousand dollars.

[@eponymousIme]

This works if you know exactly what you want and you don't need to check things like ingredients, expiration dates, instructions for use before buying. It's entirely useless for anyone who's browsing or wants to comparison shop from a selection of 2 or more items.

[@sp4859]

eponymouslme exactly!

[@channeltubes7173]

Exactly, its a completely stupid idea, and more totalitarianism.

[@DannyDelorean]

Plus people who want to pay with cash

[@truth4004]

That's when you need to shop online.

[@mugenjin205]

Exactly so many flaws its a stupid idea that will only raise prices on products

[@Acueil]

If theft, robbery and looting are treated like actual crime again, this wouldn't even be needed.

[@Undisclosed86467]

That is usually considered racist in California. I lived most of my life there.

[@darthnader3523]

A co-worker and I were talking about this. It's all part of the plan.

[@rainkloud]

That's a big part for sure but even if you increase the penalties that only matters if they get caught. These criminals are able to share best practices and identify stores that are understaffed or in transitional phases and then pounce on them. Not to mention that there is a class of criminal that doesn't care about the consequences as they are too far gone. Therefore, these machines are still going to have a use case.

[@b34V15heh]

If they paid attention to crime then there would be no excuse to unveil more Orwellian technology

[@cosseybomb]

​@@Undisclosed86467funny when I see people like you make these ridiculous claims

[@vivii1219]

I am speechless! They are not solving the problem! They are welcoming it and creating more problem!

[@GrowWildOutdoors]

So it's like we're accepting this level of insanity as the new norm...

[@terryowen6759]

Necessity is the mother of invention

[@arkyboy14]

Yes, Prices will only rise more and more, unless theft is reined in.

[@ms.sharpe8820]

Theft wont stop until inflation gets under control

[@BigMikeKOE]

It's not accepting, it's adapting.

[@lovemoviesful2]

Stealing is your level of insanity already? Man, your life must suck if you think that is insanity lol. Oh and no one is accepting theft as a "norm", people have been stealing way before you are born lol.

[@retselyarrh3895]

Instead of stealing from the stores, they will just rob the people walking out with their items!!! It’s like kicking the can down the road!!!

[@zsewqthewolf1194]

eh to me it be like roof tops of the LA riots, just have them know if they try to fuck with people leaving there stores it won't end well, but ya its still kicking the can down to the buyer now.

[@CrizzyEyes]

They do this at banks already.

[@jhonnykun6888]

They will be charged for assault intention of robbery rather than just petty theft. So it's an additional charge

[@DavidKen878]

@@jhonnykun6888 Be sure to say that before having your bags snatched.The threat of an additional charge will surely make them think twice.

[@brodriguez11000]

Remember courtesy of the 2nd amendment and mass production everyone will be armed.

[@demonatemu]

this just pushes the crime onto the mom n pop shops - those who cant afford a glorified vending machine.

[@trappy8682]

You're right. Now the supporters of the bad behavior lose their "the companies/corpos are insured" argument

[@SummaGirl1347]

They can afford the machines a lot easier than they can afford the continuous losses from theft.

[@branflakee4257]

Walmart killed the mom and pop shop

[@eric1302]

I’m sure mom n pop stores can afford a gun

[@MurakamiTenshi]

Mom and pop stores have the ability to carry firearms. Those are banned in corporate stores.

[@jgbeck1000]

I notice that, in San Jose, the retailers that hire enough employees do not have as much trouble with theft. They can help customers while being a presence that deters shoplifting.

[@Runescapian0wner]

This only works until all retailers hire "enough" employees then the thieves will have no choice, but to become more brazen and steal. This method does work currently though.

[@rogerrosen2323]

most people cant use atomated machines and prepaying they look and buy

[@weareorigin]

Don't punish consumers. Don't punish the working class.

[@lovedove2661]

Exactly

[@mclaybry]

If you owned a store and people were shoplifting, how would you propose handling the issue of theft? In the end, if retail does not do this, they have to jack up their prices which leads to the consumer paying the cost. It is very inconvenient to have to buzz an employee, but at least the retailer is cutting down on losses with this method.

[@terryowen6759]

The losses in retail theft is in the billions, without some kind of deterrent, stores in many areas will just close down

[@noahdyedotcom]

I hope they do all close down. @@terryowen6759

[@Atheism-And-Normative-Ethics]

​@@mclaybry exactly, if there's a gun problem just remove all the guns too

[@rpm2night]

Can we hold grown ups accountable for their actions? Choose to be a criminal, choose to get punished.

[@Undisclosed86467]

No. Not in liberal cities. They'd rather defund the police and hire counselors.

[@fitybux4664]

If Trump doesn't get thrown in jail, that's the exact message this sends. "You can get away with anything."

[@SmethwickCouncilmanBint]

​@@fitybux4664 That's the message you think it sends in Blue-Anon world. I'm not even a Trump guy and I'm from California. What it tells us is that anyone we elect can be prosecuted for superfluous reasons over and over again at 8 different trials for 150 different reasons over 6 years. And only 10% of the charges ever pan out to anything equalling monetary fines. And then you are gonna go "well he's the only committing crimes" which is ridiculous. Every political division of out government has criminals and corrupt officials serving in it. The federal government is stuffed with monsters who would see us all destroyed in a war anywhere in the world if it meant protecting their assets and friends. If Trump is removed from the ballot in any state, it will open an unpredictable hellstorm of rage. The election will not be seen as legitimate with justification this time. Nobody in the international community except fellow blue-anons will see it as a fair election. People already don't believe the country exists, don't prove to them that you are the fascists they think you are.

[@jonathansaucedo1924]

Your idea for punishing criminals will wipe out most of the black community. Your idea is racist.

[@michaeljones1802]

The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world

[@chihuahuasrule1175]

He's going to make a killing off of this product. He needs to thank ALL the shoplifters who made his future wealth possible.

[@jaminova_1969]

Not so much the shoplifters, but the politicians who made this possible!

[@p.gizzle90]

Agreed!

[@Mavrik9000]

@@jaminova_1969 Yes, the price-fixing of everything from wages to taxes, retail, housing, and health insurance creates the conditions for such things.

[@ericbwertz]

he's the new Darrell Issa

[@unitycatalog]

diggers

[@BayAreaMoolah]

They did David Ashforth dirty 🤣🤣🤣 They say he wanna buy something and show a "vibrating PLEASURE bullet" 🤣🤣 I'm dying, camera man needs a raise

[@merian_d]

pleasure locked up 😂

[@M-np4wv]

When?

[@EHamden-q1g]

This really is "Clown World". Praising something like this instead of asking the real question. Where did we go wrong where suddenly this type of behavior is OK and not criminally punishable.

[@deniseberman8633]

When the theft and bail laws were changed it gave thieves the right to steal. All the people who thought it was a good idea to change laws are still in office. Our shopping malls are dying stores are closing all over the country people are losing jobs and yet people are still voting for these fools. While our former President was in office, as much as the left hates him, this was not going on and thieves were not as brazen. Tell people they could do whatever they want without consequences and they will.

[@ehaaron]

It's an excuse to monitor & surveille your shopping. welcome to china CCP surveillance state

[@bloomerdavid]

Is this a question or are you just making a statement?

[@videogameplayer0552]

@@omi_godCalifornia doesn’t prosecute shoplifting, lol. Just because someone COULD go to jail for 6 months doesn’t mean it actually happens. I’d wager that at least 90% of the time, nobody actually gets prosecuted for shoplifting in California.

