Theft Prevention

[Aunt Mavis]

If you’re anything like me (fat chance, I know) when you want something at a hardware store (for example) you want to grab it and split. Self-checkout is a dream for me because I’m not there for social interaction at all. Nowadays things of value are locked up just like the gold at Ft Knox. I understand the idea, that’s not the issue. I wonder about the loss of profits from people that just walk away like me, finding help can be almost impossible at times. I’m reminded of a great Army surplus store that I used to frequent, I’d just walk down aisles and grab. One day I went in and almost everything was locked and the only employee was checking folks out at the cash register. I bounced and never returned. Of course Amazon loves this business strategy because a few clicks on your phone and the item is on the way. So what percentage of profits at Home Depot for example are lost from theft and the difficult to impossible figure to factor in, lost from people that say “screw this, I’m out of here?”

 

[Paco Dennis]

We were in the home improvement business about 35 years ago. We got our equipment, tools, and building material at lumber yards and hardware stores. We could get our stuff quickly because we knew were everything was, and it wouldn't take an hour to find stuff and check out. Now we have Lowe''s and home Depot in town. I do not like going there for anything...tools, lumber, nails, screws. The same with Westlakes that has been in business for 40 years...but now they have minimal staff to help you locate what you need when they carry 50,000 products, and they charge 20% more for their merchandise. I am glad we got out of that business before the corporations took over!!

 

[Aunt Mavis]

The lady I spoke to today said no confronting thieves by employees but, I’m not sure I as a customer wouldn’t take action. Perhaps not recommended but so is swimming within an hour of eating. I ignored that one almost daily.