Submitted 3 weeks ago by Davriellelouna@lemmy.world to unitedkingdom@feddit.uk
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/sep/06/phone-retailers-lock-doors-tackle-rising-thefts
I can’t quite see whether they’re addressing the outright theft of handsets; or the increasing amount of thefts of the infinitely more valuable staff handheld terminals.
It’s a shame either way. I suppose an answer would be to stun or disable all phones until they are activated at a point of sale, rather than the opposite way round.
It still doesn’t mitigate the attack vector of a corrupt employee though.
Could go like Argos, products all out the back, pictures or terminal bolted to the wall that can be used to browse products.
Yes it looks worse than products on display but I would go to Argos over having to knock to get into a locked shop.
Jrockwar@feddit.uk 3 weeks ago
When the iPhone X was released (2017), the £1000 pricing was considered ridiculous. Most flagships at the time cost about £600 (this is what the 2016 iPhone 7 cost at launch, with the iPhone 7 Plus having a starting price of £720).
Obviously this didn’t stop Apple from selling them like hotcakes and establishing an immediate +30% increase of the flagship smartphone prices.
Today, a Galaxy Z Fold starts at £1800. This is a +146% increase over the 2017 release price of the Galaxy Note 7.
According to the bank of England, we’ve seen a total inflation of 34% in the 2017-2025, while phones have increased their prices by >100%.
So yeah, no surprise there. As phones keep rising in value, they are going to continue becoming an increasingly desirable target for thefts. A gym bag full of smartphone boxes can easily have over £20k at retail prices, and easily fetch £10k when sold at a hefty discount, but a smartphone store doesn’t have the security measures of a jewelry store. I can see how it’s attractive to thieves.
rayquetzalcoatl@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Who on earth is paying £1800 minimum for a bloody mobile phone??? That’s insane!
Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
People that think £83 a month is something they can afford to pay so they are easily pushed to spend more and more. Meanwhile I am paying £4 a month.
andrewta@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I don’t even pay you that much for a gaming tower computer. Yeah I agree it insane. There’s no way I pay that for a simple phone.
Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
Well, the most expensive possible phone has increased in price. You can still buy cheap phones. If anything electronics are one of the more inflation resistant products. You can buy a new laptop today for less than a couple decades ago, and it will be a lot faster.