[@videogameplayer0552]

@@omi_god Key word: “a law in 2032 which ALLOWS prosecutors the discretion.” Allows. There, you said it. Prosecutors have the discretion, but usually won’t prosecute shoplifting. Ultimately, whether anything happens to shoplifters has little to do with any law, and has more to do with who the police decide to arrest, and who the prosecutors decide to prosecute.

[@AN-jw2oe]

It would be a lot cheaper for businesses if people just voted in hard on crime DAs and passed new laws that will penalize shoplifters correctly!!!! If businesses actually use this tech, all the extra costs will be passed on to the consumers through the increased cost of products.

[@marmosetman]

This is what they wanted from the start. Maui was burned deliberately to build smart cities. Sf and oakland are deliberately getting destroyed to be replaced by the smart city in vacaville.

[@SiikPros]

Stores should foot the bill to protect their merchandise. Why leave it to mr and mrs tax payer

[@sealer3553]

They will also layoff more employees with this kind of tech. Less wages, less Healthcare, less unemployment payouts. This is a big win for big business people with deep pockets while a big loss to middle, and lower class.

[@IfImCommentingStopMe]

I don't think the main issue is so much them being let go. Have you seen much footage of these guys? They're crazy fast and hard to track individually

[@BlueSky-td9in]

Too ridiculous We don't need that machine...😅 To much worse for the customer and the clerk too...

[@BravoTwo1]

It’s like when toys r us shut down since online shopping took over but I don’t know about you, going to the store to physically grab your item was the best thing you could experience.

[@boysrus61]

How embarrassed we should be as a country that has been reduced to this.

[@TheoneGodfather]

When you import the third world you get the third world.

[@Araedi]

Yeah... except this isnt a counrty wide problem

[@davidjones-vx9ju]

did you vote?

[@justanaveragebalkan]

I mean, it's a place where everyone drives a brand new car and steals toilet paper, not sure you can figure out what and where it went wrong but maybe it starts with that brand new car. :)

[@josenino7140]

​@@justanaveragebalkani doubt those looters steal toilet papers. You dont steal the things for usage. They steal and sell it online.

[@paulngo4631]

only in america, other countries, thieves get punished

[@flat-earther]

hi paulngo, have you become a flat earther yet?

[@WarHawk-]

If you believe that then I have some ocean-front property in Arizona to sell to you. South American countries like Brazil and Argentina have totally uncontrolled theft and rampant street violence. Same with Niger and just about any other African country. The United States is quickly reaching the same Third-World status as these other crime ridden countries.

[@sfrealestatedealmaker6001]

And shamed

[@ironbowtie]

@@REM44MAG Correction, every city, red or blue, whose DA and judges push an agenda to keep bail revenue flowing.

[@GrabASpriteB]

In other countries, they either get their hand cut off, or a night in jail and then released to do it all over again. What system truly works?

[@Jaycee3]

Imagine two, three, four and so on of us waiting to get the same item? There will be a line. SF's and CA's spineless laws, DAs and judges enabled the criminals. Now you see the result.

[@TheIncomparableGolfer]

There is always a line when paying (at busy stores)

[@middleguy1776]

​@@TheIncomparableGolferthere's not a line to obtain an item before you check out yet. That's what he meant.

[@mrsleep0000]

I imagine the thieves will just smash the glass...won't solve anything.

[@TheIncomparableGolfer]

@@middleguy1776 false.. there is also a line sometimes when waiting for an employee to open the door.. so that means you have to wait twice now to buy an item.. this machine will make you only wait once...

[@middleguy1776]

@@TheIncomparableGolfer imagine if the laws were actually enforced. We wouldn't need this at all. But yet again law abiding citizens have to beat the brunt of the lawless.

[@TopFix]

"He saw an opportunity.............. to profit" Tell it like it is. This man isn't for stopping theft culture, he's glad it exists because it means it will make him money.

[@S1RVING]

necessity is the mother of invention

[@itsjuliam]

Yes, he saw an opportunity to profit by creating a solution for retailers who want to prevent robbery and for shoppers who pay for goods. Everyone wins except the thieves.

[@peak_911]

isn't that what business is? these stores themselves begin with the mindset of "I saw an opportunity ....... to profit"

[@HunterXray]

The problem is that when you reward theft with no consequences, thieves learn they can just keep stealing with no consequences.

[@kenbo808]

True and if they are caught and arrested, they will be processed and released pending further investigation. Catch and release to steal again. No consequences, thieves are not deterred from stealing.

[@michaeljones1802]

The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world

[@Runescapian0wner]

@@michaeljones1802 The US's incarceration rate is decreasing (it's lowest yet since 2007-2008), but the crime rate is increasing. People are committing crimes without consequences. How are there less people being incarcerated as the crime rate increases?

[@themondoshow]

prison exists. they steal because they want the stuff bad enough

[@kdw75]

If people didn't have to worry about being prosecuted for defending their property, this wouldn't be happening.

[@serendipityshopnyc]

I bet you're picturing the shop owners or clerks coming out with guns blazing. Nonsense. There are more guns in the US than ever, & yet there's a *temporary* sharp uptick in shoplifting. Having more people waving guns to "defend their property" will only result in more injured or dead innocent bystanders. Shoplifting is not now & never should be a capital offense, and besides, no minimum-wage clerks are interested in risking their lives with escalation because somebody's grabbing toothpaste.

[@scrampker]

Agreed

[@brittanyfehlings6838]

Imagine how many times you have to pay if you're buying a lot of stuff, and how much time you spend

[@ebeb516]

Run a tab

[@Nismopower93]

you can literally shop online go to the store and have the machine pick everything at once. not too bright are you.

[@Dargonhuman]

@@Nismopower93 If that's the best option, then why even bother with the vending machines? A team of employees picking the items from the storeroom and bringing it to the front would still be faster and more time efficient than this.

[@racthuibainhlaonhiemlambai1384]

Costco

[@Undisclosed86467]

Hopefully it will cause more sane people to flee ultra liberal cities and counties. Vote with your wallet!

[@11C1P]

As long as the criminals aren't punished, that's the most important thing. 🙄

[@DarkstarDarth]

The best deterrent is through changes in the justice system like it should have all along and not have laws that motivate criminals. Early release programs, $950 felony thresholds, no bail / no bond latest law is the motivator. Capitalizing on these vending machines is basically ignoring the real solution. No punishment = no peace.

[@senhoradosarcasmo]

Very well said! I was wondering about this! Who made this stupid law and why nobody talks about changing it? 😡😡😡

[@californiajohntravels]

How about paying workers a living wage and taxing the company executives to pay their fair share? How about not letting corporations ship American jobs overseas for cheaper labor to increase their profits? There are many things that would greatly reduce crime, gun violence, and homelessness, but they aren't profitable.

[@poodlescone9700]

Who voted no on Prop 20 in the 2020 election? That proposition was suppose to repeal prop 47 and 58. 2/3 of the state did not want things to change.

[@episdosas9949]

blah blah blah. lil kids looking at comic books dreaming of heros, to save them from bad shoplifters. oh the pain of society. these merchants are losing pennies. its no justice, no peace. punishmnent is still not justice, its just revenge.

[@eatpigsnot]

the best scenario is prevention. lets create a world where stealing does not exist because everyone can afford anything and everything

[@jenniferrapacon2944]

Hold people accountable. You have to use a vending machine that would take a lot of time for each item if you are doing a big shopping trip.

