Should you observe any of the following activities, there is a good possibility the vendor may be stealing from your store.

The vendor:

• Gives out samples. By establishing friendly relations, the vendor may be trying to get you to" relax" your normal vendor receiving policies.

• Is extremely friendly. Same as above.

• Has a helper. Having a helper can make it easier to disguise theft activities.

• Delivers during rush hours. Makes it easier for "mistakes" to occur during check-in; Food Mart personnel are less observant of vendor activities.

• Delivers late at night (7 PM or after) A manager is not likely to be on duty at this time of day; vendor could take advantage of an employee who doesn't know proper check-in procedures.

• Unloads his/her truck on side away from store. Could indicate that he/she doesn't want you to see what he/she is doing.

• Parks his/her truck out of view of inside. Same as above.

• Encourages you to check his/her product out-side the store. Vendor can "reload" some of the merchandise back on the truck before bringing it into the store.

• Grabs anyone to check him/her in. Vendor may want to take advantage of an employee who doesn't know proper check-in procedures.

• Does not open boxes for you to check inside. May indicate that the order has not been completely filled.

• Brings in fresh merchandise before working the credit. Could mean vendor is using your merchandise to fill the order.

• Swaps-out merchandise. Vendor might be swapping out different merchandise (eg., he takes out 16 oz. cartons of milk but gives you 8 oz. cartons).

• Counts the product himself/herself. Allows him/her to make "mistakes" while counting.

• Uses a non-systematic method of counting the merchandise. Same as above.

• Holds the invoice while you count. Gives vendor the opportunity to give you the wrong quantities.

• Has you check the invoice on the move. Makes it difficult for you to accurately count the merchandise.

• Leaves descriptions off invoice. Allows vendor to deliver lower-priced goods and pocket the difference.

• Leaves unit costs off invoice Allows vendor to charge higher prices for goods and pocket the difference.

• Asks you for the invoice back after you sign it. Allows vendor to make changes to the invoice.

• Gives you the carbon copy invoice. Same as above .

• Puts credits on bottom of invoice. Credits should always be handled as a separate transaction.

• Gives you verbal cost increases. Allows vendor to pocket the difference.

• Spreads order over two invoices. Vendor could be charging you on both invoices for the same item.

• Carries his/her empty boxes out. Allows him/her to "hide" stolen merchandise.

• Lingers or loiters in the store. Vendor may be waiting for the right moment to steal merchandise.

* This list has been complied from a variety of sources including our own observation.

Note: Some vendors will occasionally error to the benefit of the dealer just to throw them off guard. Remember the honest mistake can work both ways to the vendor's advantage.