LOL! I'm just wrapping up a five-year research project (to include being a cashier at a big-box chain store). It started out with wanting to know what are we paying for that we don't know we're paying for.

One of the BIGGEST AH-HA's?

Loss prevention is a show — for show's sake. Companies know how to

a) write-off shrinkage and

b) pass losses onto consumers and tax payers.

Basically - loss = blank check. No billion-dollar chain store is loosing ANY money to shoplifters.

These amazon stores charge more BECAUSE they're already aware of hedging costs to cover theft.