San Diego under lock down

Seems that the condom locking was also happening in San Diego...

Pharmacies--too much autonomy?

I know this isn't about condoms being locked up, but it's definitely related to pharmacies, and I'm shocked that as a rule this pharmacy doesn't sell birth control of any kind.

To see the article, click here.

CVS--your money comes from your pharmacy, not your condoms

One reason commonly cited as the reason that CVS feels the need to lock up its condoms is that they are commonly stolen. Well, we've already refuted that argument, but here's another portion of that piece that...

"About 70 percent of the revenue at CVS/pharmacy is generated from its pharmacy — it fills one in seven prescriptions in the United States and one in five within its own markets."

Interesting...still no mention of condoms...

Here's the whole article.

Infant formula, but not condoms

As it turns out, there ARE some really expensive things that are being stolen from CVS....infant formula being one of them. Containers of Similac are being stolen in some CVS stores and at prices of $13.99-$75 a can, this makes perfect sense. They're high price items, easy to steal for personal use or resell on the street. However, condoms don't even come CLOSE to the same price bracket as these. And as we know from my previous post, are not stolen as often as Similac cans.

Looks like the argument that condoms are being locked up because of theft is wearing thin...

Top 50 Shoplifted Items...

Organized Retail Theft
Most Frequently Shoplifted Items in Rank Order

Advil tablet 50 ct
Advil tablet 100 ct
Aleve caplet 100 ct
EPT Pregnancy Test single
Gillette Sensor 10 ct
Kodak 200 24 exp
Similac w/iron powder - case
Similac w/iron powder - single can
Preparation H 12 ct
Primatene tablet 24 ct
Sudafed caplet 24 ct
Tylenol caplet 100 ct
Advil caplet 100 ct
Aleve caplet 50 ct
Correctol tablet 60 ct
Excedrin tablet 100 ct
Gillette Sensor/Excel 10 ct
Gillette Sensor 15 ct
Monistat 3
Preparation H Ointment 1 oz
Similac w/iron concentrate 13 oz
Tavist-D decongestant tablet 16 ct
Trojan ENZ 12 ct
Tylenol gelcap 50 ct
Tylenol gelcap 100 ct
Tylenol tablet 100 ct
Vagistat 1
Advil caplet 50 ct
Advil gelcap 50 ct
Advil gelcap 24 ct
Advil tablet 50 ct
Aleve tablet 50 ct
Anacin tablet 100 ct
Centrum tablet 60 ct
DayQuil liquicaps 20 ct
Dimetap tablet 12 ct
Duracell AA 4 pk
Ecotrin tablet 100 ct
Ecotrin tablet 60 ct
Energizer AA 4 pk
Excedrin tablet 50 ct
Femstat 3 app
Gillette Atra 10 ct
Gyne-Lotrimin 3 app
Monistat 7
Motrin caplet 50 ct
Motrin tablet 24 ct
Oil of Olay 4 oz
Preparation H Ointment 2 oz
Schick Tracer FX 10 ct
Gillette Sensor/Women 10 ct
Sudafed tablet 24 ct
Visine drops 1 oz

The only condoms on the list...Trojan ENZ 12 ct, comes in at a measly 23....but correct me if I'm wrong...the top 22 items on this list are for the most part NOT locked up in CVS stores...now that doesn't make sense to me at all.

CVS Exposed: 6 Dupont Circle/ 1637 "P" Street, NW vs. 320 40th Street, NE

Dupont Circle:













It makes sense that a $189 dollar fertility test would be behind a counter if loss prevention was in mind- it is nearly $200!!! That makes "cents"

Then head on over to Northeast. . . .
Business as usual. . . click boxes and lock & key for "THOSE" people as one employee at a CVS stated.














More loss prevention. . . which again makes sense- Oil of Olay® and preventing AIDS two very separate issues.

CVS Exposed: 1100 New Jersey Ave, SE or "Navy Yard" CVS vs. 1500 "K" Street, NW or the "White House" CVS

As you might have guessed by now (particularly located by the White House) the CVS by the White House:

Navy Yard. . . . green line to Branch Avenue, Southeast:











But what I found that was the most disturbing was that the red bar at the bottom where it "instructs" you how to use the click box, it can also fold up to say the following:

SEE CASHIER FOR ASSISTANCE

So basically when this bar is folded up you cannot "push" to click the box open- I would not have known that. . . I did "see the cashier for assistance" and he was totally put out. . he said" oh well that is not suppose to be up!"



My basic opinion is. . if it wasn't suppose to be "up" then why was it placed on the box in the first place? Again another barrier to make condoms less accessible.