[@wownewstome6123]

My guess is the 15 seconds doesn't mean much when you consider the time waiting in line over and over again at various vending machines. (edited for clarity)

[@ronaldhudson169]

@@wownewstome6123 This forms a bottleneck for all the product on one row of shelves. it seems that there is only one pickup station so you really can't have two people getting product from the same row.

[@CrizzyEyes]

@@first-last-null That's a whole _lotta_ shit that isn't relevant to the issue at hand. You lost me about a third of the way through.

[@CrizzyEyes]

@@first-last-null Another way to say I'm shifting the blame onto customers for tax crimes that they may or may not have caused. Peddle your bullshit elsewhere.

[@wownewstome6123]

@@CrizzyEyes He has a good point, tho. White collar crime costs society WAY MORE than blue collar crime.

[@UrBasicGuy]

Store owners and companies need to push for much, much, much harsher sentencing for thieves. Not spend millions on anti theft devices and then pass the costs on to the customer.

[@dietmarwolf79]

You are absolutely right, sir. Harsh penalties mandating hard labor in work gangs ought to put a stop to this menace 😡😡

[@deesmith8576]

@@dietmarwolf79 of ship them back to africa cus it only one color doing it

[@somewhereoverit711]

We need to fix our economic system so that people don’t have to resort to petty theft. The real thieves are the ones trying to keep mini wage at slave labor rates while trying to make up pay more for the cost of living and expect us to give them loyalty while they can fire us at a whim and have litigators protect them.

[@reh3884]

People like you are insane. Harsher sentences are not going to stop crime. It never has. You have to address the issue of why so many people are shoplifting these days.

[@richardjohnson8796]

@reh3884 in Arab countries where thieves get their hands chopped off, there is a lower rate of theft. Let's analyze why this is 🤔

[@AlanHell080]

The problem is not the story not knowing people are stealing. Is the fact people pick things up infront of the security and be able to walk off freely as the will never be arrested

[@jasleinei744]

This would almost never happen in my country (Singapore), and in the rare occasion that it does, the thief would be arrested within 1 2 hours. Furthermore, there are no violent shoplifters here who destroy stuff and run out, just silent shoplifters who quietly take stuff and go -- even that rarely happens given the stern consequences. It is quite shocking to see that this is rampant in some cities in the US.

[@thisspaceforrent5737]

Same thing here in Japan. All it takes is parents (plural) raising their kids to do right, schools reinforcing that by taking theft among students seriously, and law enforcement dealing with the few who ultimately decide to steal anyway. I feel like all three of those defenses have broken down in the US.

[@frankdurso9671]

Easier to enforce laws in a police state

[@alta5688]

Right, and that is because your country is a dystopian police state. Literally, Singapore is very controlled. It's practically hell on earth.

[@jasleinei744]

@@alta5688 Well at least no need to live in fear of getting robbed or shot for no good reason. Safety is priority. Some form of control is necessary to maintain orderliness and smooth functioning of society. If its truly hell on earth, then why are so many people wanting to migrate here :)

[@brandons9913]

This type of dysfunction is NOT ACCIDENTAL here in the US.. Our “leaders” are allowing this to happen.

[@mayloo2137]

As a Canadian who buys a lot of things with cash, this makes me weep.

[@thanosianthemadtitanic]

lol vending machines still accept cash but maybe not for much longer.

[@andrewzak1831]

They are pushing for a cashless society. You're much easier to track and control that way.

[@mayloo2137]

@@andrewzak1831 I hate that. I pay bank fees for debit transactions.

[@Kirasfox]

Same I dislike the "card only" policy....its ridiculous

[@andrewzak1831]

@mayloo2137 but the banks love you for it. The banks and the corporations are in it together.

[@middleguy1776]

Why isn't the media focused on the law makers who've allowed this to happen?

[@bobayagga2233]

😂😂 nothing will change until the day it’s commonly known that it’s a SYSTEMIC problem. Being hard on crime literally fixes nothing in fact you can say being hard on crime is what actually allowed this to happen. The whole crack epidemic thing and then the war on drugs left many families fatherless. Well here is byproduct of that and here are your fatherless males in society now . Hope your solutions become more encompassing overall or else you will continue to have issues over and over .

[@middleguy1776]

@@bobayagga2233 you mean individual choices led to that. Why are you removing personal responsibility and accountability from the scenario? I mean I understand it's an easy copout to alleviate choices and responsibility but those are the main factors. If you don't commit crimes you don't go to jail. It's really that simple.

[@bobayagga2233]

@@middleguy1776 personal responsibility and accountability has absolutely nothing to do with systemic oppression or issues. There are plenty of law abiding citizens that live under the poverty line , however the things some are forced to do to survive are unthinkable. What do we expect though , We live in a capitalist society where the 1% leach off the middle class . If you remove the middle class you create this problem, essentially a large part of crime is done because of the lack of resources. Remove that problem and you remove every problem.

[@domowars2592]

The media supports the decriminalization movement.

[@bobayagga2233]

@@middleguy1776 it’s also very easy to live your life oblivious to what’s actually going on in your communities I see . Also easy to point the finger at a politician as if they are super heroes. The root of the problem collectively is financial stability, why else would someone rob , kill or steal ? Jails make career criminals and ultimately have ruined the nuclear family along with the incentive to be on welfare. The nation as a whole would be in a lot better place if we manufactured our own EVERYTHING. However the wealth is simply not evenly distributed enough for that to occur neither do powers at be want that to happen. So unless the people as a whole get on one accord we will stay in the cycle and continue to see it get progressively worse.

[@07szim]

thank god. im tired of going places that treat everyone like they are a thief.

[@thaynetuason]

In Mexico you have to go through a security checkpoint at grocery stores and check your bag or backpack if you want to shop or they put a zip tie on it for you so you aren't filling your bag in the store. They also can stop shoplifters and the cops will actually arrest them! And there are consequences! Theft is still common but typically on some small scale like pickpockets or residential burglary or cargo trucks- not the local Chedrau or mall that is better equipped.

[@michaeljones1802]

The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world

[@davidjones-vx9ju]

yea .... in some places , not everywhere

[@ericbwertz]

All that used to be done here until the prosecutions stopped. Or worse, the victims now get prosecuted when they try to stop it. This won't end well.

[@TheTruthSeeker756]

That's the way to do it!

[@almanatalmandotalman]

No. Mexico is huge with a population of millions. What you just described is the exception, not the rule.

[@tmpsg]

Stores are not losing to theft only, they are also losing due to disinterest by customers that don't have time or want to wait for an employee to open the case.

[@jblyon2]

Every time you have to wait far too long, only for the employee who eventually responds to tell you they don't have the key for that particular shelf, and I'll have to wait for the manager, who has the single key in the whole store, to have time to come open it. They're doing this at the same time that they're reducing staff to the lowest levels ever.

[@felis1224]

Customers like me!

[@markitzero7408]

@@felis1224 And me.

