At my local CVS (in Northwest DC), the only things that are behind lock and key are electronics. Any time I have to buy something like new headphones (which I do woefully often due to a kitty with chewing issues) it takes about 5-6 extra minutes to get them to unlock something. On the other hand, if you have to purchase something that’s hanging behind the counter e.g. cigarettes or any of the allergy meds that aren’t allowed to be shelved anymore, 15 seconds later, you have the items in your hand.

It seems to be a pretty easy solution to the problem.

All that being said, it’s always continues to amaze me the wealth of resources that are available on one side of DC when, 4 miles away across town, it feels like you’re in a completely different city.

You can also pass along this shorter link to the petition:

http://amplifyyourvoice.org/curecvs

And if the employees give people crap about condoms or pregnancy tests or whatever when unlocking the case, what makes anyone think it would be any different when they check out? There’s still a judgmental person in the process.

i think there’s several ways that CVS could remove some of the existing barriers to condom purchasing without making them easier to steal. for example, at the CVS i go to, the condoms are still in a locked glass case in the back of the store, which necessitates finding an employee who can go unlock the case. given that CVS isn’t exactly fully stocked with employees ready to help people out, this means that people often have to wait in line and then ask the cashier to unlock the case – which requires walking back there while the whole line waits. in contrast, they have cigarette packs behind the main cash register so you ask for them while you’re being rung up and the cashier just turns and grabs one. those two different arrangements both prevent theft, but one has much higher barriers than the other.

another alternative is what Target and other retailers are doing to handle the need to check ID for sudafed purchases after new laws were past to restrict access and prevent meth production. there’s a space on the shelf for the product, with a plastic slip with a picture of the product box – different ones for different sizes and dosages. the customer takes the slip to the pharmacy and they give the product and go through the ID rigamarole.

finally, i can think of an alternative that would allow the actual product to be on the shelf, so the consumer wouldn’t have to orally request the product. i go to a lot of stores that are worried about theft and have worked out all kinds of clever anti-theft tagging. put the condoms in an unbreakable plastic box that the cashier has to unlock, like a cd or a dvd.

this is just off the top of my head, and i’m no loss prevention specialist. but i think it’s clear there’s a way retailers can meet their needs around theft and shoplifting while simultaneously lowering barriers to accessing these key health products.

PLEASE tell me you contacted an area manager or some higher up about that CVS customer! That was totally unneccessary and uncalled for.