COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	6 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2020
COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION [Abstract]
COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	NOTE 1 – COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION PriceSmart, Inc.’s (“PriceSmart,” the “Company,” or "we") business consists primarily of international membership shopping warehouse clubs similar to, but smaller in size than, warehouse clubs in the United States. As of February 29, 2020, the Company had 45 warehouse clubs in operation in 12 countries and one U.S. territory (seven each in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama; five in the Dominican Republic, four each in Trinidad and Guatemala; three in Honduras; two each in El Salvador and Nicaragua; and one each in Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica and the United States Virgin Islands), of which the Company owns 100% of the corresponding legal entities (see Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies). Due to the uncertainty created from the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the potential social and economic impacts in the markets where we operate and any resulting impacts on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows, we have reevaluated the timing of our capital investments and warehouse club openings. While we have decided to proceed with the construction of an additional warehouse club in Liberia, Costa Rica, which is currently scheduled to finalize in May 2020, we have decided to postpone the opening of that club. Additionally, with respect to our previously announced future warehouse club openings on land we have acquired in Bogota and Bucaramanga, Colombia and in Jamaica, we have decided, temporarily, to halt or not to initiate construction and opening of those clubs at this time. PriceSmart is investing in technology to increase efficiencies and to enable omni-channel capabilities, including e-commerce, to enhance the member experience. PriceSmart also operates a legacy (casillero and marketplace) Aeropost business in 38 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, many of which overlap with markets where we operate warehouse clubs. Basis of Presentation – The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q for interim financial reporting pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Effective September 1, 2019, we adopted the requirements of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)" (ASC 842) using the modified retrospective approach, under which financial results reported in prior periods were not restated. As a result, the consolidated balance sheet as of February 29, 2020 is not comparable, in this respect, with that as of August 31, 2019. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019 (the “2019 Form 10-K”). The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PriceSmart, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries. Inter-company transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated in consolidation.

COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

6 Months Ended

Feb. 29, 2020

COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION [Abstract]

COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

NOTE 1 – COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

PriceSmart, Inc.’s (“PriceSmart,” the “Company,” or "we") business consists primarily of international membership shopping warehouse clubs similar to, but smaller in size than, warehouse clubs in the United States. As of February 29, 2020, the Company had 45 warehouse clubs in operation in 12 countries and one U.S. territory (seven each in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama; five in the Dominican Republic, four each in Trinidad and Guatemala; three in Honduras; two each in El Salvador and Nicaragua; and one each in Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica and the United States Virgin Islands), of which the Company owns 100% of the corresponding legal entities (see Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies). Due to the uncertainty created from the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the potential social and economic impacts in the markets where we operate and any resulting impacts on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows, we have reevaluated the timing of our capital investments and warehouse club openings. While we have decided to proceed with the construction of an additional warehouse club in Liberia, Costa Rica, which is currently scheduled to finalize in May 2020, we have decided to postpone the opening of that club. Additionally, with respect to our previously announced future warehouse club openings on land we have acquired in Bogota and Bucaramanga, Colombia and in Jamaica, we have decided, temporarily, to halt or not to initiate construction and opening of those clubs at this time.

PriceSmart is investing in technology to increase efficiencies and to enable omni-channel capabilities, including e-commerce, to enhance the member experience. PriceSmart also operates a legacy (casillero and marketplace) Aeropost business in 38 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, many of which overlap with markets where we operate warehouse clubs.

Basis of Presentation – The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q for interim financial reporting pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Effective September 1, 2019, we adopted the requirements of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)" (ASC 842) using the modified retrospective approach, under which financial results reported in prior periods were not restated. As a result, the consolidated balance sheet as of February 29, 2020 is not comparable, in this respect, with that as of August 31, 2019.

These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019 (the “2019 Form 10-K”). The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PriceSmart, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries. Inter-company transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated in consolidation.