Grocery Store Advisory Reveals One-Third of Individuals Have Previously Engaged in Shoplifting - Approximately one third of individuals admit to illegally acquiring business advice.
In a press conference held in Berlin, Germany, Stefan Genth, CEO of the German Retail Association (HDE), expressed concerns about the rising issue of organized retail crime, particularly the phenomenon known as "advice theft." This practice, according to Genth, involves customers seeking advice in brick-and-mortar stores and then purchasing the corresponding product online after price comparison.
A representative YouGov survey commissioned by the German Press Agency revealed that one in three consumers in Germany have engaged in this behaviour. However, the survey did not provide information on the geographical distribution of these consumers across Germany, nor did it disclose the total number of respondents or the margin of error. Moreover, the survey did not specify the type of products involved in this behaviour.
Genth emphasized that this behaviour is the basis of free and fair competition. He also mentioned that the reverse phenomenon occurs more frequently, where customers inform themselves online and then buy in-store. Genth suggests that customers decide for themselves where they want to inform themselves and where they want to shop.
The HDE views "advice theft" as part of a serious problem that is challenging current law enforcement and legal frameworks. Genth stated that it's painful when customers seek advice in a store and then purchase online after price comparison. He believes that many retailers are frustrated with the legal system due to low conviction rates for shoplifting offenses, leading them to avoid filing police reports and instead impose exclusion orders banning known thieves from stores.
Genth warned that the lax legal consequences have emboldened criminals, with some shoplifters brazenly stealing goods worth large sums and increasing violence against staff. This situation could necessitate retailers putting products behind locked cases, similar to security measures in the United States.
Nine percent of respondents fully support this behaviour, while almost half of the respondents (21 percent completely, 25 percent rather) reject it. Thirty-four percent of the respondents were undecided about the issue.
[1] This reference is to a potential future scenario where retailers might have to implement security measures similar to those in the United States due to the increasing issue of organized retail crime.
Community policy must address the increasing issue of organized retail crime, particularly "advice theft," to ensure fair competition in businesses. Vocational training could be provided to retail staff to handle such situations effectively and comply with community policy, utilizing technology for price comparison and identifying fraudulent activities.
Given the financial implications for retailers, it would be prudent to implement vocational training programs in this regard, addressing the specific needs of the retail industry and providing solutions tailored to the challenges posed by organized retail crime.
