Retail businesses are hard to sustain. They’re even harder to sustain when so-called ‘customers’ are scamming and tricking you along the way. Welcome to the dark side of retail.
Having had extensive experience in retail in the past, I can vouch for the scams and tricks that a retail business has to deal with. 99% of the time, you’ll encounter people who simply are interested in what you have to offer. That 1%, however, is made up of petty criminals whose only purpose is to try and steal money from you in any way possible. They do this in a variety of ways, and you need to know how to protect against it.
Of course, the traditional way that criminals target your business is to steal from you. They’ll do this when you’re not looking, or when you’re particularly busy. To counteract this, you want at least one store representative hovering near to the front door. If this isn’t possible, install security scanners that will track if anything gets stolen. Be on the lookout for any tricks that might be played on you. For example, you might be asked to show someone a demonstration while their accomplice steals your goods. Always have someone else on the lookout and be aware of suspicious activity.
Sometimes, respectable citizens can transform into abominable characters at the prospect of money. A known scam that has taken place in the past is customers feigning injury in order to get a big payout. This is just one reason why it’s so important for you to comply with safety and health rules. If a customer slips on a wet patch in your store, you’re the one that will have to answer for it. They might target this as an opportunity to sue you, head to a slip and fall lawyer, and wait for the payout. They’re entitled to do it if they’ve been ‘hurt’ by something that was your fault! If you haven’t followed the right processes, you’re not going to have a leg to stand on.
There is a whole range of other tricks that you might come into contact with. It’s important to verify every bit of cash that comes your way to ensure it isn’t counterfeit. This is a crime that has become even more prominent in recent years, so you need to be on your guard. The ability to defend against lies will also prevent customers from taking advantage of your business. If you accept any old story that someone gives you, the word will get around. Then, when multiple people end up conning you out of $50 for a ‘goodwill’ gesture, your finances will start to suffer. There’s a delicate balance between being overly helpful and not helpful enough. In any case, you can’t allow customers to put your business in danger.
Keep in mind that these instances don’t come around all that often. The dark side of retail isn’t something you need to worry about! It’s a good reason to bolster your awareness skills and your store’s security, though.
Picture Link – pixabay.com
