FuckmotheringxVampire
77984
1454
133
Baby food in a locked cage...
Jul 27, 2021 10:57 PM
FuckmotheringxVampire
77984
1454
133
Baby food in a locked cage...
Kelpie8
For the parent who might need this; Target Up & Up formula is quality but cheap. Not locked up, usually coupons and always a decent price.
EroticZombiePants
In certain areas, Beef Jerky is locked up.
AnythingMuchShorter
But why is a 12 oz can $37? It's ridiculous.
captainhappen
Lotta this stuff is stolen for resale to independent bodegas or on the streets not by parents. WIC has been a thing for decades.
TI99Kitty
Not everyone qualifies for WIC. You can make too much $ to get WIC, and still not be making enough to live off of.
MeniBothanzWasMyGrandFather
TIL that there is now an illicit trade baby formula.
adamlh642
Because it's expensive, small, and highly stolen
somebodyelsessunshine
That's the point....
AbandonedJapaneseLoveMotel
A few years ago we had a whole mafia built on that stuff here in Germany. The members stole it from nearly every drugstore and sold it to
AbandonedJapaneseLoveMotel
china, where the citizens didn't trust the stuff from the local market. They got busted by the police if I remember correctly...
franklydizzy
This isn't remotely new.
darksniperknight
Condoms were also locked up in my area. I would find stolen/empty boxes of condoms thrown onto the shelves.
Marine0311
That and pregnancy tests.
TheGrassyKnoll17
Well, it's made of powdered babies. Those don't come cheap.
nvllvoid
A lot of sketchy people will steal them and return them to Walmart for gift cards. Seen it happen so many times.
Nbdycares
Yeah because assholes steal it to flip for drug money, driving up the prices for people that need it.
GreyNotGray
How does this drive up prices? Sincerely curious
Nbdycares
Shrink
recliningpanda
A lot is bought/stolen to then be sold overseas where they can’t trust locally made formula. Like China. Daigou trade it’s an industry here
gordy77
Or they hire people to go purchasing where it would be limited per person
recliningpanda
Yep. I don’t blame them, Can of formula costs $23 here and they can sell it for 60-80 in China. What sucks when they empty the shelves
gordy77
Lots of spring water companies cashing in selling "baby water" as well, purportedly high quality boxed water for making up formula.
scouten
you should see how bad it is where i am, anything with an alcohol content is locked up, mouth wash, hand sanitizer is crazy
MouseMurphy
There are three Kroger grocery stores in town and the only one that locks up their formula is the one in the "bad neighborhood"
Marine0311
It's one of the most common items stolen in stores, that's why.
Harryteeters
If you see a mother stealing baby formula, no you didnt.
warmhandsduke
Holy hell, what store is this? I've never found a store that stocks my brand on-site.
sittingherethinkingthinkingimsittingherelisteningtoyou
I've had shelves cleared in 2 minutes. We clocked it on the camera. It's a lot of money to lose.
GreyNotGray
Loss of potential profits*. Claimed by insurance and still make more than manufacturing, shipping, and distribution.
BloodLegacy
That's not how that works, also you're confusing profit for revenue and there's a big difference.
GreyNotGray
Link to get me started? I’m curious what I’m missing here. Co. I work for has a loss of potential profits metric that includes theft. Thanks
BloodLegacy
Typically insurance will only cover the cost of the lost goods. The potential profit is lost to the company. There is something called ...
BloodLegacy
business income insurance that covers what you're talking about, but in practice its like car insurance. Have you ever had a scratch or
TheSupremeCrabMaster
Pretty common where I live. Formula ain't cheap and druggies can and will steal it and resell it.
anotherIngloriousHandle
hey, OP, you don’t know what is capitalism
beAbetterperson7
That stuff is so damn expensive. Could probably buy a car with what my kids drank as babies.
Abistantin
"What else are you going to do? Let them starve?"
Equreuil
I was so grateful for WIC when mine was a baby. Those vouchers covered most of his consumption.
Twinklepot
My son was named 'the calf' because he drank so much.
theliquidsteak
Although word to the wise, feeding a baby is way cheaper then feeding a 6 year old. If you struggle at 6m you need to bust ass to make sure-
theliquidsteak
You can feed them at 6 years. Public resources don't distribute them selves, food banks and government (even private) programs are a must.
theliquidsteak
Makes me sad to see kids go hungry for the reason that the parent hasn't seeked help from the community. People are your friends.
lordvetinariofankhmorpork
Wouldn't condoms have been cheaper?
