Several of the Walmart locations near me do this as well, now. One of them locks up diapers and baby formula, deodorant, shaving products, cough and allergy medications, basically all of their cosmetics department, the entirety of the tools department, most of paints, and all of electronics except for some reason the DVD's. This is in addition to the usual stuff that's under lock and key like the jewelry counter, ammo, and knives.

As a result, as if I didn't already need a reason, I just don't go there anymore.

Retailers have consistently made retail shit, and then they turn around and whine that they're losing money because everyone is shopping online. Well, this is surely another part of it. What customer is going to stand around waiting for one of the three employees you have left in the store find the keys and unlock the cabinet to buy a fucking can of shaving cream and perp walk them to the checkout so they can pay right then and there versus just having Amazon deliver it tomorrow without the hassle?

And thus, Amazon takes over another few square feet of the world.

I've been thinking about opening a regular corner store, but without having a ton of superfluous junk like all these other stores have. Like one or two options for a toothbrush, a few options for toothpaste, etc. Basically just the more popular stuff that people want to buy and make it easy for them to actually buy it. Maybe even offer a drive up window so you can grab a few things on your way home. People will pay good money to avoid Walmart and also for convenience.