RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS	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 is a Director and Officer of La Jolla Aviation, Inc. Under the "original use agreement," if the passengers are solely Company personnel, the Company has reimbursed La Jolla Aviation for a portion of the fixed management fee and additional expenses incurred by La Jolla Aviation as a result of the hours flown, including direct charges associated with the use of the plane, landing fees, catering and international fees. If the passengers are not solely PriceSmart, Inc. personnel and if one or more of the passengers is a member of the Price Group (including Robert E. Price), the Company has reimbursed La Jolla Aviation for use of the aircraft based on the amounts the passengers would have paid if they had flown a commercial airline. In July 2013, the Company revised its reimbursement policy related to the use of La Jolla Aviation aircraft when such use involves travel by the Company's Chairman of the Board in his company duties as Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the company's real estate committee. The Company will reimburse 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 $59,000, $31,000 and $31,000 for the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for these services. 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 $48,000, $42,000 and $37,000 in other income from the sale of packaging materials to Aseprismar for the years ended August 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In addition, the Company also contracts with Aseprismar for freight transportation between the Company's Costa Rica warehouse clubs. The Company incurred approximately $17,000, $27,000 and $12,000 for freight expense with Aseprismar for the years ended August 2014, 2013 and 2012. Relationships with Edgar Zurcher: Edgar Zurcher is a director of the Company. The Company has accordingly recorded and disclosed related-party expense or income related to the relationships with Edgar Zurcher for the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. Mr. Zurcher is a partner in a law firm that the Company utilizes in certain legal matters. The Company incurred approximately $27,000, $14,000 and $26,000 in legal expenses with this firm for the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, 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 has recorded approximately $1.4 million, $1.5 million, and $1.4 million in rental income for this space during the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Additionally, Mr. Zurcher is a director of Molinos de Costa Rica S.A. The Company paid approximately $461,000, $409,000 and $367,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Also, Mr. Zurcher is a director of Roma Prince S.A. PriceSmart purchased products from this entity for approximately $1.3 million, $1.3 million and $1.4 million for the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, 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 $261,000, $256,000 and $252,000 in rental income and common area maintenance charges for this space during the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. Additionally, the Company sold to ODP approximately 28,000 square feet of undeveloped land, located adjacent to the Panama, Via Brasil PriceSmart location, for approximately $2.1 million during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011. Also, on July 15, 2011 (fiscal year 2011), the Company's joint venture Golf Park Plaza, S.A. ("GPP") and ODP 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 has a three-year limit beginning as the 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 their building was completed and their store opened to the public; (iii) is currently paying monthly rent per the lease clause of the agreement of $1,000 per month starting 365 days from execution of the contract and (iv) will pay an additional $109,000, less any rental payments previously applied per the lease clause, when ODP exercises its option to purchase the land. ODP opened their store in April of 2013. ODP paid approximately $12,000 in rental payments during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Relationships with Price Charities: During the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company sold approximately $210,000, $189,000 and $98,000, respectively, of supplies to Price Charities, a charitable non-profit public benefit corporation. Robert E. Price, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, is also Chairman of the Board and President of Price Charities. Additionally, Sherry S. Bahrambeygui, a director since November 2011, 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 participates with Price Charities 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. The Company collaborates with Price Charities and local charitable groups to use these donations to acquire and deliver supplies to schools in the communities surrounding PriceSmart clubs. The liability for donations received was approximately $2,000 as of August 31, 2013. There was no liability as of August 31, 2014. 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 $157,000, $381,000 and $285,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, 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 $3,000, $16,000 and $1,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, 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 is constructing its central offices in Panama. Construction of the offices is expected to be completed during calendar year 2014. 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, 2014, the Company recognized rent expense of $79,000 for this lease. The Company believes that each of the related-party transactions described above was on terms that the Company could have obtained from unaffiliated parties.

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 is a Director and Officer of La Jolla Aviation, Inc. Under the "original use agreement," if the passengers are solely Company personnel, the Company has reimbursed La Jolla Aviation for a portion of the fixed management fee and additional expenses incurred by La Jolla Aviation as a result of the hours flown, including direct charges associated with the use of the plane, landing fees, catering and international fees. If the passengers are not solely PriceSmart, Inc. personnel and if one or more of the passengers is a member of the Price Group (including Robert E. Price), the Company has reimbursed La Jolla Aviation for use of the aircraft based on the amounts the passengers would have paid if they had flown a commercial airline. In July 2013, the Company revised its reimbursement policy related to the use of La Jolla Aviation aircraft when such use involves travel by the Company's Chairman of the Board in his company duties as Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the company's real estate committee. The Company will reimburse 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 $59,000, $31,000 and $31,000 for the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for these services.

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 $48,000, $42,000 and $37,000 in other income from the sale of packaging materials to Aseprismar for the years ended August 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In addition, the Company also contracts with Aseprismar for freight transportation between the Company's Costa Rica warehouse clubs. The Company incurred approximately $17,000, $27,000 and $12,000 for freight expense with Aseprismar for the years ended August 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Relationships with Edgar Zurcher: Edgar Zurcher is a director of the Company. The Company has accordingly recorded and disclosed related-party expense or income related to the relationships with Edgar Zurcher for the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. Mr. Zurcher is a partner in a law firm that the Company utilizes in certain legal matters. The Company incurred approximately $27,000, $14,000 and $26,000 in legal expenses with this firm for the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, 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 has recorded approximately $1.4 million, $1.5 million, and $1.4 million in rental income for this space during the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Additionally, Mr. Zurcher is a director of Molinos de Costa Rica S.A. The Company paid approximately $461,000, $409,000 and $367,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Also, Mr. Zurcher is a director of Roma Prince S.A. PriceSmart purchased products from this entity for approximately $1.3 million, $1.3 million and $1.4 million for the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, 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 $261,000, $256,000 and $252,000 in rental income and common area maintenance charges for this space during the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. Additionally, the Company sold to ODP approximately 28,000 square feet of undeveloped land, located adjacent to the Panama, Via Brasil PriceSmart location, for approximately $2.1 million during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2011. Also, on July 15, 2011 (fiscal year 2011), the Company's joint venture Golf Park Plaza, S.A. ("GPP") and ODP 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 has a three-year limit beginning as the 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 their building was completed and their store opened to the public; (iii) is currently paying monthly rent per the lease clause of the agreement of $1,000 per month starting 365 days from execution of the contract and (iv) will pay an additional $109,000, less any rental payments previously applied per the lease clause, when ODP exercises its option to purchase the land. ODP opened their store in April of 2013. ODP paid approximately $12,000 in rental payments during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Relationships with Price Charities: During the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company sold approximately $210,000, $189,000 and $98,000, respectively, of supplies to Price Charities, a charitable non-profit public benefit corporation. Robert E. Price, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, is also Chairman of the Board and President of Price Charities. Additionally, Sherry S. Bahrambeygui, a director since November 2011, 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 participates with Price Charities 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. The Company collaborates with Price Charities and local charitable groups to use these donations to acquire and deliver supplies to schools in the communities surrounding PriceSmart clubs. The liability for donations received was approximately $2,000 as of August 31, 2013. There was no liability as of August 31, 2014.

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 $157,000, $381,000 and $285,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, 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 $3,000, $16,000 and $1,000 for products purchased from this entity during the years ended August 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, 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 is constructing its central offices in Panama. Construction of the offices is expected to be completed during calendar year 2014. 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, 2014, the Company recognized rent expense of $79,000 for this lease.

The Company believes that each of the related-party transactions described above was on terms that the Company could have obtained from unaffiliated parties.