Mairoa
You're not wrong. Same with plan b, abortion, and adoption.
lordvetinariofankhmorpork
well..unless you are adopting an 18 year old the costs should be more or less the same :D
TheTaoTakesPictures
you know it comes out of titties for free right?
newnhb
Nothing to do with 'capitalism' and everything to do with an epidemic shoplifting after Dem cities made it a misdemeanor.
GanjaPlanet
So you figure shoplifting is a felony in “Republican cities”? ?
cucharatorcida
Yeah, i failed to see the connection, too. Someone explained it's because of the exorbitant profit. I don't think that's true, though
ItSeemsYouHaveSufferedaTerribleFate
I mean sure capitalism is shit, but it's failed us because people can't steal baby formula? What kind of argument is that?
blisfulloblivion
Its failed us in allowing such a gross markup of an essential food item that theft is the only way many mothers can afford it. Plus wage gap
blisfulloblivion
Read up on the the sleazy marketing scheme around baby formulas development and how they pushed it. Made it essential and then up'd price
cucharatorcida
Ooohhh. That's a stretch, but I at least understand the argument. I can't say I agree, but thanks for the explanation.
ChemicalG
But mothers in need aren't usually the ones who are stealing it
blisfulloblivion
But they're a large group of those buying it.
tooomanystevesgotbanned
If you have to resort to stealing baby food then there is something fucked-up with your country.
fluffyeggs25
High theft item. They steal it and try to return it for quick cash. Returning it is banned at most stores.
nutmegwolf
At the local grocery store in my old college town the condoms were locked up too...
roboticKittenTamer
They're one of the few things locked up at some of the stores around here, but then abstinence only!
bound4doom
Yet protect the unborn, once they are out F em.
JubGregMontes
In my country the price of that is aprox 40% of the minimum wage of a week so if your baby need it what option you have...
Nbdycares
Mothers aren't the ones stealing it.
laughoutloud74
Nope it's tweeker. It's easy to get W. I. C. You get all the formula you need. Tweeker steal it to return for gift cards.
himslife
Actually a law in my state that you cannot return baby formula.
laughoutloud74
That's probably a good thing.
swatz
Um people steal condoms and cigerettes too.
ChemicalG
Something I noticed in retail, alot more people stole pregnancy tests instead of condoms
hipshopbutcanthap
Depends on the area I suppose but you can get a handful of condoms at really most clinics for the low low price of just asking
AlwaysTiredLiliVonSchtupp
Welcome to the United States of America
Tamerdinosaur
We also have WIC programs that provide this to needy mother's for free or extremely low cost, so it's not all bad.
rambleramblramble
Tbf people will steal just to steal ever if the items are just a few bucks and in my experience it's people with money that steal the most
MadHakon
Before you downvote this, ask yourself if you've worked retail. Because it's true. I work for a Kroger store -- rarely is it the necessities
MadHakon
stolen. It's things like cosmetics, detergent, booze and meat. The only time baby food is an issue is when someone is trying to use
MadHakon
it for scamming. And they do it, because some people are really gullible for a poor mother act. "Yes, can I return this baby food I cannot
MadHakon
use? Don't ask how I somehow got much more then a mother would need for a single child/through WIC."
Link01
It's almost never parents doing it, WIC takes care of that, it's the resellers and people cutting their drugs with it
beAbetterperson7
Remember a while ago a story where its often stolen to resell for quick cash and another where it was used to cut heroine and cocaine.
Devotionthepirate
I've heard it's often sold to parents in China as they often don't trust Chinese formula
ethicallysourcedcannedtuna
I've never heard this but it is an expensive item that is easily flipped for profit. I see it all the time on Offerup.
psychoreo
Not used to cut heroin. Sold to pay for heroin. Booster steals the items, sells to random corner stores for below wholesale, stores sell 1/2
psychoreo
Stolen goods quickly and easily at retail cost. It's an item that's almost guaranteed to sell.
