Kroger actively wants their employees to do this. (Source: worked in this hellhole for 13 years. Would choose homelessness/starvation over going back)

Its a psycholigical trick to make you think its cheaper than it is. Intended to make you think subconciously "It can't be that expensive if they treat it this poorly."

I do think they picked the wrong product for this treatment considering shrink and high price. It should be shit like dvds and other durable products.