Retail Shrinkage caused by an Honest Thief – Atlanta Georgia

Retail shrinkage is not just the loss a business incurs from the merchandise that is shoplifted by customers.

I recently interviewed an employee that was accused of underringing – intentionally allowing a customer to leave her register without paying for all of the merchandise.  This cashier underrang for just one customer, a friend of hers, and it added up quick:  nearly $1000 in less than three months.

The sad thing is that the loss could have easily been higher.  What if she had multiple friends that she was doing this for? This type of retail loss is common place, and your profits fall victim.

Combating retail shrinkage has to be a priority for the business owner that wants to be profitable.

The amusing thing about this case is that the cashier did not feel that she did anything wrong.  She explained that she did not profit from this “theft”, and that she only did it because her friend asked. She assured me that she would never steal.  She admitted she could just not tell her friend “no” when the friend asked for this favor.

Unfortunately, this is not an unusual story.

Employees that cause retail shrinkage can often justify the loss that they are creating.  And that justification often sounds bizarre to us honest folk, but it is a justification nonetheless.  Justification that can overshadow any guilt or regret an employee might feel for creating a retail loss for your business.

For more information about retail loss contact us at retail shrinkage or call 1.770.426.256. Atlanta Georgia