FiftyShadesOfArugula
One is due to poverty, which shouldn't exist in a wealthy country, the other is the result of a failed drug policy.I guess OP's point stands
Desertified
Yeah man drugs are a hell of a drug
Srcsqwrn
RIP Canada
thebeadweeb
Man, before I went into business myself, I worked grocery. This shit was the most stolen time at 600% higher than the next most stolen
thebeadweeb
(beer). Tweakers steal it and sell it to a guy that has an open bounty on formula, who sells it in China. If he is full up, they sell it to
thebeadweeb
Mother's for full ticket price (-the 13% tax)
wobblecopterrrr
It’s actually because dealers use formula to cut meth and heroin.
chasityyoung80111
That's that taste and smell kidding
BunchaCrunchOfHuman
....false?
rmcarboy
1. This is true; worked Organized Retail Crime investigations for Wal-Mart for years. The worst case of it I handled was a team of three
rmcarboy
2. That would hit every store along the interstate from I-380 by East Stroudsburg PA through I-81 in Syracuse, NY.
rmcarboy
3. They hit half a dozen stores for near $75,000 of Enfamil and Similac. When caught they admitted it was to mix with Fentanyl
onefukkedduck
That's baby laxatives not formula
Ivalicenyan
You cut drugs with anything that's cheap, powdery and looks convincing
wobblecopterrrr
Either works, throw some laundry soap in there while ur at it..
onefukkedduck
Drywall too
ctotheg2
This is just posing a stupid argument. It’s not free and it’s a highly stolen item. Not the shops responsibility to provide free formula.
themobileappisbroken
Why is it stolen so much?
TI99Kitty
Because it's expensive, and because conservatives in this country make breastfeeding mothers into social outcasts.
imnotthatblonde
Mix of reasons, some is sold overseas to china because of a scandal there involving their own stuff being harmful, but the majority is /2
imnotthatblonde
resold locally by people looking to pay for drugs typically, its usually thought to be less obvious than electricals or alcohol
imgurmage
Because people have kids when they're not really financially set to afford it (kids are expensive). 140 characters is too limiting 1/2
NacLac
Nice racist argument. You ignore those who didn't have a choice or had established methods fail. Take your high horse and go away.
ctotheg2
No. Poorly formed argument.
themobileappisbroken
But babies inevitably turn into adults. Why isn't all the food in between baby and adult also locked away?
imgurmage
For the novel length explanation as to why that is, but that's the most base level reason.
jimdalefox
It depends on the area the Walmart/Dillon's is in. The low crime areas in my town don't do this.
FuckmotheringxVampire
Considering this is in a Kroger in a moderately affluent area that doesn't check out in this case
imnotthatblonde
even moderately affluent areas can have major addict and theft products
MadHakon
I work for Kroger as a manager over the department that would stock this section. The only time they put it behind a lock is when theft is
MadHakon
an issue. Do not mistake yourself to think affluence means less crime. Affluence can mean another type of crime. In low income areas, many
MadHakon
parents can rely on WIC. They would have no need to steal it. It is those parents that make enough income but really don't like the idea of
MadHakon
their baby costing them money that start getting handsy.
jimdalefox
Okay, but Kroger and Dillon's are the same company.
FuckmotheringxVampire
Sorry, I'm not name familiar with every Kroger subsidiary...though it would probably be a full time job to be lol
mullimu
In Australia it’s locked because people buy hundreds of tins to sell overseas, leaving the shelves bare. They only let you buy 2 at a time.
Xaldyn
...Or in other words, capitalism has failed us.
DaveSamsonite
In the US it is locked because organized criminal groups just openly walk out of stores with major items that they resell. It’s a serious problem. When you see people, checking receipts at the exit to the store, it’s a good practice, because when people steal things, it just raises the prices for everyone else.
RayMC
Bruh
kappykapkap
In my state it's illegal to lock it up as if a mother/father has to resort to stealing formula, they don't want babies to starve.
dorenavant
Curious, what state is that and I wonder if there are several others?
kappykapkap
Michigan
dorenavant
Thanks!
tiderfish
That’s pretty progressive and sad at the same time
Wolokos
Sell overseas? O.o
ClearForks
About a decade ago Chinese manufactures were cutting the milk with Melamine and a bunch of babies died. So also a symptom of capitalism
ProphetofEntropy
Chinese products dont always get the same quality control as youd think they needed, they had tainted baby formula a few years ago
Mercury365
China. You'd go into a store and there'd be a dozen chinese buying the whole shelf to send home at excruciating prices.
imnotthatblonde
China had a scandal where their domestic version was harmful, so there became a massive market for western products
ParaBellumOutfitters
They were cutting it with melamine to spoof protein levels, if memory serves.
