A Curiousity Question

It's obvious that they must lock it up because people steal it. Anyone who can't afford it can get it free from WIC, so people are stealing it for other reasons. (probably for drugs). For people that think its way to expensive and that is the reason to justify stealing it, why don't they breastfeed? Cheap and free, and best for baby!!. Business's are in business to make money, whether they sell TV's or baby formula, so we have no right to say they should be selling it for less.

It has become a high theft item - I have a friend that works for Giant Foods corporate and I asked him the same thing a few weeks ago =O}

Well what everyone is saying is true. People steal it. Many years ago I knew a girl that would go in to a store, load her cart up with it and then run out the door. Then she would drive to a store in Brooklyn where they would buy it from her. She used to make a lot of money doing this. It's an old junkie trick to make some fast cash. Once stores caught on they started to lock it up. Anyone who is slightly legit knows that you can obtain free formula through the WIC program. For anyone who needs it depending on family size and income level you can go through WIC for things like formula, eggs, milk and cereal. My son was on Alimentum and all I did was bring in the perscription from my doctor and they supplied it for free. So most people that steal formula are only doing it for the resale value.

I asked the same question to a store manager and they told me it was because of theft. Apparently the price of baby formula is high enough that it's become a hot item for shoplifters.

It's a sad thought thinking of having a new baby and having to steal to get food for him/her.

Unfortunately it is so expensive I believe its to prevent theft.

I was told years ago that it's because of theft first, and tampering second.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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people probably stealing

Evidently, formula is shoplifted more than just about any other item!
(of course, if it was gonna cost me $2000-3000 to feed my baby for a year, I'd probably be tempted too!). Sad.

I just think it is sad that they charge so much for formula and diapers just because they can. It is ashame that people have to steal, making it harder for the rest of us to purchase. I could not get my husband cold medicine yesterday at 2 stores because i did not have my liscence on me.

I believe it's cuz it's so expensive.....and unfortunately those who can't afford it, steal it.

They have been slowly locking up the formula for the proublem that people are stealing the formula. And then selling it on the street for what ever reason they might have to do it. It is sad, that they have to do it that way. But it has gotten worse.

Years ago, when I worked at a grocery store, there was several instances where people would try to shoplift formula.

Hi S., I work in retail and although my store doesn't lock up the formula I would guess that the price of the formula and problems with theft are the reasons why your store is locking it up....once again because people can not behave in a reasonable, honorable manner we all have to pay the price!

Hi.. I am going to take a stab and say so people can't steal them....?

Hi S.,
Apparently formula is a hot commodity. People were stealing it and then re-selling it at cheaper prices. So now a lot of stores lock it up.

I was curious about the same thing and I asked a clerk at wal-Mart and she said that they were stealing it and using it for methanphetamine (SP?) creation.

It's a high theft item. Walgreens has theirs under lock and key too. The saleslady told me that people were stealing it too much!

I had this same question, and asked the store clerk...they said too many people steal formula. Sad, but true with the economy!

S.,
People steal the formula and then sell it for whatever reason. My grocery store actually kept the formula behind the counter at the customer service desk.
T.

Too funny that you are asking this! My store just told me today that they don't even put it on the shelves b/c it gets stolen constantly! I wish they would put it somewhere paying customers like myself could have access to it (such as a locked case).

Plain and simple? retail theft.