[@Nikowalker007]

Absolutely

[@neilmandelin3589]

facts. i will NOT wait. if its locked, i go somewhere else. every single time

[@cleanslate2004]

Look at what we're doing to ourselves. We've forced ourselves into concidering a vaulted society for even everyday items. It's inevitable that one day we'll lose walk in stores to online shopping, but presently most folks still prefer a cashier to the auto teller. Everyones getting spooked by A.I. horror stories & this feels like a quicker step towards it. It seems to me that Law Enforcement could make better use of their time patrolling businesses rather than stressing out citizens with citations just to increase revenue & studies have shown that to be a nation wide problem. The first question we should be asking is why has this type of crime increased so fast ? Most people will tell you their smothered with Fee's, taxes & almost everything we do requires a permit, registration, inspection & so on. Fuel for our cars, home heating, electric, water, sewage & waiste costs are worse than ever as well. Housing has become financially out of reach for too many & it's reflected in the epidemic proportions of homeless people. It's just too much, & something had to give. If we refuse to look at the root of this, how can we have faith in our leaders & ourselves to make the right decisions when just surviving is becoming such a drain on our families. History is littered with Empires that have fallen for the same reason; greed. We can do better, & we must because we canot sustain this.

[@theotheleo6830]

I don't understand those who prefer cashiers to self-checkout. My preference is whichever is the quickest.

[@thomassynths]

@@theotheleo6830Self checkout always has broken scales. They are always temperamental pieces of garbage.

[@ericbwertz]

not WE -- this wasn't a normal person's dystopian societal fantasy

[@TheLexiechey]

LOL faith in our leaders

[@teamrani]

I agree. But stealing any kind of electronics is not a necessity

[@boris4640]

Toothpaste?! Really?! I can‘t imagine living in a country where I can‘t grab almost every item from the shelf by myself. Where I am from only a small number of goods are locked away or are provided directly at the checkout. Even harder to believe we are not talking about a so called third world country but the USA where stuff is locked away.

[@zlcoolboy]

Yep, when a store is like this, I don't even bother going down the aisle with the locked cabinets. I go to the store to look at the product packaging, not experience IRL Amazon.

[@july9566]

Love dudes like this , see a solution and get rich off a crappy situation. A true entrepreneur!

[@Emiliapocalypse]

Not really a solution though. How do you compare ingredients?

[@brodriguez11000]

Works for the toilet industry.

[@NoemiPerez7275]

@@Emiliapocalypse on Internet

[@igormac88]

Thought exactly about this 😂

[@Emiliapocalypse]

@@NoemiPerez7275 so I have to google two specific products and not be able to hold them side by side? That’s convoluted. What about the laundry detergents? How do I google a smell?

[@FirstLastOne]

For those that haven't seen the elephant standing right in front of them, there it is. With these machines or 'robots' as the guy called them, say good bye to a lot of human jobs if you can run a lot of stock through an app. All you'll really need are a couple of people to do stocking and maybe a tech person to deal with glitches.

[@terryowen6759]

It's not going to be the entire store, just items that theives target most

[@HIDHIFDB]

Sweet summer child

[@shetlandbudgie2611]

Exactly. Like I’ve posted elsewhere, I think the lack of political will to prosecute shoplifters comes from the corporations who lobby the politicians. The transnationals have wanted to mechanize the workforce for a long time, and are just waiting for an excuse and/or technology to catch up.

[@RaggedyHobo]

You should check out Tokyo. It might blow your ”mind”.

[@espressoaddict69]

Elephant is the democratic poliburo 😂

[@mikefly562]

I'm so sick and tired of the crime in the USA. I travel all over the world, and only in this country is this an issue with shoplifting. We as a nation should be ashamed and embarrassed to be an American.

[@johnsmith5028]

When you introduce third world people to a first world lifestyle you get theft robberies and more pollution! I think people will be less likely to shop at stores with machines like this and the retailer will loose even more than just allowing theft on a small scale!

[@MrCobalt]

While I agree that this is bad, there are definitely other places where this is a problem, if not worse. In South Africa, carjacking on busy roads in the middle of traffic alone was so prevalent that people were installing flamethrowers onto the undersides of their vehicles as a defense mechanism.

[@allyourpie4323]

Hey,this is like 6 counties maybe.

[@IssanCaliRefugee]

Even with their poverty, I hardly heard of shoplifting when I lived in Thailand. Now and then someone would get desperate, ask to see a necklace at a gold shop, and run out with it. They'd be quickly caught, and shamed on the national TV news.

[@garyruss3529]

@@MrCobalt I'm seeing a common theme here. Hmmm....

[@mashamitchell9574]

Imagine being mad at the store workers for companies locking everything up. Be mad at the crappy people living in your community that have created this problem. Be mad at courts who stop prosecuting crimes.

[@roosatlgany7622]

So right. Some of these commenters are delusional leftists.

[@andrewsmithusa1776]

We are locked down and locking ourselves away more every day. ID & scanned security with no shoes after 2001 to board a plane, long security lines to pick up your kids at school, ID and security checks for access to some resources already, now shopping behind secured glass, and soon ID just to enter a post office. We are building a prison for ourselves.

[@ThatNateGuyOnYouTube]

the problem is that they are ALLOWING shoplifting. When you ALLOW thieves to walk in, fill a cart, and walk out, without even trying to stop them because you might "hurt their feelings"... you are going to continue to loose billions.

[@lwaxanatroi1987]

The insurance company makes these rules.

[@ryans9930]

An even better deterrent to stealing than a vending machine is a jail cell.

[@hmartinspliff]

Criminal vending machine: you have a line-up down at the police station and you pick one, "Yes, that's the criminal who shoplifted". You punch in the number they're holding up into the keypad and then a robotic arm swoops in, grabs them and puts them in a jail cell.

[@wipeoutxl21]

jail for a year cost about $50,000 per inmate, funded by your tax dollers. Economically speaking its cheaper to let small thefts go unpunished if you care about your taxes not going up Pretty messed up thinking I know lol

[@michaeljones1802]

The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world

[@scrampker]

​@@wipeoutxl21I can think of something cheaper than a jail cell, and also cheaper than this robot.

[@ehaaron]

It's an excuse to monitor & surveille your shopping. welcome to china CCP surveillance state. This is a manufactured problem to push for more surveillance

[@alfredowaltergutierrezmald834]

As long as the full description of the item is available before you buy it, then cool

[@larrybruce4856]

We need "LAW ENFORCEMENT" including stricter laws. The next thing that happens after you get your items from a vending machine is, robbers will mug you and take your merchandise when you leave the store and before you reach your car. They may even take your car. Mandatory law enforcement is needed.

[@DeNorsemen]

No lol we don’t need stricter laws or law enforcement. This is a lack of education and opportunities problem. Increasing the punishment for crimes has never worked and only increases our prison populations (which you pay for).

[@larrybruce4856]

@@DeNorsemen YES ! ! ! We need stricter laws and law enforcement returned because the laws that were in place have been downgraded to "misdemeanours"' with no arrests and NO-CASH-BAIL. California for example has a DA that won't put anyone in jail for any crime. There needs to be CONSEQUENCES for committing crimes.PERIOD ! ! !

[@DeNorsemen]

@larrybruce4856 but your wrong... increasing punishment has zero affect on crime rates. In fact, increasing punishments usually costs YOU the TAXPAYERS more money because now you have to pay for these criminals to be housed, fed, educated, Healthcare, everything when they are in prison. Instead, if you used that same money to put into education and opportunities (which has been proven to lower crime rates) you would actually solve the problem. Increasing punishments has literally never worked....because criminals dont look up punishments before they commit crimes....and arresting them and putting them in a facility of other criminals doesn't rehabilitate them... just makes them more of a criminal for when they get out... so no.. your wrong

[@larrybruce4856]

@@DeNorsemen Either way, the taxpayer gets stuck paying for the crimes of shoplifters weather they are in jail or shoplifting. I'm for getting the criminal in jail and off the street as a possible deterrent and consequences for their actions hoping they will learn from that. As a young child, I told a lie, my dad spanked me and I have not told a lie since. Many may learn from jail time, some may NOT. There needs to be consequences for crime, otherwise America will look like a scene from the movie "Escape From New York" with Kurt Russel. And currently it does. Crime, homicides, carjackings, shoplifting is out of control.

