I wonder how much copycat behavior goes on here.
Here’s what I mean. Some guy is kinda, sorta honest. He’ll stand in line. He’ll pay for his goods. But then he sees - and hears of - other people getting away with not paying.
So maybe he decides he’s a sucker for paying.
These stores have already lost customers because:
1. The store raised prices to cover their losses of stolen merchandise. (Stores can only raise them so far. See #2)
2. The store lowered compensation for employees, making for terrible customer service.
3. The customers got sick and tired of going to the store only to find out they were out of stock because the store replenishment systems didn't send replacement items to the store since the missing items were never scanned out at the register and still show as available stock on the shelf.