# Albertsons: Why do they lock their Disposable Shavers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847 "2007-12-31T22:44:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![O2BDumb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@O2BDumb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/O2BDumb)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/1 "2007-12-31T22:44:59Z")
This is driving me crazy and I can’t get any solid answers out of Albertson’s employees, just that they’re told to lock 'em up. Other stores aren’t doing this (like Ralph’s or Target)… Are they being illegally used for something…?? ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/2 "2007-12-31T23:03:30Z")
[QUOTE=O2BDumb] This is driving me crazy and I can’t get any solid answers out of Albertson’s employees, just that they’re told to lock 'em up. Other stores aren’t doing this (like Ralph’s or Target)… Are they being illegally used for something…?? [/QUOTE] I’ve seen it in the major grocery stores, King Soopers (Kroger), as well. They do that with high theft items. Things that are small but high value that people tend to steal. Depending on the area, condoms are locked up, too. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/3 "2007-12-31T23:08:32Z")
I’m guessing they’re stolen by self-harmers. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/4 "2007-12-31T23:17:04Z")
It’s just that they tend to be stolen. mach 3 blades and the like are expensive and easily concealed. ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/5 "2007-12-31T23:17:22Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] I’m guessing they’re stolen by self-harmers. [/QUOTE] Nah, I think they’re stolen by people who like the fancy blades but either don’t have or don’t want to pay $15 for a 4-pack. I usually only see the high-dollar blades like Mach 3 locked up, while the more run-of-the-mill disposable blades are displayed in the open. ETA: Baby formula is another item I often see in a locked case or behind the counter; that’s also pretty pricey. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/6 "2007-12-31T23:18:46Z")
It’s just a cost:size ratio and not unique to Albertsons - some of those cartridges cost more than $45 for a package that’s pocket-sized and easily pocketed. Someone comes along and thinks that $45 is an excessively big bite ut of their grocery budget, so they either get less food, don’t shave, or steal the blades. Condoms are a high-theft item because some of them can be fairly pricy to start with, and traditionally, they’ve been somewhat embarrassing for some guys to buy. Another high-theft item is baby formula. It’s bulky, so it’s harder to steal, but it can still be very expensive, so people will swipe it - rolling it up in a coat, stuffing it into a diaper bag, or wherever else they can fit it. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/7 "2007-12-31T23:20:55Z")
Yep, they tend to lock them up in stores where they get shoplifted a lot. They don’t do that very much where I live (small town near Las Vegas), but all the stores in Las Vegas that I’ve been to have them in a big glass case. Similarly, most of the Wal-Marts have locked up all the electric shaver blade-and-foil refills, presumably because those suckers are expensive as heck (like $25-$30 each) and very small and easily pocketable. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/8 "2007-12-31T23:48:15Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] …Condoms are a high-theft item because some of them can be fairly pricy to start with, and traditionally, they’ve been somewhat embarrassing for some guys to buy… Are ladies embarrased to buy them? I kinda don’t think so as women (I think) are more practical than men are in matters like this. 🙂 Girls?? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/9 "2008-01-01T00:25:05Z")
You’d think that locking condoms up would only make people more reluctant to purchase them. I don’t buy locked up things precisely because I don’t want to spend 10 minutes chasing down an employee, and you’d think people would just go to another store to buy the more embarrassing items. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/10 "2008-01-01T00:32:18Z")
\ Price Check! Hey Cecil, what’s the bulk price for a thirty-pack of ribbed Trojans? Thanks! \ ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/11 "2008-01-01T00:38:05Z")
Depends on the community. In the big anonymous city, not so much, but in smaller towns where seemingly everyone knows everyone else, condom shoppers may want more privacy than possible in such places. All it takes is for the cashier to start gossiping “Mary Poppins bought a box of Trojans yesterday! Isn’t she dating Davy Crockett? Her father’s going to kill her if he finds out she’s doing it!” to drive even the most otherwise law-abiding types to swipe a box. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/12 "2008-01-01T00:39:50Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] \ Price Check! Hey Cecil, what’s the bulk price for a thirty-pack of ribbed Trojans? Thanks! \ [/QUOTE] Or worse… I need a price check on the Pencilpecker size condoms! ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/13 "2008-01-01T01:05:00Z")
Now THAT sounds like fun!! Pencilpecker?? HAH!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/14 "2008-01-01T01:06:07Z")
Two Walgreens stores I have visited have their disposable razor blade packages in a clear plastic case; when the door to the case is opened, it makes a mild buzzing sound until the door is closed again. ---
**Author:** ![O2BDumb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@O2BDumb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/O2BDumb)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/15 "2008-01-01T01:37:25Z")
[QUOTE=Lobsang] I’m guessing they’re stolen by self-harmers. [/QUOTE] I think you’re on to something here. I did a google search on “self harmer”+“disposable razor” and got enough interesting results to support that theory. > **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=%22self+harmer%22%2B%22disposable+razor%22)** I suppose alot of the people who cut themselves are depressed or abused kids (with little or no income) and it would make sense for them to shoplift disposable razors. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/16 "2008-01-01T01:59:52Z")
I’d say because they’re the best combination of small/easy to conceal and high price, and they can’t lock up everything. I don’t buy the self harmer thing because any one can buy them regardless of age, and the lock doesn’t prevent purchase. It may prevent self harmer theft though. For the record the only thing I’ve ever stolen in 18 years of adult life is a pack of disposable razors, and why? Expensive as hell and easy to conceal. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_Johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Mrs\_Johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_Johnson)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/17 "2008-01-01T02:18:12Z")
[QUOTE=O2BDumb] I think you’re on to something here. I did a google search on “self harmer”+“disposable razor” and got enough interesting results to support that theory. > **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=%22self+harmer%22%2B%22disposable+razor%22)** I suppose alot of the people who cut themselves are depressed or abused kids (with little or no income) and it would make sense for them to shoplift disposable razors. [/QUOTE] From my experience (as a former self injurer), old style double edge razors are dirt cheap and usually not locked up like Gillette and other expensive razor refills. They also come in smaller packages - probably easier to steal, though I’ve never stolen any. I could be wrong, but my guess is that they’re locked up because they’re pricey and easy to steal. I don’t think self-injurers are the primary concern of retailers. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/18 "2008-01-01T04:28:45Z")
I shop at Safeway. They lock up the condoms, but not the razor blades. The blades are simply hung from display hooks that make it insanely difficult to actually remove the package. S’okay. I don’t go through the Mach 3’s nearly as quickly since I stopped shaving my head. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/19 "2008-01-01T15:26:36Z")
We don’t have the razor blades locked up here, but we do have all the tooth whitening products locked up. At $25-$35 for a box little larger than a toothpaste tube you can sure see the theft potential. And yes, I do live amongst many spoiled pretentious twits. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847/20 "2008-01-01T15:47:46Z")
Many stores here have begun using vending machines for expensive but easily shoplifted items such as cigarettes and other tobacco products, OTC medicines, condoms, and yep, razor blades. You pick up a card for the item you want at from a rack by the register, and the cashier swipes it for you. Once it’s registered as being paid, you have X hours (usually 24 or 48) to stick it in the store’s vending machine and retrieve the product. In the stores that don’t have these machines, such items are often in racks that are difficult for anyone but the cashier to reach - and locked at least when a cashier is not on duty at that station. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albertsons-why-do-they-lock-their-disposable-shavers/431847.md?page=2)