RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2017
RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS [Abstract]
RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS	NOTE 13 – RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS Use of Private Plane: From time to time members of the Company’s management use private planes owned in part by La Jolla Aviation, Inc. to travel to business meetings in Latin America and the Caribbean. La Jolla Aviation, Inc. is solely owned by The Robert and Allison Price Trust, and Robert Price the Company's Chairman of the Board, is a Director and Officer of La Jolla Aviation, Inc. The Company has reimbursed La Jolla Aviation for such travel at the hourly rate of the Company's private aircraft for such travel. The Company incurred expenses of approximately $182,000 and $225,000 for the years ended August 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, for these services. The Company did not use these services during the twelve months ended August 31, 2017. Relationship with Aseprismar: Aseprismar is a PriceSmart employee association located in Costa Rica that purchases discarded packaging materials received by the Company from incoming shipments of merchandise. The Company recorded approximately $128,000, $123,000 and $157,000 in other income from the sale of packaging materials to Aseprismar for the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In addition, the Company also contracts with Aseprismar for freight transportation between the Company's Costa Rica warehouse clubs. The Company incurred approximately $66,000, $80,000 and $35,000 for freight expense with Aseprismar for the years ended August 2017, 2016 and 2015. Relationship with Francisco Velasco: Francisco Velasco is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer for the Company. As part of his employment agreement dated July 2016, the Company purchased his home in Chicago, IL, in July based on its appraised value for approximately $625,000. The Company also leased the property back to Francisco Velasco for $2,500 a month until he relocated to San Diego, CA. The Company also reimbursed Francisco Velasco for the monthly lease payments. For the year ended August 31, 2016, the Company charged and then reimbursed approximately $2,500. There were no charges or reimbursements made during the year ended August 31, 2017. The Company intends to sell this property. Relationships with Edgar Zurcher: Edgar Zurcher is a director of the Company. Mr. Zurcher is a partner in a law firm that the Company utilizes in certain legal matters. The Company incurred approximately $82,000, $26,000 and $18,000 in legal expenses with this firm for the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Mr. Zurcher is also a director of a company that owns 40% of Payless ShoeSource Holdings, Ltd., which rents retail space from the Company. The Company recorded approximately $1.5 million in rental income for this space during the year ended August 31, 2017 and $1.4 million for each of the fiscal years ended, 2016 and 2015. Additionally, Mr. Zurcher is a director of Molinos de Costa Rica S.A. The Company paid approximately $636,000, $502,000 and $496,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Also, Mr. Zurcher is a director of Roma Prince S.A. PriceSmart purchased products from this entity for approximately $1.1 million, $1.2 million and $1.3 million for the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Relationship with Gonzalo Barrutieta: Gonzalo Barrutieta is a director of the Company. Mr. Barrutieta is also a member of the Board of Directors of Office Depot Mexico, S.A. de C.V., which operates OD Panama, S.A. ("ODP"), which rents retail space from the Company. The Company has recorded approximately $277,000, $272,000 and $266,000 in rental income and common area maintenance charges for this space during the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In addition, on December 11, 2015, the Company's joint venture Golf Park Plaza, S.A. ("GPP") transferred final ownership of land to ODP, following its execution of the related purchase option. The deed was recorded with the relevant agencies in Panama during February 2016. ODP had on July 15, 2011 (fiscal year 2011), entered into a 30 year operating lease, with an option to buy, for approximately 26,000 square feet of land owned by GPP. The option to purchase the land had a three-year limit beginning in April 2013. As part of this transaction, ODP: (i) made an initial deposit to GPP in the sum of approximately $545,000 at the time of signing the agreement; (ii) paid a second deposit of approximately $436,000 at the time its building was completed and its store opened to the public; (iii) paid monthly rent per the lease clause of the agreement which the Company recognized on a straight line basis; and (iv) contracted to pay an additional $109,000, less rental payments of $39,000 previously applied per the lease clause, when ODP exercised its option to purchase the land. GPP recorded rental income of approximately $1,000 and $106,000, during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. GPP recorded a gain, net of tax, on the sale of the land of approximately $851,000 during February 2016. Relationships with Price Family Charitable Organizations: During the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company sold approximately $393,000, $427,000 and $371,000, respectively, of supplies to Price Philanthropies Foundation. Robert Price, Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors, is the Chairman of the Board and President of Price Philanthropies Foundation and Price Charities. Sherry S. Bahrambeygui, a director of the Company and Vice Chair of the Board, serves as Executive Vice President, Secretary and Vice Chairman of the Boards of Price Charities, fka San Diego Revitalization Corp., and Price Philanthropies Foundation. The Company also participated initially with Price Charities, a charitable non-profit public benefit corporation, in a charitable program known as “Aprender y Crecer” ("Learn and Grow”) by allowing PriceSmart members to donate money in the warehouse clubs to that program. Beginning January 1, 2015, the Aprender y Crecer program was transferred from Price Charities to Price Philanthropies Foundation. Since 2015, the Company has participated with Price Philanthropies and selected vendors where the vendors channel donations through the Company based on a percentage of sales of their products within the warehouse clubs. The Company collaborated with Price Charities, Price Philanthropies Foundation and local charitable groups to use these donations to acquire and deliver supplies to schools in the communities surrounding PriceSmart clubs. Vendors send their donations to PriceSmart, which records them as a liability for donations received. The liability for donations received, but not yet applied to the purchase of school supplies was approximately $102,000 and $139,000 as of August 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Relationships with Mitchell G. Lynn: Mr. Lynn has been a director of the Company since November 2011. Mr. Lynn is the founder, limited partner and a general partner of CRI 2000, LP, dba Combined Resources International ("CRI"), which designs, develops and manufactures consumer products for domestic and international wholesale distribution, primarily through warehouse clubs. The Company paid approximately $437,000, $625,000 and $353,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Mr. Lynn is also a founder, limited partner and a general partner of ECR4Kids, LP ("ECR") which designs, manufactures and sells educational/children's products to wholesale dealers. The Company paid approximately $8,000, $3,000 and $31,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Mr. Lynn is also associated with Procuro, Inc., which is a services company that specializes in Cold Chain Management solutions. Mr. Lynn owns less than one percent of the issued and outstanding Procuro, Inc. shares and cannot significantly influence Procuro, Inc. The Company paid to Procuro, Inc. approximately $71,000, $95,000 and $76,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Relationship with Golf Park Plaza, S.A.: Golf Park Plaza, S.A. is a real estate joint venture located in Panama entered into by the Company in 2008 (see Note 14 - Unconsolidated Affiliate). On December 12, 2013, the Company entered into a lease agreement for approximately 17,976 square feet (1,670 square meters) of land with Golf Park Plaza, S.A. upon which the Company constructed its central offices in Panama. The lease term is for 15 years with three options to renew for five years each at the Company's discretion. The monthly lease expense is approximately $8,800. For the twelve months ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized rent expense of $105,700 for this lease for each such fiscal year. Relationships with Pierre Mignault: Pierre Mignault was elected to the Board of Directors, effective August 1, 2015. Mr. Mignault has been a consultant for the Company since September 2009, serving as an independent sourcing agent with Canadian suppliers. In his role as an independent sourcing agent, Mr. Mignault received commissions of $224,000, $208,000 and $154,000 from certain vendors related to the sale of product to the Company in fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In his role as consultant for the Company, he earned $60,000 in each year for the twelve months ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