[@DeNorsemen]

@larrybruce4856 man you need to get out and get some fresh air because your literally using a movie to justify your opinion.....crime rates are WAY WAYYYYY down from the 90s...you just hear it more because of social media and news stations trying to draw viewers in. Also no one is believing that you've never told even a white lie since you were a child..unless your a robot thats just unrealistic. .... use your brain and think for a second, prison does not "teach lessons" statistics show it actually makes people MORE of a criminal than they were before. Even IF it did, having that prison time on their resume means these people cant get jobs and be the stand up citizens you want them to be. Instead...as stated before...we already know that statistically if we use that same money and give education and opportunities for these "criminals" they actually have someone to work towards and end up becoming stand up citizens LIKE YOU WANT THEM TO BE. So you have a choice, spend much much muchhh more money ruining their lives so they then end up becoming worse criminals and then you the taxpayer has to pay to house feed and keep them alive in cell for the rest of their lives....OR...be a decent human being and support social causes that will give your fellow man the tools and skills to be a good citizen who will then becomr a taxpayer and help YOU. Just think on that.

[@kenchu5900]

There are a lot of customers walk around the aisles and grab items with impulse buying mode. With these vending machines, I can see that it may ruin that impulse buying experience. Instead of using vending machines, why not simply require a membership card to get in the store and also require to show receipts at exit. Just like how Costco does it.

[@parrotcracker6629]

I've always thought Costco has the right idea. It's hard to steal anything when it requires membership to get in and members don't want to jeopardize their membership by being caught stealing.

[@middleguy1776]

The problem is they can steal whatever they want and you can't do anything about it. The police won't do anything either because if it is less than $950 it's a misdemeanor that usually isn't even prosecuted.

[@lukeGGlee]

@@parrotcracker6629home depot has someone at the gate…but i guess they still losing powwr drill

[@dave7830]

No that's racist - I should be allowed to steal what I want.

[@theotheleo6830]

Membership cards won't stop looters. They'll just barge in, fill their bags, and walk out. They know employees won't stop them.

[@phongdao9239]

So what's the point of paying taxes when the government is not doing their job and actually hold criminals actions accountable? dumb....

[@PeppermintPaddy321]

These machines are great!!! We had one in our hotel lobby in Florida. What a life saver for forgotten or running out of important items that are available close at hand now.

[@ericbwertz]

a hotel lobby is not a store

[@Lucha045]

Way to go!

[@benc1927]

"10% of items make up 80% of what crooks steal" Yes, and what happens is when you lock up the more expensive small items, the criminals move on to the next most expensive thing, so the store locks up those items too, and the crooks move on to the next most expensive item, and the store in turn locks up those items too. Eventually the store ends up locking up everything, as is seen in many San Fran CVS stores, where all isle are just covered in hard plastic with locks.

[@fc7307]

The thieves will just steal from the customers when they walk to their car. This vending machine solution isn't going to solve anything.

[@inuhundchien6041]

It's not the store's problem if the thief steal from customers. They already get their money.

[@toby7582]

@@inuhundchien6041 sorry, I didn't read your comment before I made mine. But exactly. edit: wtf my comment disappeared...

[@ct5625]

Yep, and still the root causes of all of this are just ignored. The cause, of course, is a lack of opportunity and a lack of economic improvement. The people who do this kind of thing are hopeless. They have no way to make a decent living. But this is something that will be rejected by everyone else here as "sympathetic" to criminals, when it's just the economic reality that isn't going to change with sticking plasters like this.

[@chanhyupark6353]

More money for him and his company then😂

[@HughsReviews]

The message is, this is why Amazon is doing so well. One more reason to stop shopping at box stores. It’s more hassle than it’s worth at this point. I waited 20 minutes for Tylenol at Walmart. Hella dumb.

[@illustriouschin]

That moves the theft to your doorstep, placing the problem on the honest consumer again.

[@pathfinder3175]

​@illustriouschin that's why you pay for a post office box and your packages will always be safe warm and dry waiting for you to pick them up.

[@incharini]

@@illustriouschinI live in a gated community where the neighbors aren’t thieves.

[@beenerkillzz]

​@illustriouschin There are also Amazon lockers.

[@ehaaron]

It's an excuse to monitor & surveille your shopping. welcome to china CCP surveillance state. how's your credit score doing?

[@ST-actual]

I was in central Florida a few weeks ago and one of the gas stations I stopped at had a bunch of coolant and other random larger items stocked outside. I was shocked that a community could be so trusting. Made me think about how that wouldn’t work near where I live in south Florida. Even just a couple hundred miles the entire culture of the population has different morals and values they hold dear. In closing, I can’t imagine this tech catching on outside of California

[@IssanCaliRefugee]

Same at the Albertson's here in Idaho. Same at the Robinson department store when I lived in Thailand. Piles of expensive items just sitting outside. If you wanted one, you brought it in and paid. Amazing.

[@spikefivefivefive]

@@IssanCaliRefugee - Demographics

[@supremebouchard2104]

Some cities in Cali still do that (hint “some” cities that are so hidden only locals know about them)

[@TheFozzir]

I know what you mean. I used to live in Oklahoma in the 90s, don't know if it's still the same but we used to leave our car keys under the seat and our front door of our house unlocked. Never had a problem. Where I live know it California, your car would be gone in 60 seconds and all your belongings in your house would be emptied as soon as you left your house. Vast differences in cultures and respect of others.

[@saywhat8966]

@@TheFozzir Vote red.

[@tofu_golem]

People are shoplifting more because wages have not kept up with the cost of living. This is a fix for a symptom, not the disease.

[@PiggyFuktoy]

Does this man not ever want to “go shopping”, look over options, read labels, feel the tactile properties, the heft, the quality…???

[@FiveMissiles]

shit just look up the label on the internet

[@heroinmom153]

Thank a certain criminal demographic for that

[@decaprio7421]

​@@heroinmom153Yes, blame an entire race or/and income class of people. Good idea 💡 👏

[@XXtheJUMPoffXX]

@@decaprio7421Well it’s true isn’t it?

[@IrresistibleWitch]

That's what your cell phone is for.

[@dodoboy101]

The sad part is when the crooks is waiting for you outside in the parking lot or your wife that is shopping alone.

[@wownewstome6123]

That's right. It will just move the crime to the next 'most vulnerable' target.

[@williamwilson6499]

…when the crooks are waiting…

[@RaggedyHobo]

Are you scared? Life can be pretty scary at times right?

[@RaggedyHobo]

@@wownewstome6123That sort of a silly thing to say. What you say will happen if they don’t increase punishment for shoplifting, mugging people, already carries those, more strict punishments. So wouldn’t criminals be afraid to mug people exactly the same amount as shoplifting? In fact shoplifting would still be a lesser crime as a property crime than a strongarm robbery. So they would still be less afraid to shoplift than mug your wife. The thing is, people that understand criminal justice know that harsh penalties don’t stop crime.

[@hawkingdawking4572]

​@@RaggedyHobo It does. Just pass a law aiming bandits. 5 years of hard labour in an isolated desert camp with no fancy luxuries. See what happens.

