A woman took a viral TikTok to Walmart calling out a specific item sealed with an anti-theft lock: mascara.
The video was uploaded by TikTok user Talya (@partywithtal) to share with her followers about what she encountered at the retail giant.
“Yeah, that’s why I’m at Walmart because I get my mascara from here, right? And they locked up the mascara,” she says, flipping the camera over and hanging on the shelf. Reveals a variety of mascaras for $8.98.
To make matters worse, Tayla says the assistant handed her the mascara in a clear locking container for the cashier to unlock instead of just handing it to her.
“Nobody wants to steal this punk-ass mascara,” she concludes in the video.
@partywithtal they cross the line
♬ Original Sound – Sono Taliyah
The Daily Dot reached out to Tayla for comment via a comment on TikTok and reached out to Walmart via a press contact form regarding the incident. The video has been viewed 2 million times since it was posted on January 5th. Many viewers claimed that they “ripped mascara” off the shelf.
“It’s literally easy to peel off a piece of paper hanging on a bar lol,” claimed one viewer.
“I just stripped them,” echoed another.
“I’ll tear it off, take it to the cash register and pay lol,” agreed one-third.
Some said that locked items immediately prevented them from purchasing products or shopping at the store.
“Every time I see an item locked, I know it’s a sign that I don’t need it,” one person wrote.
“I stopped shopping at stores that stocked shampoo and hair products,” said another.
“They locked up body wash and deodorant in my Walmart.
Others shared their experiences noticing various products locked up at Walmart.
“I went to Walmart who had it with tweezers for 0.99 cents,” one person shared.
“They did the same for me, a $7 nail press. It’s awesome,” the second commented.
Another wrote, “I went to Walmart where all the women’s merchandise is locked behind glass.”
Unfortunately, locking down products has become more difficult over the years. It started happening in 2020 primarily to curb theft. According to Forbes, “Retailers are now looking to reduce friction for regular shoppers while maintaining a physical deterrent to thieves.”
All sorts of items are locked behind the case, from baby formula to hygiene products to laundry detergent. In addition to Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid products are locked behind shelves, according to insiders.
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*First published: January 9, 2023 at 3:37 PM CST
Melody Held
Melody Heald is a culture writer. Her work can be found in Glitter Magazine, BUST Magazine and more.
