An IGA in Brisbane has taken a new approach to tackle theft by ripping out all their self-serve checkout machines.

With retail crime costing Australian businesses up to $9 billion dollars annually, the IGA has left shoppers with one option – to go through a checkout operator.

Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour at the QUT Business School Gary Mortimer told Oliver Peterson on Perth Live although a divisive conversation, the stores theft has dropped 50% after making the switch.

“The research actually shows some of the reasons why we prefer them is that control over the transaction…but there’s certainly always the case of having someone there to meet and greet and acknowledge you,” Mortimer said.

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