[@Justmekpc]

I worked for a large grocery chain years ago and we’d get fired if we tried stopping shoplifters They didn’t mind the tax write offs and were afraid of lawsuits The stores are also more worried about bonuses for the management and providing security cuts into that There’s lots they can do but they assisted in it getting out of control

[@kakarott5243]

The standard motto of customers always rights with all our employee's overtime been deducted and bonuses cut to reduce the so-called shrinkage the top management fails to solve correctly themselves.

[@mattmcmahon8311]

This

[@SOLDOZER]

Stolen items are tax write offs? LOLOL. No....

[@kakarott5243]

mostly so on the upfront reports but any forms of damages and losses are still makes accountable to the overall specific outlets, hence goes for the blue-collar employees @@SOLDOZER

[@Justmekpc]

@@SOLDOZER of course they are

[@AciDsuper]

Imagine being SO FREE that all places you have to go have everything behind thick glass and metal bars, just like if you were caged out

[@junitasmall4752]

Or where I am from, you show your ID upon entry to the store for a security guard to scan. This has stopped 100% theft. If you dont have ID you dont get in. Its also made shopping feel safer knowing everyone in the store's intensions are not to cause harm or steal.

[@joyt458]

They’re right. The CVS by my house started locking up items and now I don’t shop there anymore. It makes me feel devalued as a customer and it’s a waste of my time having to wait for someone to assist me. I either stop somewhere else or buy on Amazon.

[@josephkanowitz6875]

ב''ה, they're also anti-Semitic

[@cybilm133]

How sad that you feel the devalued as a customer when they simply try to survive. Many stores have closed throughout the US because of theft. You should be ashamed of yourself and rather shop there to support your local business before its too late.

[@AJ-oy5iv]

Same here but our walmart has wired ear buds and chargers behind glass. And not enough people to help you.

[@bobgoldman4404]

You’re poc for shopping on Amazon and letting Realworld shops die !

[@markitzero7408]

@@cybilm133 Companies like CVS are taking advantage of their customers and employees by cutting their staff to unsafe levels, Closing drive thru's and limiting delivery services to increase foot traffic in an effort to gain more income pushing needless vaccines. If CVS and Kroger went out of business I would actually be happy for the change.

[@_LilRascal_]

San Francisco, Oakland, Detroit, and Chicago need a Judge Dredd-type of situation to get their crime under control

[@nm-mack4778]

All Democrat run cities, where crime runs rampant and goes unpunished

[@TheRealScooterGuy]

@@nm-mack4778 -- There is a chicken-and-egg problem here. Did dems gain power and then crime got out of control, or was crime already a problem when dems got control? (Hint: Large cities everywhere in the world have crime problems, and they aren't all run by democrats or their equivalent in other political systems.)

[@MegaLokopo]

@@TheRealScooterGuy Crime is worse in democrat cities, the statistics are clear. There is also always a massive increase in shop lifting when the democrat voters vote to allow all theft of any item under $1000.

[@josephman1488]

@@nm-mack4778 As if republican run cities are much better🙄🙄

[@foxriver9156]

I can imagine an huge big box store with total automation and a “secured purchase” area. Punch in your entire order and a few minutes later everything is delivered right to where you’re standing. Honestly, as someone who hates shopping, that sounds ideal

[@BFArch0n]

Amazon has entered the chat. Lol

[@l33tninja1]

You won't like it once the government takes more control. What's that you didn't agree with our policy or voted for the wrong person ? Well your canceled now so no food, water or money for you. Trudeau already showed this against the truckers protect and others around the world have done this to their political opposition. Get ready for hell.

[@TomikaKelly]

I'd prefer this too.

[@karezaalonso7110]

Many stores take online orders

[@Juleru]

No thanks, I like walking through the isles, seeing all the options and picking what/exactly the box I want, instead of having to scroll through pages and pages of items just for the thing I picked to not be available all of a sudden. You don't want to go to a store? Pretty much all bigger stores have online shops.

[@callingoutthetruth2171]

The idea is nice, however, in practice could be an nightmare. Imagine going to the grocery store to pick up 10 to 15 items and having to wait in a line while this machine grabs one item at a time, for each customer. The wait times alone would deter people from using it.

[@RichyN25]

the issue here is a society/culture issue, and a failure in the justice system to not punish thieves

[@MarquitaHerald]

I started having everything delivered during the early days of the pandemic and never stopped. It isn't just the convenience, even with the modest monthly membership fee (which includes unlimited deliveries) and driver tips, I save time and money by avoiding impulse buys and have developed a system to do a better job of planning my spending. Between hearing stories of all the shoplifting, gun violence, and now seeing this - I'm never going back to shopping in person!

[@WarHawk-]

Same here. Though more expensive to have items like groceries delivered to my front door than doing shopping myself, when you factor in things like the personal transportation cost, the amount of time spent shopping, and the ever increasing danger of theft or violence in the stores or on the street, it just makes more sense to me to order things delivered. The only negative I see, besides being more expensive, is that I have to rely on someone else to judge which fresh fruits or veggies are acceptable and which are not.

[@purdyboi8078]

@@WarHawk- ...and brick/mortar + Mom & Pop stores going out of business + employees losing their jobs, leading to homelessness & crime/more stealing + income & revenue loss to your county/city + more. But hey, let's all just hope & pray that your bananas don't arrive too ripe or bruised! 🙄

[@HobbyOrganist]

Same here, ONLY thing I buy at the store is perishable food, Ive bought literally everything for home, pet and auto online, most with free shipping, including non perishable groceries from Amazon. I even buy my premium dog food on-line, $500 worth for my 5 dogs at a time about every 10-11 weeks, shipped free right to my door on the auto ship program which gives a 5% discount on top. I totally hate shopping in stores, the dirty carts, the crowds, lines, people coughing, kids screaming, and then those damn cameras with people hiding out in a back room somewhere watching them that are EVERYWHERE basically following your every move all over the store is just creapy.

[@kenc2257]

We live in a low crime area (southern California), but it's easy-peasy to have things delivered to our home. Most of our deliveries are Amazon or Costco, but also eBay and Walmart. We do shop on the nearby military bases (yes, they have retail and grocery "stores"--and gas stations), and the local ethnic grocery stores.

[@WarHawk-]

@@kenc2257 - Just out of curiosity; what part of Southern California? You mentioned military base which leads me to believe maybe San Diego area (Navy) or 29-Palms (Marine Corp). I'm a California native that was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, though I've lived all over the State.

[@Baneling93]

I have a new and innovative idea. Enforce laws that are on the books and prosecute criminals. I thought the reason we had to put up with constant surveillance was so that things like this couldn't happen.

[@justoneguy86]

I'm in Canada and a manager at a big chain pharmacy. Theft is absolutely out of control, there used to be only certain categories getting stolen, but now it is literally everything. I think locking up certain things with these robots could work. I can't see it being for the whole store. Even though everything is getting stolen, that's just a lot of tech, that as a manager, I would have to ensure is always functioning properly. We now have empty display boxes that get taken to the cashier, where it is locked up. We have empty boxes for shavers, electric toothbrushes, toothbrush heads, teeth whitening strips, breast pumps, video games consoles, and expensive home medical care devices. I used to be stealth when watching potential shoplifters, but now me and the other manager make it very obvious we are watching people. If they yell at me, I yell back. If they run out of the store with product, I chase them. Usually shoplifters park far away in the lot, or across the street at another shopping plaza, use Uber or Taxi, and even stolen vehicles. So they may get away, but I yell at them so everyone around can know they are shoplifters, and hopefully I embarrass them enough to not come back.

