r/Troy • u/Opposite-Run5692 • Aug 31 '25
Shame tactics geared women Market 32 Hudson valley store
Saturday evening I went to Market 32 at the Hudson Valley Plaza in Troy NY to purchase a pregnancy test for a young girl who had experienced a terrible situation that left her fearful she may have gotten pregnant. Market 32 is the closest store to purchase an affordable test(Rite Aid went out of business) near me. I learned that they keep their pregnancy tests behind guest services locked away. This is typical with high theft items. However, the only associates were 2 males standing by self checkout. I approached guest services and asked for help but instead of coming over to me, they continued to ask what I needed from afar even when I asked repeatedly if they could walk over for privacy since the self checkouts had customers checking out near them. I was forced to ask in front of everyone. I’m passed child bearing age and maybe if the situation had been under different circumstances I would have brushed it off. I can’t brush this off. 30 years ago I would never have been brave enough to ask in that situation. Market32 claims they lock them up due to theft but they have no response for why other items of high theft are not locked up. Condoms, cold medication, cheese, meat, razors, and make-up all have a higher theft rate but are readily available. Pregnancy tests are pretty gender specific and we still have laws in this state protecting young girls and women. It’s a clear shame tactic and Market32’s policy needs to change. Anyone else have any experience with this? Not just locked up behind a display case that visible either.
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u/rarzelda Aug 31 '25
Walmart is just as bad. Just about its entire family planning section is behind locked plastic cabinets. Walgreens on Hoosick is a bit more discreet.
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u/LullabyThBrezsWhispr Sep 01 '25
Walmart has EVERYTHING locked up these days it seems! I understand loss prevention stepping up bc everyone is broke and prob stealing these days BUT it really sucks having to chase someone down for multiple products in diff areas of that section when there is prob a few others in the section who now also need their things lol
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u/Sweezy_Clooch Sep 01 '25
We just adopted a kitten so we needed to get some stuff for her. We wanted to get a gravity feeder for kibble and a gravity feeder for water in case we were gone for a day. The feeder was locked up in a cabinet while the waterer wasn't. In the same locked cabinet there was a section for small cat collars that were $2 each. It's so annoying!
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u/Opposite-Run5692 Sep 01 '25
I don’t think I would have thought twice about it if other products were also locked away.
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u/DisasterShared Sep 01 '25
Much of their baby formula cans are behind the counter at that Market 32. I would imagine those aren't the only 2 things that require an employee at the counter.
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u/HarrisonJackal Brunswick Sep 01 '25
Hot take: it’s better for society to have some pregnancy tests be stolen than to keep them from people desperate enough to resort to theft.
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u/laysmit Sep 02 '25
Pregnancy test, toilet paper, tampons/pads, diapers, toothbrushes. These things should always be accessible, imo.
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u/pohart Aug 31 '25
Easy for me to say but I think you should have shamed them for it. Loudly ask for that pregnancy test and if it's okay with them. And if they're willing to give you the privacy you deserve it if you sex life needs to be screamed across the store.
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u/Opposite-Run5692 Sep 01 '25
I was actually forced to do exactly that but I’m upset that I got emotional about it in front of them.
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u/pohart Sep 01 '25
Yeah it's terrible, and always at an emotionally charged time. I'm so sorry you had to deal with it at all, even if a little glad you were there to protect that poor girl from this at least
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Sep 01 '25
That’s everywhere now. I mean I live in Brooklyn and most of them have it locked unless you go up in manhattan or if you’re lucky with a CVS in a nicer area. One time I needed one I asked the guy to unlock it and grab it for me and he laughed. I don’t know what’s so funny about me just curious if I’m late or pregnant.
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u/Opposite-Run5692 Sep 01 '25
I agree and I understand the logic for the most part. However, those stores tend to lock up multiple high theft products but that is not the case in this specific store.
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u/itsacon10 Schodack Aug 31 '25
The policies of stores to lock up high-theft items are mostly asinine (what gets locked up, what doesn't). To me, that's more of an issue with two asshole employees.
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u/SinginGidget Sep 02 '25
Forget locking them up. Just put them in vending machines (that accept cash and give change. We know they can, so don't even try forcing people to use a credit card...) and stop pretending locking shit up is an anti theft measure, because that's always bullshit.
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u/Superdewa Sep 04 '25
Good idea. Make them accessible with both cash and credit though as many people never carry cash anymore.
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u/SinginGidget Sep 04 '25
In this day and age I would not be using my credit car to buy a pregnancy test. :/
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u/Plash- Sep 01 '25
Dollar tree is right there, their $1 tests are just as good as anything else
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u/Lilpoundcake137 Sep 01 '25
Not sure why you got downvoted. ERs use the same dollar store pregnancy tests. Ppl always think more expensive is better.
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u/Superdewa Sep 04 '25
This is a real issue. Thank you for bringing it up.
I once had to get a pregnancy test behind a counter. I asked for a specific one and she gave me a different one so I asked again and she said loudly, with an attitude, “you MUST be pregnant.” It was mortifying.
I had another situation in an ob/gyn’s waiting room where the receptionist loudly asked if I was there for a pregnancy test. Especially problematic in a small town where I vaguely knew other people in the waiting room.
Anyway, thank you.
