KY Walmart Shoppers Might Soon Be Able to Unlock Their Own Deodorant

Do you know what drives me crazy but I understand doing it anyway? It's when I need something at Walmart, and it's locked in a cabinet. I know it doesn't usually take an associate very long to get to me, but it just feels weird having to flag someone down because I want deodorant or body spray or whatever.

And at some Walmarts around the country, far MORE merchandise is under lock and key. That includes items in the grocery and clothing departments. I would feel even weirder if I had to flag someone down so I could purchase a can of green beans or UNDERWEAR.

Locking Up Merchandise -- Frustrating But Necessary

Now let me clear something up. I am, in no way, making light of these decisions by the nation's number one retail. Out of necessity, some of the stores have simply had to lock up most, if not all, of its merchandise due to rampant theft; it's not because Fruit of the Loom skivvies have strands of 24k gold woven through the fabric. (Although, yes, that would tempt the five-finger discount seekers.)

But now Walmart is testing new technology in a couple hundred of its stores that would allow customers to do their own unlocking without having to track down an employee. That technology would allow associates to unlock a cabinet remotely using an app. There's also been discussion about extending that privilege to loyalty members as well.

Sometimes necessities are annoying. Locked-up items frustrate shoppers. Having to walk to wherever the locked case may be is unnecessary time consumption for employees.

Walmart has issued no timeline about an expanded rolling-out of the new service.