Isn't Walmart one of the richest companies in the US? Oh yeah, I'm sure shoplifting is hurting them so hard that they just HAVE to do this. Couldn't be their own greed.
Walmart became one of the richest companies in the US because of stuff like this. There's a whole penny-pinching mentality built into their company structure that I haven't seen at any other retailer I've worked for, and they argue that it's how they keep their prices low.
I think to them, it's more about sending a message.
"Dear poors, we will force you to work for free and we will only sell anything to rich people exclusively so have fun starving to death en masse. You won't do shit about it."
Every walmart around here has a special spot for cops to sit and watch people come and go right by the entrance. just like with employee benefits, they cut security costs by relying on the state.