At least at the Navy Yard location the pregnancy tests were not under lock and key. . . we thank you for that CVS!

People will talk if they know what to say

Here are some more links to articles that were written about the issue--and only only in DC, bur around the country too!

DC Health Officials Say Condom Lock-Up Could Create Barrier to Access, Discourage Use

Students Make the Case to Bring Condoms from Behind the Locks at CVS

Condoms Get Their Own Protection

And it's happening in Milwaukee too!

And Arizona...

It has to stop...

Condom locking in the Washington Post

So, like I said, this campaign has been around for a while. We've staged demonstrations outside of CVS stores and the city council, and we have tried to get CVS to talk to us about WHY they keep locking up condoms.

In order for this issue to stop, MORE people need to know that it's happening. More people need to be upset and complain. And MORE people need to let CVS know that we are not going to allow this kind of discrimination to continue in our city.

Here's a story that was published in the Washington Post about it in 2006. Just need a few more dozen articles like this and we'll be golden...or maybe an appearance on Oprah...

Saving Lives PSA

Watch it again and again:

Save Lives: Free the Condoms PSA

Spread it around...

A real vs imagined health disparity...

So, the CDC agrees with us...there's a real health disparity with insurance.

CVS Exposed: 2530 Virginia Avenue or "The Watergate" CVS vs. 661 Pennsylvania Avenue SE or "Eastern Market"

vs.

2530 Virginia Avenue, NW: Ward 2
Serves the infamous Watergate and The George Washington University- in fact it is the ONLY grocery store in the entire area. . . is CVS claiming that College students don't steal?
vs.
661 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE: Ward 6
Eastern Market

At the Watergate this shampoo and conditioner is being sold:

Why aren't these items in a "Click box?"
It seems "easy" to steal. . . managers of all stores for good reasons have expressed to me that shampoo's, conditioners, body washes, face creams are the hot commodity . . . looks like we need a PRICE CHECK ON AISLE TWO!

Then a short metro ride to Southeast DC you can find this. . .

CVS claims that even though they put their condoms in these click boxes that people still have easy access to condoms. . . .
ACCESS??? Maybe. . .
Well Stocked?? Clearly NOT!!!!!

A little video of the "click box" I know I like to bring attention to myself when I am buying personal items- especially if I am young, embarrassed, or illiterate . . .

CVS Exposed: 2240 "M" Street NW or the "Ritz Carlton" CVS vs. Road Island Avenue NE CVS

vs.

Ritz Carlton, NW: Ward 2
White Neighborhood
vs.
Road Island Avenue, NE: Ward 5
Black Neighborhood
Coincidence?

Stay tuned

We're gearing up for a great fall of activism and condom free-ing...so stay tuned!

CVS Exposed: "U" Street CVS vs. "Howard" CVS . . . just 3 blocks down the street

For the 3rd year a coalition and dedicated students are determined to free the condoms from CVS's that lock up condoms in to put it bluntly ONLY in poor, black neighborhoods in the District. If they don't literally lock them up CVS makes it pretty difficult/annoying/embarrassing to purchase the condoms. A team of 11 women are set out to say "Mr. Tom Ryan, CEO of CVS unlock your condoms!!!!!" It is amoral for a company who preaches that they "give back" to their community:

CVS Caremark giving programs are widespread. They reach infants and the elderly. They help students and mothers, children and grandparents. They engage people from all walks of life in almost every community we serve. Our programs are developed and carefully focused in order to reflect the diversity of the communities in which our stores and facilities are located. With a primary focus on children with disabilities and healthcare for the uninsured, CVS Caremark has become an active participant in helping people live better lives through enhanced healthcare services, improved approaches to education, and healthier communities in which to live.

CVS Corporate Website

Interesting mission statement especially in regards to DC where the HIV/AIDS rate is at the very least alarming- DC Department of Health HIV/AIDS Statistics 2007 one would think CVS would at the very least make buying condoms as easy as possible. Store associates even told me that in their various stores they loose the most money in face creams/wash/body wash NOT condoms. .
Here is an example of a store on "U" Street in DC that is not locked up:

Walk down a few blocks to the CVS by Howard Univesity and this is what you will find:



What was interesting was that the Jumbo Condom pack of 36 was not in a "Click Box" which you will be able to watch below is loud, embarrassing and frankly if two educated grad students had a hard time figuring out (and to be honest- I still can't- it was my friend that finally mastered it) how to use it- it seems like others might as well. It also got jammed up fairly easy! I love the image above

"SECURITY CAMERA-
RECORDING IN PROCESS"
Is that suppose to be some kind of threat? I didn't see that over by where they had the febreeze wet jet pads locked up
(which leaves more questions than answers. . . )