Earlier today I went about processing a web order for the Red Dragonfly Gallery.

It was a smaller order, for a smaller (physically) item. A problem quickly arose in the from of my not being able to *find* the item we had just sold. 

![RD0201Magenta.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/reddragonfly/F895gy9k-RD0201-Magenta.jpg)
*"Bright Nature"*

Now, most outsiders might jump to the conclusion that someone simply forgot to adjust the web inventory when an item sold *in* the gallery, but that was not the case. Over the years, we have developed a super-tight system that automatically removes items from listed online stock, the moment the ID number of that item runs through our point-of-sale system.

## *That Leaves Only ONE Other Possibility....*

Given that the item cannot be "gone" without being recorded as a *sale,* that leaves only very limited possibilities:

It could have been broken/damaged and discarded.... or — unfortunately — it could have been *stolen.*

I have always been rather baffled by the idea that someone would *shoplift* from a small independent art gallery. After all, we don't carry any *priceless antiques,* nor do we carry expensive originals from well-known *"names"* that have an active secondary market.

![RD0201Calendula.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/reddragonfly/n0px6sT4-RD0201-Calendula.jpg)
*"Flower"*

I can usually wrap my head around the idea that someone steals from a retail store with the intent of pawning the item for cash.

In this case, however, the item would quite obviously have been stolen for *personal consumption,* as I doubt it would be weel enough known to fetch more than $5-10 to someone, somewhere. 

The entire idea of shoplifting from an art gallery just seems really strange to me... and yet? It happens alarmingly often, even when we try to watch people pretty carefully. 

Fortunately, it was mot a very expensive items that was lost, but it's still annoying that I now have to issue a refund.

Thanks for reading!


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