NOTE 13 – RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Use of Private Plane: From time to time members of the Company’s management use private planes owned in part by La Jolla Aviation, Inc. to travel to business meetings in Latin America and the Caribbean. La Jolla Aviation, Inc. is solely owned by The Robert and Allison Price Trust, and Robert Price the Company's Chairman of the Board, is a Director and Officer of La Jolla Aviation, Inc. The Company has reimbursed La Jolla Aviation for such travel at the hourly rate of the Company's private aircraft for such travel. The Company incurred expenses of approximately $182,000 and $225,000 for the years ended August 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, for these services. The Company did not use these services during the twelve months ended August 31, 2017.

Relationship with Aseprismar: Aseprismar is a PriceSmart employee association located in Costa Rica that purchases discarded packaging materials received by the Company from incoming shipments of merchandise. The Company recorded approximately $128,000, $123,000 and $157,000 in other income from the sale of packaging materials to Aseprismar for the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In addition, the Company also contracts with Aseprismar for freight transportation between the Company's Costa Rica warehouse clubs. The Company incurred approximately $66,000, $80,000 and $35,000 for freight expense with Aseprismar for the years ended August 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Relationship with Francisco Velasco: Francisco Velasco is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer for the Company. As part of his employment agreement dated July 2016, the Company purchased his home in Chicago, IL, in July based on its appraised value for approximately $625,000. The Company also leased the property back to Francisco Velasco for $2,500 a month until he relocated to San Diego, CA. The Company also reimbursed Francisco Velasco for the monthly lease payments. For the year ended August 31, 2016, the Company charged and then reimbursed approximately $2,500. There were no charges or reimbursements made during the year ended August 31, 2017. The Company intends to sell this property.

