Hacker News Reader

I have heard from employees at supermarkets that shrinkage with self checkout is elevated to the point it does not really matter.

You mean theft? Isn't shrinkage just term for employee theft?

I do mean theft. I am not a native speaker and thought shrinkage applied to both.

My understanding is shrinkage typically refers to the sum total of all product received but unsellable, whether from theft, spoilage, or or breakage.

Shrinkage is.. "an allowance made for reduction in the earnings of a business due to wastage or theft."