COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	9 Months Ended
May 31, 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 typically smaller in size than, warehouse clubs in the United States. As of May 31, 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). On June 17, 2020, the Company opened its 46^th warehouse club and eighth club in Costa Rica, located in the city of Liberia, in the Guanacaste region. The Company also expects to open its third warehouse club in the greater metropolitan area of Bogota, its eighth in Colombia, during its second fiscal quarter of 2021. PriceSmart continues to invest in technology to increase efficiencies and to enhance the member experience by enabling omni-channel capabilities, including e-commerce online shopping and services. During the third quarter of Fiscal 2020, the Company launched its online order and curbside pickup service, which provides for contactless shopping, called Click & Go™. In June 2020, this service was operational in all 13 PriceSmart markets and substantially all clubs. PriceSmart also operates a legacy business (casillero and marketplace) under the “Aeropost” banner 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”). The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has severely impacted the economies of the U.S. and the countries where the Company operates. The Company has assessed the impact that COVID-19 has had on our estimates, assumptions and accounting policies and made additional disclosures, if and as necessary. 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 May 31, 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

9 Months Ended

May 31, 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 typically smaller in size than, warehouse clubs in the United States. As of May 31, 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). On June 17, 2020, the Company opened its 46^th warehouse club and eighth club in Costa Rica, located in the city of Liberia, in the Guanacaste region. The Company also expects to open its third warehouse club in the greater metropolitan area of Bogota, its eighth in Colombia, during its second fiscal quarter of 2021.

PriceSmart continues to invest in technology to increase efficiencies and to enhance the member experience by enabling omni-channel capabilities, including e-commerce online shopping and services. During the third quarter of Fiscal 2020, the Company launched its online order and curbside pickup service, which provides for contactless shopping, called Click & Go™. In June 2020, this service was operational in all 13 PriceSmart markets and substantially all clubs. PriceSmart also operates a legacy business (casillero and marketplace) under the “Aeropost” banner 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”). The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has severely impacted the economies of the U.S. and the countries where the Company operates. The Company has assessed the impact that COVID-19 has had on our estimates, assumptions and accounting policies and made additional disclosures, if and as necessary.

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 May 31, 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.