Alpha Ink Tag – An Anti-Theft Device To “DYE” For!

 

Alpha Ink Tag-5                                                                                                                            WC blog 115
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-3
Prevent Shoplifting-4
Alpha Ink Tag – An Anti-Theft Device To “DYE” For!
     I enjoy discussing different ways to foil shoplifters with retail anti-theft devices.  I spent many years in the retail loss prevention field and used a variety of tools to prevent shoplifting.  Of all the devices that are on the market one of my favorites is the Alpha Ink Tag.  This tag has the benefit of electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection AND ink stains if the device is tampered with.  Since my first exposure to using them, I have been sold on their ability to deter thieves.
     The Alpha Ink Tag is a small disc with ink packs built into it.  If a shoplifter decides to try to pry a tag off of a piece of merchandise, the force used to try to remove the device will break open the ink and it spills on the merchandise.  The tags also come available with acoustic magnetic or radio frequency protection compatible with the type of EAS antenna system in your store.  Just think about it, double the protection for the price of one device!
     I remember when one of the stores I worked for started using these retail anti- theft devices and we first placed them on baseball hats.  We had been losing these hats at an alarming rate and in order to reduce the theft we tagged the hats with ink tags.  It did not take long to see the rate of theft dropped dramatically.  We watched on camera as a suspected shoplifter would pick up a hat, look at it and when they saw the ink tag they put it down and walked into the mall.  Once we saw the tags did prevent shoplifting we expanded the selection of items we placed them on to include higher priced jackets, designer jeans and dresses.
     You may be wondering if an Alpha Ink Tag actually breaks open when someone attempts to improperly remove it.  I can attest to the fact that they do.  I recall more than one occasion when a customer attempted to return a pair of designer jeans and there was an ink stain in the area of the waistband where we attached the tags.  It was obvious that the person had attempted to place a rag or something underneath the tag to try to prevent spillage but it did not work as intended.   It is almost impossible to completely stop all of the ink once the capsules break and a bit of it did leak out. We did not need much of a stain to justify refusing the return. 
     Once our store started to use these retail anti-theft devices, other stores in the mall where we were located began to use them as well.  Frequently a patron with an item from another store would come in and pull out an article of clothing with an ink tag attached to it ask us to remove the tag. They would try to tell us that they left the other store and the clerk forgot to remove it.  We had a policy of refusing such requests and explained that the customer would have to return to the store where they made the “purchase”.  Proper removal was something we emphasized with our cashiers as part of their training since failure to do so was a major customer service issue.
    Since that time I have seen other retailers using Alpha Ink Tags on high dollar comforter sets and even purses and handbags.  These devices do not need to be limited to just clothing.  They could be used to prevent shoplifting of tablecloths, draperies, sheet sets and much more.  Invest in Alpha Ink Tags and turn profits from red ink to black.
Need information on Alpha Ink Tag? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

 I enjoy discussing different ways to foil shoplifters with retail anti-theft devices. I spent many years in the retail loss prevention field and used a variety of tools to prevent shoplifting. Of all the devices that are on the market one of my favorites is the Alpha Ink Tag. This tag has the benefit of electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection AND ink stains if the device is tampered with. Since my first exposure to using them, I have been sold on their ability to deter thieves.

The Alpha Ink Tag is a small disc with ink packs built into it. If a shoplifter decides to try to pry a tag off of a piece of merchandise, the force used to try to remove the device will break open the ink and it spills on the merchandise. The tags also come available with acoustic magnetic or radio frequency protection compatible with the type of EAS antenna system in your store. Just think about it, double the protection for the price of one device!

I remember when one of the stores I worked for started using these retail anti- theft devices and we first placed them on baseball hats. We had been losing these hats at an alarming rate and in order to reduce the theft we tagged the hats with ink tags. It did not take long to see the rate of theft dropped dramatically. We watched on camera as a suspected shoplifter would pick up a hat, look at it and when they saw the ink tag they put it down and walked into the mall. Once we saw the tags did prevent shoplifting we expanded the selection of items we placed them on to include higher priced jackets, designer jeans and dresses.

You may be wondering if an Alpha Ink Tag actually breaks open when someone attempts to improperly remove it. I can attest to the fact that they do. I recall more than one occasion when a customer attempted to return a pair of designer jeans and there was an ink stain in the area of the waistband where we attached the tags. It was obvious that the person had attempted to place a rag or something underneath the tag to try to prevent spillage but it did not work as intended. It is almost impossible to completely stop all of the ink once the capsules break and a bit of it did leak out. We did not need much of a stain to justify refusing the return.     Once our store started to use these retail anti-theft devices, other stores in the mall where we were located began to use them as well. Frequently a patron with an item from another store would come in and pull out an article of clothing with an ink tag attached to it ask us to remove the tag. They would try to tell us that they left the other store and the clerk forgot to remove it. We had a policy of refusing such requests and explained that the customer would have to return to the store where they made the “purchase”. Proper removal was something we emphasized with our cashiers as part of their training since failure to do so was a major customer service issue.

Since that time I have seen other retailers using Alpha Ink Tags on high dollar comforter sets and even purses and handbags. These devices do not need to be limited to just clothing. They could be used to prevent shoplifting of tablecloths, draperies, sheet sets and much more. Invest in Alpha Ink Tags and turn profits from red ink to black.

 

Need information on Alpha Ink Tag? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.