How do stores with self-check out lanes ensure that all products bought are accounted for?

Question

Other than an employee or two standing by, it seems to be riding on customer trust. Wouldn’t a company want to only have cashier lanes, so they can ensure that all products taken from a store are bought fairly?

In: 25

Answer 1

A few things to discourage theft, such as employees watching customers, cameras at each checkout monitoring the customer, scales to detect that an item was scanned and placed in the bagging area, etc. Stores also account for any theft by raising prices, so the customers who are paying for their items are making up for those who aren’t.