So, how do you keep employees from ripping you off?

[ssampier]

I don't know if anyone mentioned it, but make sure you audit job duties with overlapping responsibilities. What I mean is a person should not be able to wring up purchases and perform your accounting or open the safe and wring up purchases. Some companies require mandatory vacation time so they can "check-up" on their work.

I don't have a problem with security cameras, but it seems more of an "after the fact" loss prevention (evidence of their crime).

 

[Harmon]

I'd advise sticking with online. The place that closed up last year here in Gainesville made a lot more doing online sales than in the actual store.

Do both. Have a store and sell on line. Make money from two fronts.

Also I would suggest some other sales items that can be used in gaming or is used by gamers. Sell some drafting items (for dungeon mapping, but cheap enough draftsmen might come in), or computer games (most gamers like computer games), or something. Our local shop always seems to be on the verge of closing down because of lack of the cash flow.

 

[WayneLigon]

I sure as hell wouldn't work at your friends store if he treated me like a criminal. Is it even legal to spy on your own employees?

It depends on several things but generally as long as they are informed that cameras exist, yes. It probably actually means they're told they will be monitored, and they're free to refuse the job if they don't like those conditions.

44% of inventory shrinkage in the US comes from employee theft. In Canada, it's 33%-40% of all losses (Retail Council of Canada, 2003 report). The owner has every expectation not to have people walk off with his stuff. It would be nice not to treat employees like potential criminals. Of course, it would be easier if so many of them were not criminals....

 

[Bront]

Cameras. They are just as good at preventing customer crime as they are preventing employee crime. You don't need to be the only one with access to the cash, but you should the the only one (or one of few) who have access to the tapes, just in case. It will lower your insurance rates, as well as protect you on both sides of the counter.

Also, keep the employees happy. Give them a discount or something that rewards them for working beyond just a paycheck (Maybe free gamespace if you have it in the store, a discount or special coupons can be good, or even encouraging them to flip through the books on occasion while working so they can make recomendations as to what they read), and they'll feel good. Many employee thefts are a result of employees feeling underappreciated as well as simple greed or dishonesty.