Pricing as a Fraud or Theft prevention tool

Good idea here about using pricing as a fraud or theft prevention tool for retailers in a face-to-face trading environment also below.

One of the easiest fiddles to stop is a simple pricing issue, Weatherspoons  have there prices end in 2,3,4, 6,7,8  to make sure each sale has to have change, if you sell a drink at 2.50 don't be surprised if the cashier when asked for two, then given a fiver does not bother to ring it into the till. Customer is happy, tills all balance, is just the stock and the profit that is missing.You should encourage customers to expect a receipt, even though this can be annoying at times it will save you money.


This incorporates two ideas, one to use pricing as a mechanism to ensure that change is always due. So for example if total amount is going to be £$5, £$10 then the customer will not be expecting change and therefore will walk away. This allows the cashier to not even ring up the amount or ring it up and void the transaction, in both cases the cash drawer does not open and the cashier can pocket the money. Generating change, customers will even wait for 1p/c ensures the transaction is rung through the system.

Some retailers, such as charity shops use pricing to distinguish product types, e.g. donated product versus bought in goods.

In addition it encourages customers to expect a receipt, which will only be generated if the transaction is completed on the point of sale kit.

Some retailers even go as far as to offer a reward to the customer if they do not get a receipt. It enforces the policy of receipt giving and also when customers come back without a receipt you can re-iterate your refund policy that a receipt is given and therefore required for refunds. Refunds recalled on a POS systems from the original receipt restrict the opportunity for staff fraud when handling refunds.

Do you enforce such policies?