So our store finally got those camera screens installed on all our self checkouts.
My only question is... Do they actually record anything or are they there as a dud, a deterrent, a placebo, a gimmick?
Another store has 'em in the produce section. I mean, who steals produce?
It's both a deterrent and some one can watch. People will steal anything to save a buck. Some think it's just fruit they wont really go after me form this.
No one watches the cameras unless they want to review something that occurred. I would think the SCO cameras would have been installed at high shrink/high SCO transactions to deter SCO shrink. In reality I think the SCO cameras are a complete invasion of ones personal space. Yes, we all know we are being recorded, but these cameras are going a little too far.
They're not just on the SCO. At our store, they've put them where the health and beauty stuff is. They even have a two big screen monitors that have a camera in them at both ends of the front end that show the customers on screen. So basically, people walking out can wave at themselves on the big screen!
The store in western hills has the SCO cameras, and they also have the same camera screens in the produce section.
They're putting those in more "urban" areas i think, my store doesn't have them yet but my old store in Dayton does have some around the drug gm aisles as well as the beer/wine aisle.
I'm all for preventing shrink/loss, but you have to balance it with customer perception and store image. You want into a nice bright airy store, you go to the FE that is becoming barricaded with cameras watching your ever move. Yes, there should be cameras to prevent theft, but do you really think most people stealing really care? In reality most of the loss prevention costs do not prevent anything. How many stores have the card locks at the entrance? How many people just see the card being pushed to the door and then the hand basket being ran out the store with the high priced items? Might as well just put a one way turn stile at the main entrance!!
-- Edited by EUID_Unknown on Tuesday 28th of August 2018 12:48:53 AM
Yes, there should be cameras to prevent theft, but do you really think most people stealing really care?
That's exactly what one of our regular security guards told me! The thieves don't care. They can now wave at themselves on the pretty screen... WHILE they're stealing.
