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Comment by AnotherGoodName | Hacker News Reader

It’s near impossible to buy those things. I live in a region of the world where condoms are locked up at the local mega chemist. Absolutely no embarrassment here on buying them of course. It’s just that pressing the button does nothing. None of the minimum wage staff give a fuck (can’t blame them). You’ll just be standing there waiting in an almost empty store. The sole clerk at the counter can’t really leave their post and there’s no one else around. Not to mention not being able to look at the boxes first so you’re going to have to take 10mins of someone’s time at least while they stand there with the display open for a sale that nets $.50 profit.

I buy online. Would suck to be a kid in that situation though.

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I think this gets to the real reason of why people say they won't buy from the locked cabinets.

As someone whose job was to carry that key in an office supply store, I can say that it's awful. We have other things to do, and even if you're acknowledged, you have no idea when that clerk will get to you. (And the clerk doesn't know either.)

Aside: I once had a customer snap their fingers at me while I was walking another customer to a product because they wanted in the case. I looked at them, but was so thrown off that I didn't nod or anything, and just kept helping that customer. By the time I got to the case, they were gone. Later, I found I had a complaint issued against me for ignoring them, which I hadn't actually done. It just wasn't their turn yet. Management tried to turn it into a big thing in a meeting with the entire store, singling me out (not the first time). Someone else stood up for the situation and said they wouldn't help someone that snapped their fingers... Management started to rebut, but then a guy from furniture said, "Yeah! And I won't help people that whistle at me like a dog, either!" and management quickly changed the topic. Ah, such fun memories.

Good coworkers, standing up for each other and dignity.

When a customer interrupts you while you are aiding another customer, merely acknowledge their presence and tell them "Yes, ma'am, I'll help you after I've helped this customer. Thank you!"

I say this b/c not acknowledging someone, even someone who is rude, is also rude.

Manners (etiquette) are the key to civility. Really! They work but few even have heard, much less spoken of, manners or etiquette.

They basically need a store full of vending machines. Then the items would be locked up AND you could actually buy them.

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