TsubakiTragic
Correct... and melamine can kill babies.
vindik8or
Also breastfeeding is something that only the Poors do in China, and you do not want to be seen to be one of them.
Atalkingbirdthatspillssuperherossecretidentities
Oh that is interesting, never heard of that before :O so baby formula is considered of an sign of wealth or status?
vindik8or
Very much so.
imnotthatblonde
Interesting, didnt know that bit of it!
Flyingfatman
Tweekers steel this and sell it to low income mothers, I grew up in the hood and it was happening then.
Drakoth97
This. I used to work stocking jobs and had to explain this every day to people. If people didnt steal it it wouldn't be locked. Simple shit
Edutittam
Mothers only being able to afford stolen formula by tweekers kinda just makes the point stronger
wozat
How metal of them
notmyrealface
They are not separate failures. Just a series of branches in our fucked up tumbleweed.
MosquitoHawker
That’s horrible. That’s basically war profiteering only we aren’t in a war situation. (Or are we?)
ChemicalG
Well they sell it to them because theyre the only ones to buy it for cash since they cant 'return' it without receipt for cash, just fencing
thebeadweeb
Here they sell it for ticket price, but no sales tax (13%)
SamCookeisGod
Same thing with Sudafed
Jsngw88
And Triple C. Coricidin (sp?) Cough and Cold was a huuuge thing here in CenCal.
SepiaSkies
If there are mothers who are so cash strapped that they have to buy formula from tweekers, that underscores the same point @op is making.
DwayneTheCrackJohnson
Tweakers steal*
Bananasandwiches42
They also from what I remember used it as an ingredient for making meth too. They’re just steal a bunch and run.
VictusVonGuyver
There was an international black market for this too. People buying Australian or American Baby Powder to be resold in China because the >
VictusVonGuyver
the combination of a totalitarian state and unrestrained capitalism has allowed for the market to be saturated with almost no safeguards >
VictusVonGuyver
resulting in widespread infant poisoning or deaths. The two worst systems of any nations, and China ended with both.
sweetmcjesus
Thats one way to know you in the wrong neighborhood
abrakadaBRO
Pretty sure it's locked up because you can make methamphetamine from the orange labeled ones. They track the purchases iirc
SepiaSkies
Biochemist here. No. You cannot make meth from baby formula.
abrakadaBRO
News to me. In the late 90's it was a thing at least in California. I meant to say use it as an ingredient. Not just make it haha
SepiaSkies
Ah. I think there was a thing with people cutting drugs with baby formula, which honestly doesn’t make that much sense either.
Jsngw88
It's not for effect, it's to increase the amount they have to sell. Addicts don't care, dealer stretches his stash. Win win for both sides.
Jsngw88
Seen it here all too often. They also use it to cut their heroin from what the cops told us.
Flyingfatman
What the hell?
Qualtagh
That last bit sounds like cops just throwing shit at the wall to see what sticks
Jsngw88
No, not really. I've seen people cut their coke with flour and Ajax. Formula and powdered milk are close in color to heroin.
Jsngw88
Blended and mixed in it'd be unnoticeable.
woodette
The addiction counselors I work with agree that it happens. We have to keep an eye on the powdered creamer at the office too
MeekrabJones
As someone who worked at a retail drugstore for a few years, they don't always sell it to mothers. If they were, I wouldn't give a shit 1/
MeekrabJones
who stole it. At least at our location, it was being stolen by people who would then try to return it, claiming they "lost the receipt." 1/
Flyingfatman
I've heard of this also.
MeekrabJones
Even if we stopped issuing refunds on higher ticket items without receipts, they would fish through the trashcans outside of the store 1/
MeekrabJones
when no one was looking and find a receipt from someone who did legitimately buy one. If we started checking times and dates on receipts 3/
MeekrabJones
against security footage, they would just take the item and receipt to another location for the return. Once they do that, we have no 4/
makeSX
Amm stupid question: why not breast feed the baby?
