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Fry's Electronics Going Out of Business?
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windsmurf:

--- Quote from: Homer J Simpson on September 27, 2019, 03:49:58 am ---

Interesting video on self checkout theft

--- End quote ---

Many businesses have found that increase in theft is more than offset by lower costs of self-checkout vs a hired cashier.

Guitar Center let go all of their receipt inspectors after analysis showed they lose more money paying for the extra employee than they lose to theft occurring due to lack of a receipt inspector.

On top of that, customer surveys always reveal they're more satisfied shopping at a location without receipt/bag inspectors. 
Sal Ammoniac:

--- Quote from: windsmurf on September 27, 2019, 07:42:44 am ---Fry's is the only store I know that has reserved Police parking space right in front of the store.

--- End quote ---

That's a reflection of Fry's changing customer base. For its first decade or so Fry's was the domain of the nerd. Now it's the domain of Joe Sixpack and other similar denizens looking for cheap Chinese gadgets. The IQ level of their customers has probably decreased by 50 points over the years.
Sal Ammoniac:

--- Quote from: Homer J Simpson on September 27, 2019, 03:49:58 am ---Interesting video on self checkout theft
--- End quote ---

Yes, very interesting.

Self checkouts used to be a common way for underage kids to buy booze. California closed that loophole recently and all booze purchases must now go through a live cashier. Some people have no qualms about gaming the system, even people who are otherwise perfectly law abiding. Example: one woman I know sees no problem with buying organic produce and then ringing it up as standard produce at the self checkout.
james_s:

--- Quote from: djacobow on September 26, 2019, 02:57:18 pm ---I don't throw a fit about it, but I don't like it. The problem is that for the store, shoplifting is a problem, but statistically, very few customers shoplift. So they take action to reduce loss by essentially treating all their customers as potential shoplifters and asking them to prove that they're not. Do you really not understand why people might resent that?

--- End quote ---

No I really don't understand. All customers *are* potential shoplifters, it's a huge and pervasive problem, why shouldn't they assume that I might be one too and check? I mean it's a simple receipt check, not a body cavity search or patdown and I would bet it is a significant deterrent. Like I said, mountains out of mole hills, it's borderline mental illness to get upset about it.

It's no different than having to show ID to buy certain things, to enter certain establishments, to rent a car or to take out a loan. Most people are who they say they are but enough are not that it's prudent to verify. It's not an accusation of wrongdoing or deception, it's just common sense to trust but verify because we all know that every human is a potential liar/thief/etc. Anyone in doubt of this, just leave your wallet unattended for 5 minutes in any public place and see if it's still where you left it when you return. I'd bet that more than 80% of the time it's either gone or any cash it contained has been liberated.

I will add that I do occasionally become annoyed by receipt checking at places like Costco but it's strictly because there will be a big queue of people trying to exit the store with their purchases while just one or two checkers are carefully inspecting the receipts while chatting with customers. At these times I think come on, get on with it, just glance over the cart for any big ticket items and call it good.
Sal Ammoniac:

--- Quote from: james_s on September 27, 2019, 03:34:08 pm ---No I really don't understand. All customers *are* potential shoplifters, it's a huge and pervasive problem, why shouldn't they assume that I might be one too and check? I mean it's a simple receipt check, not a body cavity search or patdown and I would bet it is a significant deterrent. Like I said, mountains out of mole hills, it's borderline mental illness to get upset about it.
--- End quote ---

I don't like these checks so I vote with my wallet. I don't shop at places like Fry's, Best Buy, and Costco that have receipt checks. There are plenty of places that don't. Fry's is a laughing stock these days anyway, so the only time I go there is just to see how much further they've fallen. It's actually rather sad because I can remember when Fry's was a good place to buy techie stuff.
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