[@LizLo2020]

Can't the store just price everything at $1,000? And if a shopper decides to buy an item, like say something worth $20, they will be given a $980 discount at checkout. So, if someone shoplifts / takes the item out of the store without paying for it, that person can be charged with a crime for stealing an item priced at $1,000.

[@thegentleman90]

A company back in the day had a great idea which literally stopped any kind of shoplifting. The company was Service Merchandise. It was stricktly a catalog company which you look in the catalog of what you might want to purchase. It has both the product location in the store (Display Item Only) as well as the product number and price. Then you write down the code for the item on a catalog order paper. You then present this paper to the cashier who rings up all of your purchases and then you get inline at the Pickup line. The product then comes out of the conveyer belt and the staff verifies both the item and your receipt. Then hands you the product and you go on your way.

[@edysmith9758]

Not to much of a difference

[@heathercutler5114]

I remember that chain. We had one in our area back in the 80s.

[@TheRealLink]

Worked there as they transitioned from the old Clipboards to the Barcode UPC scanning system tickets on every item (first job was putting "Sorry, we're sold out! Please see Customer Service." labels on tens of thousands of ticket pouches. While it seemed like a good system, the challenge was that the fulfillment line at pick-up / "the belt" was pretty long. Sometimes customers could shop pretty fast but then wait say, 20 minutes for their order to be PA'd and ready.

[@heathercutler5114]

@@TheRealLink we didn't go there often, but I remember a lot of people getting impatient at the pickup line. Thankfully, when we DID go there, my parents were some of the patient ones.

[@SnailHammer]

Emphatically yes! Montgomery Ward also did this back in the 80s.

[@tl1533]

Shame on the criminals.

[@sp-wj6ef]

You mean, the usual suspects?

[@MistaAmazin]

Same ole judgemental white people commenting on KZbin think they are better than everyone else

[@nm-mack4778]

Profiling does work. Never relax around Blax. Be attentive @@sp-wj6ef

[@MegaLokopo]

You mean the democrat voters who vote to allow all theft of items below $1000?

[@edenassos]

Let blacks and muslims in your country, chaos ensues.

[@kyledecker7004]

When the solution to the problem is worse than the problem itself you know we are all screwed.

[@papagen00]

Bad idea. Better use a smart lock that can be opened by legit shoppers with a store card.

[@eponymousIme]

What's a "legit shopper?" What's to keep organized crime gangs from getting their hands on such a card and using it?

[@johnnygavin3654]

I went through the airport the other day and there was a retail store that would not allow you to enter until you swipe your approved credit card.

[@Wiisonator]

My two favorites (1) When the dude says “no waiting” right after he described waiting “15 seconds or so” for the machine (much less all the time it took to buy it). 2. “It’s over”. Yes theft will definitely be over after these machines. He is so right. 😉 Not the worst idea but ummm news is too funny 😂

[@jeremytoney9367]

Actually, I think Mr. Ashford‘s idea about paying online and then having an automated system do it for you eliminates the need of cashiers anymore because now you can just pay online go to the store pick up your stuff or you can have it delivered directly to your house, and I think that with the act of the Internet and the Internet of things I think that’s where things are going. Honestly, I think that to get rid of the theft I would accept a machine like what he is offering and I would be willing to pay a few dollars more for a product at least for a couple of years just to get it. Especially in those high-end stores like Home Depot and Menards and things like that. If they were to develop machines that would automatically give you what you’re looking for in terms of things like power tools, and stuff like that then I think that the amount of theft would go down because nobody I know is gonna steal drywall they’re just not gonna steal drywall, but they will steal power tools, so why not use a machine like what Mr. Ashford has made for the power tools if you’re gonna buy in anyway simple just go online by the product you need and your set all you have to do is scan a QR code, and the machine will dispense it to you because you’ve already paid for you. You don’t even need a receipt you can walk into the store and walk out without having to actually pay right there it’s streamlines the process and in most cases it makes it safer unfortunately at this point what needs to happen is if they are going to do this they need to make sure that peoples data doesn’t get compromised the way Xfinity did. I think Mr. Ashford‘s idea is actually a good one if it’s utilize the right way because if all I have to do is go to the place and I don’t have to actually get somebody to unlock the case. Then my time is streamlined. Yes it’s annoying but I would rather pay online with my card And get a temporary QR code that I only have to walk around the store and scan then to actually go there and have to have somebody unlock the razor just so I can get a package of them to me. That’s stupid if I’m in a hurry I wanna move my ass. Honestly, I think it’s a good idea if utilize the Right Way,, Mr. Ashford, you have my compliments, sir

[@michaelwells7348]

Amazon already does it for me- and then delivers it to my door 🚪 so I don’t have to leave the house 😊

[@parrotcracker6629]

Yeah but sometimes stuff is not in stock or the price is higher than what's in store. I'm a Prime member and if it's not AmazonFresh it will take a day to deliver or pay $2.99 for same day shipping and who knows the wait time for that. It's just faster to get in a car and drive to the store.

[@me-pz5yi]

Both good points.

[@on678999]

How about porch pirates coming at your door

[@theotheleo6830]

@@parrotcracker6629True, but there are costs in both money and time associated with driving to the store and back.

[@michaelwells7348]

Amazon? U Be Trippen .. I return - at my discretion - drop offs at Whole Foods Usually take around 5 minutes. This time of year U get a 90 day return policy ~ and they have the best prices Anywhere...@HighlyInappropriate-df4hk

[@QuadLoop]

Great idea! Except what if I’m at target and have a 20% off coupon for one cart full of purchases and wanted to combine the item from the vending machine with my other purchases? So there’s definitely going to be little details to work through

[@iatedeadpeople]

It'd be nice if they could just scan a QR from the receipt to the register, take the 20% off value of the item from the machine, and apply it to the rest of your purchase.

[@Thanos0001]

As a service tech, I welcome this idea because it will generate a lot of opportunities for people like me, since I would be the one repairing these machines. As a consumer, I hate it.

[@ImGettingOld911]

This idea is where we are eventually heading anyway. It will just come here sooner.

[@slkric1724]

It sounds good, but there are some big flaw's. What if I'm looking to compare two similar products to determine which one I want to buy... How am I to do that if the items are in these machines...?

[@Jammermanne]

I'm not buying anything locked behind a vending machine except a soda; I'm not paying to pick up every item. You can't hold the item, you can't read the label, you can't make an informed decision. This solution is worse than online shopping! HA and imagine the lines while this thing works & just imagine the headaches for staff and customers when it breaks down.

[@NitinK.A]

What is the solution then? I am from a developing country but i can freely shop without worrying about these issues. I feel even South America , African countries are safer when it comes to shopping experience. What i see in U.S of A everybody carries a gun or small pocket knife why so?

[@jaywholoveseveryone1721]

Well, vote in laws that would actually give thieves some real time in prison. Oh, wait. We already have that. This is going to lead to another increase of criminals stealing something else. And, what elderly person is going to be this advanced to use this? Besides, I need to see the expiration dates on my items before I choose it.

[@terryowen6759]

I'm sure if you pay for an item and change your mind, the store would refund your money

[@TheRealScooterGuy]

@@terryowen6759 -- Yes, they will be happy to process a refund back to your card. Expect payment in 14 to 21 days.