Mairoa
My mom had postpartum complications that essentially made her milk unhealthy for me long enough it dried up.
chlove744
A lot of women have issues producing enough milk or even any at all. At that point this is the only option for them.
makeSX
This seems to be a growing problem?
chlove744
Yep, and it's only getting worst with little support to fixing the problem. Stress plays a big part in it though.
makeSX
In my experiense on the subject, many mothers seem to just find the swollen breasts and the whole breast feeding a burden, which is why ->
TheOnlyPtylerdactyl
Do they sell it for cheaper than the stores do?
76000BatteryLlamas
That's capitalism baby
Flyingfatman
Yeah.
PnwN8tive
Happening then? My good sir, its still happening now.
threyon
Well, it wouldn’t make sense to charge MORE than stores do.
DarkwingDuc
That’s usually how the black market works. If it wasn’t cheaper, why would they bother. They’d just buy it at the store.
TheYoungerChrisEvans
Agreed. The only factor, when the price is the same, is convenience. And I doubt tweekers are convenient lol
kwyjiboner
Of course they would, they got the product for free so any price is a profit for them.
RandomTurd
It's just like stealing cartons of smokes, free can turn into $100 real quick.
SatanicSpirals
I come from ground zero of the opioid epidemic. Sadly, yeah, they do. A good thief will offload them for 25-50% MSRP. It's a deed done >>
SatanicSpirals
Generally to get drug money. But I know people who would've starved if it weren't for those same addicts. I hate theft. But sometimes >>
SatanicSpirals
There are good deeds only devils can commit. It shouldn't cost a fortune to feed a child.
IkeTheCoder
Yes, because they steal it.
tonbeor
Think about why people need to steal baby formula THINK ikethecoder THINK
fattmoley3D
Think further than what you believe to be the obvious and only answer. Think.
Dagordae
Because it's an easily resellable product. And usually small and less protected than the high value stuff. Thievery 101: The most valuable
Dagordae
targets are what you can get away with and actually sell quickly.
Chobot
Because some of them are tweakers and they want money for meth? They will steal anything they can easily sell...
TheYoungerChrisEvans
And formula is easier to carry than a door off of a washing machine.
RaithiosDarksun
Chaotic neutral...stealing something with intent to sell? Bad. Selling at a super reduced price to a person struggling...good.
RunanD
Okay? It's still going to a hungry kid. Like forgive me if I'm not terribly outraged.
Lynkfox
Probably. It's like 35 bucks a canister and they barely last a week
RacecarIsRacecarBackwards
Holy shit! I just checked and it's between 30 and 90 Euros a month where I live.
LindaGee
Costs like £10 a canister in the UK.
HumanCats
And many people can get it for free.
DropDeadFread
It's not that expensive. My kid is 3 years old so it wasn't that long ago that she was using this.
VaViking
Yes it is... Had a kid that had to be on Alimentum. $40/week can.
Lynkfox
I have a 3yo and a 1mo. My wife never really produced enough breast milk. Both require the sensitive brand. We buy from Costco. 35$ each
Xendrash
it's not expensive for YOU. There are single mothers out there living on gov income and the formula is 10 to 15% of their income.
blisfulloblivion
Zoom in on the photo. Most of those cannisters are priced 30.99-35.99.
live2dyec4
Expensive is a relative term. May not be to you but could be expensive for your neighbor, etc.
kiddub
Similar goes for about 35 where I live. Depending on what neighbourhood o got to it is locked up.
nijlonkai
It is tho?
ADDGirl
Well my kid is 4.5 years old and I say it IS that expensive. Checkmate.
BobaFettApproves
The prices are RIGHT there…
TechNaOkami
We live in a society
stauffalopagus
It’s that expensive where I live, in northern Colorado.
ladybuglauren
Hello from Fairplay!
stauffalopagus
Source. Just now in the process of changing baby over to whole milk.
jaaaaay34
Baby formula for the first yr of a baby’s life costs $1200-1500 in the US. If there are allergies/digestive issues it’s over $3000
basiccricket8444
You can get cheap stuff, but that just points out how from the very start the poor start a step behind
DaviiJones
What the eff?
ILikeRespondingWithWillSmithGifs
As a newly single dad. Yep..
brokeKittenDancer
My kid had to drink soy. I didn't qualify for WIC. It was brutal. Thankfully the manufacturer sends LOTS of coupons or they used to