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| Food from a Dumpster. Photo credit:Quispiam |
Retailers have been calling it a "crisis" for quite some time and the media seems content with publishing these crisis stories daily. But some reports (CNN Business) say corporations are wrongly blaming their losses on theft and are failing to acknowledge other causes for their losses.
Hmmm. Big, giant, wealthy corporations wouldn't lie to us. Would They? <wink>
And how did we turn into a society that believes everything corporations and the media tell us?
Another issue I see is the rampant prosecution of people accused of
theft at self-check registers. Sometimes stores wait months, then
send the police after consumers with warrants for theft. Everyone should stop using self check-outs immediately - they are dangerous and you have no recourse if you're accused of stealing.
I also see no mention of retailers who consistently throw away perfectly good food and household goods. In addition to taking the time to throw out their goods, they pay their employees to destroy and damage the goods before throwing them into their corporate dumpsters. They pour liquid soap or bleach on food items, make up, clothes, etc. They slice open packages of potato chips, pet food, bagels, crackers, etc. They spray paint pillows, blankets, clothing and they slice up shoes, belts, purses, books, furniture, .... everything. Keep in mind, employers are PAYING employees to take the time to ruin goods they are throwing away, so consumers can't use them.
Despite knowing that food insecurity and financial woes exist in America, retailers would still rather destroy their merchandise than see someone get anything for "free". Then, some retailers are claiming theft is creating their losses.
Why not donate goods?
Why not have a dollar sale?
Why not give products to employees?
Why not help people and the world instead of creating more waste?
Savvy dumpsters divers are getting more common as people are realizing there are perfectly good products sitting in dumpsters in every state. Some states have made dumpster diving illegal (why?) and retailers claim they worry about the safety of people getting items out of dumpsters, so they train employees to police the dumpsters and disparage, berate, scold, and talk down to people they find diving. Sometimes, they call the police on dumpster divers as well.
Some people diving truly don't have money for food or products, others donate their finds to people in need. Some are on a mission to protect the environment, while others have found their small-business-entrepreneurial spirit and sell their finds at flea markets.
I say hooray to all the dumpster divers who are helping themselves, others, and the planet! 👏
Here are a few of my favorite dumpster divers who I watch regularly on YouTube. Go check them out and tell them how great they are: Also, notice how stores go out of their way to damage products they throw out.
Freakin Frugal: https://www.youtube.com/@freakinfrugal5268/featured
Curbside Junkies: https://www.youtube.com/@curbsidejunkies/featured
Dumpster Diving Momma of 2: https://www.youtube.com/@dumpsterdivingmommaof2/featured
Ok. End of rant.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/18/business/retail-shoplifting-shrink-walgreens/index.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/returns-to-retailers-sent-to-landfills-2023-2
https://www.rts.com/resources/guides/food-waste-america/
https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a46167668/dumpster-diving-in-your-favorite-home-stores/
