Morrisons locks alcohol in cabinets under ‘buzz for booze’ system
Morrisons has started to lock its alcohol in glass cabinets and has introduced a ‘buzz for booze’ system across select stores.
The system, which sees customers pressing a button and waiting for assitance to unlock the doors where the alcohol is kept, has been implemented in a number of the supermarket’s stores, including its branch off Hagley Road at Five Ways.
The sign featured in the store reads: “To purchase Champage or Spirits from the cabinet, ask one of our colleagues or press the call-point below.”
It is assumed that this has been put in place to deter thieves.
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One customer of the Hagley Road store said on Facebook in February: “I tried to buy some booze from Morrisons (Hagley Road) and they now have their liquor encased under lock and key. You now need to press the big buzzer for an authorised assistant to open up and give you booze. Which is all recorded.
“The manager told me this is their last resort or they will stop stocking spirits altogether.”
Another shopper, Kurtis Roberts told Birmingham Live: “It’s a shame Morrisons has to resort to this, but with the cost of living crisis I suppose that theft is on the increase.
“I was actually in the same aisle on the opposite side picking up a couple of bottles of coke, when the assistant asked if she could help me with my alcohol purchase. Another guy responded by saying that it was him that pressed the button and another guy said that he was also waiting.”
A Morrisons spokesperson told Grocery Gazette: “We can confirm that we are using these cabinets in a number of our stores, as are others across the industry. We have received good feedback from customers and have a colleague in the area and the buzzer also goes to the store headsets so customers can expect really prompt service.”
9 Comments. Leave new
My store loses over 500k a year in theft, so not really.
I will not buy alcohol from my local Morrison’s despite it being my nearest store by far. Inhibits customer choice, introduces delays and applies pressure to customers to purchase once staff arrive on scene. What were they thinking!!
Saw this in Morrisons at Teesside Park today. The mad system has just been introduced. What makes it even more stupid is that the majority of items behind the glass doors are security tagged anyway. I didn’t bother spending my £30 or so on spirits; I went to Tesco instead. I’m betting this ‘system’ will cost more in lost sales than it saves by deterring pilfering.
So the thieves just get butler service? What’s the difference? They can just walk out with whatever is handed to them. This makes no sense, unless it’s a dedicated isle and checkout! 10/10 for complete idiocy
Gangs of thieves going round the country stealing what they please leaves retailer’s with no choice. Sure someone can still walk out without paying but they’re not going to be handed half a dozen bottles or more plus can refuse to serve certain types.
I dont see any difference, even if it was handed to you, the person could still walk out with it.
Personally it wouldn’t bother me cos I don’t drink.
What a rediculouse idea.
Makes sense to me, as a former Morrisons worker, I can confirm the amount of theft of alcohol, on a daily basis, was ridiculous!
Anyone happy to use this system must be “Barmy”. We probably wont shop at Morrisons again after seeing how this system works, another customer hanging around for simply ages. Within 15 minutes we were in Tesco buying a bottle of Advocaat and the bulk of our planned shopping. When I buy a bottle of Single Malt for a special occasion I like to read the description on the box before making a final choice. We are not “Common Thieves”. Goodbye Morrisons …… !