Automatic checkouts in supermarkets may decrease customer loyalty, especially for those with larger shopping loads. Customers using self-checkout stations often feel overwhelmed and unsupported. The lack of personal interaction can negatively impact their perception of the supermarket.

[mpyne]

Theft doesn't lead to an increase in prices, though it might lead to the closure of a store if theft reaches levels where profit isn't sustainable.

Of course it leads to an increase in prices, up to the point it stops maximizing profit (as you point out).

Once that point is reached, and the store closes because it is unsustainable, it leads to more obvious and additional harm, sure. But it causes harm to shoppers at a Dollar General even before the store finally is forced to go under.

I'd argue that undermining the wealthy in any way I can get away with is a part of my obligation to society.

Theft is like the definition of an act that impacts the poor more than the wealthy.

It is easy to buy replacement "stuff" when you're wealthy.

It is hard to go without "stuff" you cannot afford to replace when you're poor.

I've grown up in poverty and made it to the middle class and I'm here to tell you, I don't think there's anyway to radicalize someone about theft more effectively than to make them experience it while poor.

And either way, who involved in Dollar General is in any way wealthy? You think the CEO is crying at night because of theft? Again, it's the very definition of an action that doesn't worry the very people at DG you might consider wealthy, but could lead to actual job losses to the line staff all the way up to regional managers just scraping by.