Analysis Overs and Shorts Report
Overs and shorts in well run stores average between 0.1% and 0.3% of store sales. In less well run stores it can be 0.5% or more. Having done the daily reconciliation, it’s important to analyse the results. Here’s some examples of checks to make:
- Look at today’s report and identify any overs or shorts of concern. Note which register and if any one store colleague was doing more transactions on that one.
- If a register shortage is higher than your running average check the same day every recent week in your history file to see whether there is a pattern.
- Note who was on duty today and check previous days that person was working to see if there is a correlation.
- If you have store CCTV, check the camera focused on each register during times that raise your suspicion to see if you can pick up any insights.
- If a register balances exactly too often that is suspicious. It means someone has figured out a way to bypass the system.
- If you cannot identify suspicious transactions and there are no instances of anyone ringing a No Sale key, someone may have found out how to open the cash draw without pressing a register transaction key. Some systems have a way to achieve this in case of emergencies, such as a store power failure.
- If sales today are suspiciously low look at the number of return and when the bulk of those returns took place. Was it while you were away from the sales floor for some other purpose like checking competitor stores or attending training?
Minimizing these kinds of losses is important to store performance. Contact me if you want more detail on steps to take to reduce the full range of store losses.
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Posted by Brian Hume
14th March 2025