Relationships with Edgar Zurcher: Edgar Zurcher is a director of the Company. Mr. Zurcher is a partner in a law firm that the Company utilizes in certain legal matters. The Company incurred approximately $82,000, $26,000 and $18,000 in legal expenses with this firm for the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Mr. Zurcher is also a director of a company that owns 40% of Payless ShoeSource Holdings, Ltd., which rents retail space from the Company. The Company recorded approximately $1.5 million in rental income for this space during the year ended August 31, 2017 and $1.4 million for each of the fiscal years ended, 2016 and 2015. Additionally, Mr. Zurcher is a director of Molinos de Costa Rica S.A. The Company paid approximately $636,000, $502,000 and $496,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Also, Mr. Zurcher is a director of Roma Prince S.A. PriceSmart purchased products from this entity for approximately $1.1 million, $1.2 million and $1.3 million for the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Relationship with Gonzalo Barrutieta: Gonzalo Barrutieta is a director of the Company. Mr. Barrutieta is also a member of the Board of Directors of Office Depot Mexico, S.A. de C.V., which operates OD Panama, S.A. ("ODP"), which rents retail space from the Company. The Company has recorded approximately $277,000, $272,000 and $266,000 in rental income and common area maintenance charges for this space during the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In addition, on December 11, 2015, the Company's joint venture Golf Park Plaza, S.A. ("GPP") transferred final ownership of land to ODP, following its execution of the related purchase option. The deed was recorded with the relevant agencies in Panama during February 2016. ODP had on July 15, 2011 (fiscal year 2011), entered into a 30 year operating lease, with an option to buy, for approximately 26,000 square feet of land owned by GPP. The option to purchase the land had a three-year limit beginning in April 2013. As part of this transaction, ODP: (i) made an initial deposit to GPP in the sum of approximately $545,000 at the time of signing the agreement; (ii) paid a second deposit of approximately $436,000 at the time its building was completed and its store opened to the public; (iii) paid monthly rent per the lease clause of the agreement which the Company recognized on a straight line basis; and (iv) contracted to pay an additional $109,000, less rental payments of $39,000 previously applied per the lease clause, when ODP exercised its option to purchase the land. GPP recorded rental income of approximately $1,000 and $106,000, during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. GPP recorded a gain, net of tax, on the sale of the land of approximately $851,000 during February 2016.

Relationships with Price Family Charitable Organizations: During the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company sold approximately $393,000, $427,000 and $371,000, respectively, of supplies to Price Philanthropies Foundation. Robert Price, Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors, is the Chairman of the Board and President of Price Philanthropies Foundation and Price Charities. Sherry S. Bahrambeygui, a director of the Company and Vice Chair of the Board, serves as Executive Vice President, Secretary and Vice Chairman of the Boards of Price Charities, fka San Diego Revitalization Corp., and Price Philanthropies Foundation. The Company also participated initially with Price Charities, a charitable non-profit public benefit corporation, in a charitable program known as “Aprender y Crecer” ("Learn and Grow”) by allowing PriceSmart members to donate money in the warehouse clubs to that program. Beginning January 1, 2015, the Aprender y Crecer program was transferred from Price Charities to Price Philanthropies Foundation. Since 2015, the Company has participated with Price Philanthropies and selected vendors where the vendors channel donations through the Company based on a percentage of sales of their products within the warehouse clubs. The Company collaborated with Price Charities, Price Philanthropies Foundation and local charitable groups to use these donations to acquire and deliver supplies to schools in the communities surrounding PriceSmart clubs. Vendors send their donations to PriceSmart, which records them as a liability for donations received. The liability for donations received, but not yet applied to the purchase of school supplies was approximately $102,000 and $139,000 as of August 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Relationships with Mitchell G. Lynn: Mr. Lynn has been a director of the Company since November 2011. Mr. Lynn is the founder, limited partner and a general partner of CRI 2000, LP, dba Combined Resources International ("CRI"), which designs, develops and manufactures consumer products for domestic and international wholesale distribution, primarily through warehouse clubs. The Company paid approximately $437,000, $625,000 and $353,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Mr. Lynn is also a founder, limited partner and a general partner of ECR4Kids, LP ("ECR") which designs, manufactures and sells educational/children's products to wholesale dealers. The Company paid approximately $8,000, $3,000 and $31,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Mr. Lynn is also associated with Procuro, Inc., which is a services company that specializes in Cold Chain Management solutions. Mr. Lynn owns less than one percent of the issued and outstanding Procuro, Inc. shares and cannot significantly influence Procuro, Inc. The Company paid to Procuro, Inc. approximately $71,000, $95,000 and $76,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Relationship with Golf Park Plaza, S.A.: Golf Park Plaza, S.A. is a real estate joint venture located in Panama entered into by the Company in 2008 (see Note 14 - Unconsolidated Affiliate). On December 12, 2013, the Company entered into a lease agreement for approximately 17,976 square feet (1,670 square meters) of land with Golf Park Plaza, S.A. upon which the Company constructed its central offices in Panama. The lease term is for 15 years with three options to renew for five years each at the Company's discretion. The monthly lease expense is approximately $8,800. For the twelve months ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized rent expense of $105,700 for this lease for each such fiscal year.

Relationships with Pierre Mignault: Pierre Mignault was elected to the Board of Directors, effective August 1, 2015. Mr. Mignault has been a consultant for the Company since September 2009, serving as an independent sourcing agent with Canadian suppliers. In his role as an independent sourcing agent, Mr. Mignault received commissions of $224,000, $208,000 and $154,000 from certain vendors related to the sale of product to the Company in fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In his role as consultant for the Company, he earned $60,000 in each year for the twelve months ended August 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.