Ryan McFarland

Yesterday was the first day that the bike shop had skateboards and accessories.  We also think yesterday was the first time something was stolen from the bike shop.  At a minimum, three sets of skateboard wheels disappeared.  They are moved to a better spot now but we’re still out $60 or about $120 at retail.  We made $600.  So we had a 10% loss from theft just in that one day.  One fifth of our income for the day was lost to sticky fingers.

Cena dealt with this the first few days that Lux opened.  She had all but one of a particular style of thong stolen.

Here’s the painful part.  Stealing from Cena is actually taking her money.  Her retirement is invested in that business.  Every thong stolen is coming right out of her pocket.  Thefts have to be worth more than $100 each or total more than 10% of your gross income in order to be deducted from taxes.  At the bike shop Mike and I have been putting our own money in to pay the bills lately.  So we have also just had kids reach into our pockets and take from us.

These stores are not giant faceless corporations.  This behavior really sucks.  Cena installed a surveillance system just before we left for Vietnam and it seems to have helped deter the pantie thieves.  But that’s a few hundred dollars she could have spent on inventory.