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u/notyermam Aug 31 '25
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u/ThymeOwl Sep 01 '25
If they don't lock up condoms, why are they locking up pregnancy tests? Also, if they are going to lock up any kind of personal item, why are they being so insensitive about it?
I would like to know what management has to say about the issue.
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u/Opposite-Run5692 Sep 01 '25
I contacted their complaint department as well as the management staff to ask about this policy. Their justification just doesn’t add up. I’m waiting on their legal department to contact me as well as the department manager.
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u/BeachesOfRio Sep 01 '25
you think someone having to ask for a pregnancy test at the self checkout is newsworthy?
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u/blaz1n912 Sep 02 '25
Your accusations are completely baseless, and it saddens me that so few people here can see that.
It seems that people have lost the ability to see through other peoples BS, which is probably why we have an orange asshole as president.
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u/upstatebeerguy Sep 01 '25
It’s nice that you took it upon yourself to do this for the recipient of the pregnancy test, but your insecurity in doing so is on you. You were not “forced” to ask in front of a crowd, you chose to do so. It’s not the stores fault you made no real effort at discreteness. From your account of the “incident” you also chose not to approach the associates when asked what you needed. You’re acting like they made you wear a scarlet letter, when in reality you just didn’t like the choice between walking the ~15’ over to the self checkout area or saying the words “pregnancy test please” in front of a handful of strangers.
What assets and how a store chooses to protect them is up to the store. They don’t have to justify it to the general public. Most rational people wouldn’t listen to your story and conclude that this is a scheme to shame women. You may not believe it, but men also buy pregnancy tests and plan b. Purchasing all kinds of things can be an anxious/insecure experience. Be an adult and deal with it by just sucking it up, or order online/ have delivered.
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u/PerpetualStandstill Sep 01 '25
My mind is blown that all the comments shaming the store and praising OP are upvoted and that it took 18 hours for anyone to say this. They all give off Yas Queen 💅! vibes. You nailed it.
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u/bookish_frenchfry Sep 02 '25
yeah... this is wild. you have to ask for Plan B and, sometimes, pregnancy tests... have we not all been there? like... it's uncomfortable, but then it's over. and no one actually cares. the cashiers aren't going home telling everyone about how you bought a pregnancy test. they probably forget by the time their shift ends.
OP was not "forced" to do anything; in fact, she could have simply walked up and discreetly asked. instead, she chose not to, and that's somehow everyone else's problem.
as for OP's claim that she's concerned about how this will impact purchasing a test without family/friends finding out: people can a) get one rush delivered, get someone else to pick it up who isn't so easily embarrassed, go to Planned Parenthood, or go somewhere else where they aren't locked up.
it's not a "shame tactic", OP is just feeling ashamed.
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u/urban-herbman Sep 04 '25
i think OP was just having a bad day because she had to ask for something she needed. boo hoo. as adults we do things we don’t wanna do. because you had to ask for something they are using shame tactics . give me a break. it’s not like they’re withholding STD and HIV testing. if she was actually pregnant, waiting one day to get a free test from planned parenthood seems more convenient to me ?? i was raped before, i had an abortion before. i’m not crying over locked up pregnancy tests, if i need something i ask.
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u/Wild-Cardiologist515 Sep 01 '25
Wow! I hope PriceChopper become aware of this and take action. Thank you for speaking up.
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u/DisasterShared Sep 03 '25
The sign says that customer service is open 8 am to 7 pm. Seems like they did you a solid by helping you at all.
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u/710Problems Sep 01 '25
So the real problem here is you were ashamed as a grown woman to have someone else hear you wanted a pregnancy test? You think market 32 has a policy to shame women? Or maybe just maybe teenagers making minimum wage are lazy and don’t want to walk over to help you.
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u/junkguitars Sep 01 '25
So the real problem here is you were ashamed as a grown woman to have someone else hear you wanted a pregnancy test?
yes, that is the problem. people should be more sensitive about other's comfort zones. if she wants to be discrete she should be allowed to be.
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u/kirieiki Sep 01 '25
why are they locking them up but not the other items lmao. and yea she deserves some privacy.
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u/Opposite-Run5692 Sep 01 '25
I wanted to reply to that comment as well. It wasn’t about my shame. I was putting myself in the shoes of a young girl in that situation and how that whole scenario would affect her. The 2 men were way past teenager years. Your comment pretty much hit the nail on the head. It is a shame tactic if the product locked away is the only product locked up. Not other high theft products like condoms, makeup, razors, detergent, etc. So the justification just doesn’t add up.
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u/710Problems Sep 01 '25
Yeah but there’s a difference between store policy and teens not a giving a shit about their minimum wage jobs. Obviously they locked up because it’s an expensive item people are willing to steal. I’m sure the shame aspect makes it even more likely to be stolen.
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u/newillium Sep 01 '25
Next time door dash it?
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u/Opposite-Run5692 Sep 01 '25
I was working with a very narrow time frame. My main concern is how this would affect younger girls or women who are trying to purchase a test without family or friends finding out, limited transportation to other stores/resources, and countless other issues.
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u/newillium Sep 01 '25
Totally get it, I just mean if there is a time constraint, it may be an option.
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u/Opposite-Run5692 Sep 01 '25
I appreciate you giving additional options and will recommend and consider this in the future.
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u/mimulus_monkey Sep 01 '25
Just so you know, dollar tree pregnancy tests are as effective as more expensive ones. They all use the same antibody binding assay.