'Prison-like' security gates at Coles trigger outrage from shoppers
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Supermarket giants have been implementing strict security measures in their efforts to curb theft and protect their staff and customers.
However, Coles has been facing a wave of criticism from its customers recently.
The reason? The introduction of 'prison-like' security gates at the exits of their stores.
These gates, which are part of the supermarket's anti-theft measures, have been described as 'triggering' by some shoppers, who claim they make them feel trapped and uncomfortable.
The decision to install these automated gates came in response to a 20 per cent rise in thefts across Coles stores.
One shopper shared her distressing experience on social media, recounting how she was about to leave her local Coles store after paying for her groceries when the gates suddenly closed in on her.
'I finished up scanning and paying for my two items and as I go to leave, this little gate flashes red, like an alarm almost,' she wrote.
'Then the gate slid shut preventing me and some 60-year-old-tradie-looking bloke from leaving.'
The shopper went on to describe how a staff member eventually let her and the man out of the store.
She also mentioned that the man had earlier given her a look as if she was 'stealing'.
'I honestly was kinda triggered by it and struggled to have self-control, to not just kick the barrier or step over it,' she added.
'With how Woolies and Coles have been treating people with price gouging, this just feels like another big slap in the face.'
This comes after it was reported that a senate inquiry was called to investigate the pricing strategies employed by Coles and Woolworths supermarkets—the notorious ‘supermarket duopoly’.
The inquiry is expected to scrutinise whether customers are being subjected to issues such as 'price gouging' during economic hardship, pushing to own brand products, market concentration, corporate profit hikes and the extraction of cost-savings from employees and consumers through automation. You can read more about this story here.
Another customer had a similar experience, stating that she was barred from leaving a store after paying for her groceries until a staff member assisted her.
'I couldn't get out of the self-serve checkout once I had finished my shopping until they [staff] looked at my receipt and pressed a button,' the shopper shared.
In response to the backlash, a Coles spokesperson said that the gates are part of the security measures the supermarket has in place for the safety of staff and customers.
'While most of our customers do the right thing, unfortunately, a small number don't,' the spokesperson said.
'Coles has a range of security measures in place to reduce theft from our stores including CCTV, electronic article surveillance (EAS), and in some stores new smart gate technology that automatically opens as customers make payment for their products.'
The gates are just one of several technologies that Coles has implemented across its stores to combat the rise in theft.
Staff have recently begun to wear body cameras in some locations to reduce incidents of violence towards employees, and overhead cameras have also been installed across stores to track the movements of shoppers.
What are your thoughts on this issue, members? Have you encountered these security gates at your local Coles? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.
However, Coles has been facing a wave of criticism from its customers recently.
The reason? The introduction of 'prison-like' security gates at the exits of their stores.
These gates, which are part of the supermarket's anti-theft measures, have been described as 'triggering' by some shoppers, who claim they make them feel trapped and uncomfortable.
The decision to install these automated gates came in response to a 20 per cent rise in thefts across Coles stores.
Automated gates at Coles have sparked outrage among shoppers. Image source: Shutterstock.
One shopper shared her distressing experience on social media, recounting how she was about to leave her local Coles store after paying for her groceries when the gates suddenly closed in on her.
'I finished up scanning and paying for my two items and as I go to leave, this little gate flashes red, like an alarm almost,' she wrote.
'Then the gate slid shut preventing me and some 60-year-old-tradie-looking bloke from leaving.'
The shopper went on to describe how a staff member eventually let her and the man out of the store.
She also mentioned that the man had earlier given her a look as if she was 'stealing'.
'I honestly was kinda triggered by it and struggled to have self-control, to not just kick the barrier or step over it,' she added.
'With how Woolies and Coles have been treating people with price gouging, this just feels like another big slap in the face.'
This comes after it was reported that a senate inquiry was called to investigate the pricing strategies employed by Coles and Woolworths supermarkets—the notorious ‘supermarket duopoly’.
The inquiry is expected to scrutinise whether customers are being subjected to issues such as 'price gouging' during economic hardship, pushing to own brand products, market concentration, corporate profit hikes and the extraction of cost-savings from employees and consumers through automation. You can read more about this story here.
Another customer had a similar experience, stating that she was barred from leaving a store after paying for her groceries until a staff member assisted her.
'I couldn't get out of the self-serve checkout once I had finished my shopping until they [staff] looked at my receipt and pressed a button,' the shopper shared.
In response to the backlash, a Coles spokesperson said that the gates are part of the security measures the supermarket has in place for the safety of staff and customers.
'While most of our customers do the right thing, unfortunately, a small number don't,' the spokesperson said.
'Coles has a range of security measures in place to reduce theft from our stores including CCTV, electronic article surveillance (EAS), and in some stores new smart gate technology that automatically opens as customers make payment for their products.'
The gates are just one of several technologies that Coles has implemented across its stores to combat the rise in theft.
Staff have recently begun to wear body cameras in some locations to reduce incidents of violence towards employees, and overhead cameras have also been installed across stores to track the movements of shoppers.
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