4 ms·

This article states as much: “Costco loses only 0.1% of revenue to theft annually. For context, that's 90% lower than Walmart's shrink rate.”

copperx 3y ago
I have a hard time understanding how someone can steal something from Costco. Sure, it's not impossible, but it seems really hard. First, because of the size of the products themselves. It's hard to conceal them. And small items come in blister packs which are hard to open even at home. Second, because they have cameras and have almost every shopper's photo and address on file. Third, because they have the receipt checkers at the exit. I'd love to know how theft happens.
- johnnyanmac 3y ago
  If I had to take a guess, it's more about policy than "they don't catch them". I doubt it's someone coming in, taking a TV and walking out. It's more like if an item or 2 "sneak in" and the checker just lets them go. It'd cost more money in congesting the line, grabbing security, etc. to contest that item than it would be to just let them go. They don't want to press charges on someone who spent $100 because they wanted to sneak some $15 pills by. All stores expect X% theft anyway and build it into the price of their item (or secure it better if it's a small, often stolen good, like tech). It's probably a cultural choice, though. Meanwhile, the Walmart down the street is much more aggressive on that stuff.
  - sneak 3y ago
    Victims don't decide who is charged with theft. "Pressing charges" isn't a thing.
    - iinnPP 3y ago
      Depends on where you live. Seeing as Costco exists in Ontario, Canada. Where citizens with knowledge of a crime can use private prosecution. https://www.ontario.ca/page/private-prosecutions https://www.ontario.ca/page/private-prosecutions
- sneak 3y ago
  Receipt checkers have no ability to prevent thieves from stealing.
- koz1000 3y ago
  Given how people stuff their carts, seems like you could easily bury something expensive at the bottom. If the store is super busy the receipt checkers probably won't disassemble your whole cart.
  - copperx 3y ago
    But how? Run to the warehouse again after the cashier has charged you and bring an item and sneak it into the cart? Sounds very hard to do. The only plausible thing is to steal at the self-checkout, but the receipts are different and cause more scrutiny at the door.
- philwelch 3y ago
  Sometimes they use the fire exits: https://youtu.be/jPgsOMjEJ4o https://youtu.be/jPgsOMjEJ4o

copperx 3y ago

I have a hard time understanding how someone can steal something from Costco. Sure, it's not impossible, but it seems really hard. First, because of the size of the products themselves. It's hard to conceal them. And small items come in blister packs which are hard to open even at home. Second, because they have cameras and have almost every shopper's photo and address on file. Third, because they have the receipt checkers at the exit. I'd love to know how theft happens.

johnnyanmac 3y ago
If I had to take a guess, it's more about policy than "they don't catch them". I doubt it's someone coming in, taking a TV and walking out. It's more like if an item or 2 "sneak in" and the checker just lets them go. It'd cost more money in congesting the line, grabbing security, etc. to contest that item than it would be to just let them go. They don't want to press charges on someone who spent $100 because they wanted to sneak some $15 pills by. All stores expect X% theft anyway and build it into the price of their item (or secure it better if it's a small, often stolen good, like tech). It's probably a cultural choice, though. Meanwhile, the Walmart down the street is much more aggressive on that stuff.
- sneak 3y ago
  Victims don't decide who is charged with theft. "Pressing charges" isn't a thing.
  - iinnPP 3y ago
    Depends on where you live. Seeing as Costco exists in Ontario, Canada. Where citizens with knowledge of a crime can use private prosecution. https://www.ontario.ca/page/private-prosecutions https://www.ontario.ca/page/private-prosecutions
sneak 3y ago
Receipt checkers have no ability to prevent thieves from stealing.
koz1000 3y ago
Given how people stuff their carts, seems like you could easily bury something expensive at the bottom. If the store is super busy the receipt checkers probably won't disassemble your whole cart.
- copperx 3y ago
  But how? Run to the warehouse again after the cashier has charged you and bring an item and sneak it into the cart? Sounds very hard to do. The only plausible thing is to steal at the self-checkout, but the receipts are different and cause more scrutiny at the door.
philwelch 3y ago
Sometimes they use the fire exits: https://youtu.be/jPgsOMjEJ4o https://youtu.be/jPgsOMjEJ4o