Walmart will no longer place "multicultural hair care and beauty products" in locked cases in ANY of their stores, the company says Wednesday.
In the past, Walmart has gotten criticized for locking away products that seem to be bought largely by people color. Although Walmart says this practice was only done "in about a dozen" of its 4,700 U.S. stores.
CBS Denver reporter Tori Mason was the first to share the change, after receiving an email from Walmart in response to her story highlighting this situation.
Walmart customer Judah Bell said the process is "humiliating" and is something she's noticed at select locations across the country, usually those in more "urban, less affluent areas." Bell says since her local Walmart uses locked cases, she will drive 11 minutes further to a 'more affluent' area and shop at that Walmart to avoid being treated unfairly.
"In my neighborhood Walmart, you have to go find somebody and then if they don't have the key, they have to find somebody, so you're just standing there waiting, sometimes for as long as 10 to 15 minutes," Bell said. The locked cases would include cold medicine, children's medicine, body wash and cosmetics.
Walmart spokesman Lorenzo Lopez told NBC News that the company is "sensitive to the issue and understands the concerns" and would be implementing the change in policy “as soon as possible.”
Photo: Getty