[@weirdsweetcoolplants]

​@@terryowen6759.....and holy hell the pain of doing that, on top of the first pain too.😢

[@ExploringTheWestCoast]

This IS NOT THE ANSWER, to a social problem. Lord Help Us!

[@robertfoerster566]

What would make it better? Changes to laws/whatever to minimize the threat to security/stores to detain and hold shoplifters, that's what has to change. Make it harder for someone involved in a crime to turn it around and sue etc., etc., Ya you twisted your ankle while be detained for a theft, too bad, you don't get to sue etc., etc., I admit I'm armchair analyst here.

[@mayakattt3475]

It’s sad it’s gotten to this point but that is very innovative. Businesses have to survive somehow

[@Authenticwings]

I think this is totally ridiculous. I am NOT, using a vending machine for each item I need, and also, what an ugly store! As many have said…he is just lining his own pockets with somebody else’s headache. Whatever, it’s not innovative, it’s jail time for products and groceries.

[@weirdsweetcoolplants]

Thank you ma'am for saying this. You are of the few people on here to say this and boldly might I add also.😊

[@DemPilafian]

I used to buy my power tools at the local Home Depot. I don't blame Home Depot for locking up all the power tools, but now I buy my power tools exclusively online. Power tools are probably the highest margin products at garden centers. Shoplifting inflicts a significant cost onto society. For those who sympathize with shoplifters, consider that the economic harm literally increases poverty and results in more pain for the poor.

[@Qrayon]

So punish the store by shopping online. Great.

[@dsloop3907]

Do the power tools sellers not require online activation of the purchased product? I read that about a year ago.

[@DJ_POOP_IT_OUT_FEAT_LIL_WiiWii]

@@dsloop3907 lol no, they are not 'connected products', you just need to insert the power plug in the outlet and preess the motor start button.

[@lonniemcclure4538]

@@Qrayon - Home Depot also sells online. They even have a lot of products that aren't stocked in stores, and are only available via shipping to home and/or to the store for pickup.

[@Qrayon]

@@lonniemcclure4538 Then you're punishing the people whose livelihoods depend on working at the store. Personally, I refuse to buy anything online if I can avoid it.

[@smileychess]

"This technology is coming to stores near you." No it's not, because I live in a high trust area with low crime, and prosecutors who actually do their jobs... for now.

[@xcqematic1]

Instead of jailing criminals, stores (us footing the bill...) have to purchase an overpriced vending machine, called a ROBOT? Im growing too old for this

[@flat-earther]

hi xcwematic1, have you become a flat earther yet?

[@SimplisticallyDigital]

I literally said 15 years ago, that I would open a cashless, vending machine or order only store. I love this idea! It will keep store employees safer. Now they might target customers in parking lots 😭

[@RY-gl3fo]

Doubt they'd target individuals. A single person with a single valuable item is not worth as much as smashing a case and taking dozens of valuable items.

[@SimplisticallyDigital]

@@RY-gl3fo It just depends on what they purchase. There are plenty of smaller valuable items. I’ve been watched in stores shopping before, and almost snatched and grabbed on the way home. The guy was watching me in Best Buy and when I was walking home, he ended up on a side street with me and I turned around just before he was able to snatch my item and he rode off on a bike across the street and disappeared. Nothing is impossible these days. Now I just order expensive items online or I do curbside.

[@l33tninja1]

Lmao, safer employees. There won't be any employees with this system. Your looking at the removal of all beginner jobs and soon any middle jobs. Only the top will be making money and that's just because they own the stuff not because they actually can't be replaced by a machine.

[@SimplisticallyDigital]

A lot of jobs will be replaced by AI and machines. @@l33tninja1

[@user-bi8ko7kc6h]

Already happened. People get robbed when they were loading up the items at the back of the car and didn’t notice someone was behind them.

[@Vendemiair]

This rise of lawlessness in America is a sign of a deteriorating society.

[@vidtuby]

Go, woke. Go, broke!

[@MaureenWest]

How do people read the small print on the back of the labels to see the contents?

[@ASavageEye]

I have been saying this should be a thing for years. Japan has had entire stores with vending machines since the 90's ffs, and we are only catching on now? These machines will help with more than just theft. They will also help prevent damages, stock rotation issues, cleaning up at the end of the night, the need for tills and also the need to have cash instore. The amount of money that can be saved by using these machines is massive, well worth the initial cost to install.

[@kyfeam]

yea but japan is not full of thieves like in America.. they actually have respect for one another.. and are shamed if they steal.. those machines are there for convenience.. not because of theft..

[@ASavageEye]

@@kyfeam i didnt imply Japan had them to stop theft. Japan is by far one of the safest places to live on earth. In smaller towns in Japan they have shops with no staff where customers quite literally serve themselves at the tills. My point was more about the other benefits of the vending machine system and the fact that Japan has been using them to great effect for 30yrs but it has taken rampant theft and destruction for American stores to even consider it.

[@raceface_m2579]

It truly is ridiculous. We need stricter laws for thieves and not letting them walk off with products.

[@RobShuttleworth]

the machine is glad to serve you at 3AM.

[@itstheweather5859]

The easy part would be to proscute and change the laws back after newscum reduced charges.

[@BologneyT]

Usually, I'm not super pro punishment, but SERIOUSLY WHEN are we going to go back to being an America where criminals actually get punished? We went from being a place where punishments were too long to a country where there's no punishments at all for anything that doesn't result in a fatality. Um... how about we just go back to punishing criminals? As in, ALL of them? Even the "minor" ones? Younger people are entitled enough as it is without learning there's no such thing as negative consequences..

[@andrewzak1831]

The fact that they are locking up essentials like toothpaste doesn't raise alarms for theft, it raises concerns for affordability. Since covid and inflation, some people have to choose between eating or keeping their lights on. This is the most concerning part. I have zero sympathy for billion dollar brands and retailers when people can barely afford basic essentials like toothpaste.

[@deniseberman8633]

Yes raiding Gucci and other high end retailers is for necessity, not to sell on eBay!

[@andrewzak1831]

@deniseberman8633 apples & oranges. did you even read my comment? Read the first sentence, I wasn't talking about hooligans. I was bringing up the fact that some high theft items include things that people just can't afford anymore. They are even locking up baby formula at some stores...is that not concerning to you that some can't even afford to feed their newborns and they need to resort to theft?

[@roosatlgany7622]

What? You must vote blue no matter what with that logic.

[@donnie1581]

It doesn't matter what it is, they're stealing it. It's definitely not an affordability issue.

[@Di_777]

Most steal to sell... Not for their own use. These things end up being sold on ebay, a parking lot, or to someone who will resell on a swap meet or garage sale.

[@tishasian4314]

This is why we should have capital punishment

[@TheRealScooterGuy]

The temptation to go down that road is understandable. That said, given how many people have been cleared of capital crimes, years or decades after they happened, it doesn't seem prudent to impose that punishment in even more types of crime.

[@rainkloud]

I remember seeing a more primitive version of these about 5 years ago at a major grocery store. Trouble was they were incredibly unreliable. Sometimes failing to dispense the product at all and sometimes trying to dispense it but the product getting stuck during the process. These machines appear to be a huge leap forward in sophistication though and likely more reliable so I'm eager to try them out.

[@ericbwertz]

Someday you won't have to get out of bed either and can just live in a closet-like space. Enjoy your life.

[@roycemoney]

"No waiting" so what about machine malfunction and when you have 25 different items and need to line up to put your code in a bunch of different machines..