Pre-employment drug testing – 4 WC Blog 510
Drug Screening -3
Pre-employment Drug Testing Can Prevent Injuries And Theft
Do you require pre-employment drug testing or random screening in your place of business? You may not think of it as a concern or a potential liability for you or your business but Bill Bregar and his staff of experts at Loss Prevention Systems Inc. would like to have you reconsider that. You may want to rethink your position after reading the headlines and excerpts below:
• Worker Killed at Granite Steel had meth in system; mill fined $12,000
• http://www.oregonlive.com/watchdog/index.ssf/2017/12/childcare_in_oregon_state_webs.html “Childcare unaware: Oregon website omits key safety info for parents”, by Brad Schmidt, Dec 27. The article reports, “State officials don’t always notify families when taking steps to close a day care. In one case regulators tried to shut down an in-home facility after the owner admitted to illegal drug use, documents reveal. But kids kept attending this facility this year because state officials never told parents it was no longer licensed.”
• “Amtrak workers killed in crash and train engineer all tested positive for drugs”, The Washington Post, by Ashley Halsey III, Oct 11. “Two Amtrak workers had opioids or cocaine in their systems when they were struck and killed south of Philadelphia last year by a passenger train whose engineer had marijuana in his system, according to federal officials.
These are just three stories but there are so many more out there. You may think that substance abuse is a personal matter but when it enters the workplace it affects others. What are the ramifications on your business should an employee with drugs in their system have an accident involving themselves, co-workers or your customers? Pre-employment drug testing is one way you can minimize the chances of this taking place in your establishment.
Pre-employment drug testing is usually done through the collection of a urine sample, however oral fluid testing and even hair sample testing have been used by employers. According to one web site, “Urine testing is the only method approved for federally-mandated testing…It’s also cost-effective, typically able to screen for a wider variety of illicit and prescription drugs…” Whatever the means used to collect the sample, the purpose is to identify if a candidate for a position uses drugs and if so the employer can screen that applicant out of the hiring process. The same website did mention that one drawback to using only pre-employment drug testing is that, “drug using candidates who were able to suspend their use long enough to pass the drug test can restart their use undetected.” Therefore it is a good idea for a company to also have other testing means for employees such as random drug tests (questdiagnostics.com).
Some of you may still be a bit skeptical of the need for drug screening because you only operate a retail store and you don’t have employees operating heavy equipment or walking on railroad tracks as part of their job duties. Here are two more stories that may be more relevant to you:
• “A Wingo KY Mart employee was arrested for allegedly stealing from the store…The owner said his employee stole approximately $700 cash out of a deposit bag along with some checks…The deputy also found methamphetamine in her purse.” WPSD Local 6, by Kryste Callais, December 8, 2017 “Wingo KY Mart Employee Arrested On Theft Charge http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/2017/12/08/wingo-ky-mart-employee-arrested-theft-charge/
• “Giant Eagle faces felony theft charge” The Cranberry Eagle, November 30, 2017, “He is accused of trying to take $4,400 in merchandise including vitamins, medicine, beer steins and water filters. Police said they found an empty stamp bag of suspected heroin, a hypodermic needle and a spoon with suspected drug residue on it.” http://www.thecranberryeagle.com/article/20171130/NEWS20/171139987/0/about_us
You get my point. If you aren’t conducting drug testing prior to hiring a candidate you may be asking for trouble in the future. The problem cuts across all job sectors, including retail.
Employee drug screening isn’t about trying to keep people with a problem from getting work. It’s about YOU keeping your store profitable and your employees and customers safe. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. can help you do both. Your staff and customers will appreciate your efforts.
For more information about pre-employment drug testing contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Do you require pre-employment drug testing or random screening in your place of business? You may not think of it as a concern or a potential liability for you or your business but Bill Bregar and his staff of experts at Loss Prevention Systems Inc. would like to have you reconsider that. You may want to rethink your position after reading the headlines and excerpts below:
• Worker Killed at Granite Steel had meth in system; mill fined $12,000
•http://www.oregonlive.com/watchdog/index.ssf/2017/12/childcare_in_oregon_state_webs.html “Childcare unaware: Oregon website omits key safety info for parents”, by Brad Schmidt, Dec 27. The article reports, “State officials don’t always notify families when taking steps to close a day care. In one case regulators tried to shut down an in-home facility after the owner admitted to illegal drug use, documents reveal. But kids kept attending this facility this year because state officials never told parents it was no longer licensed.”
• “Amtrak workers killed in crash and train engineer all tested positive for drugs”, The Washington Post, by Ashley Halsey III, Oct 11. “Two Amtrak workers had opioids or cocaine in their systems when they were struck and killed south of Philadelphia last year by a passenger train whose engineer had marijuana in his system, according to federal officials.
These are just three stories but there are so many more out there. You may think that substance abuse is a personal matter but when it enters the workplace it affects others. What are the ramifications on your business should an employee with drugs in their system have an accident involving themselves, co-workers or your customers? Pre-employment drug testing is one way you can minimize the chances of this taking place in your establishment.
Pre-employment drug testing is usually done through the collection of a urine sample, however oral fluid testing and even hair sample testing have been used by employers. According to one web site, “Urine testing is the only method approved for federally-mandated testing…It’s also cost-effective, typically able to screen for a wider variety of illicit and prescription drugs…” Whatever the means used to collect the sample, the purpose is to identify if a candidate for a position uses drugs and if so the employer can screen that applicant out of the hiring process. The same website did mention that one drawback to using only pre-employment drug testing is that, “drug using candidates who were able to suspend their use long enough to pass the drug test can restart their use undetected.” Therefore it is a good idea for a company to also have other testing means for employees such as random drug tests (questdiagnostics.com).
Some of you may still be a bit skeptical of the need for drug screening because you only operate a retail store and you don’t have employees operating heavy equipment or walking on railroad tracks as part of their job duties. Here are two more stories that may be more relevant to you:
• “A Wingo KY Mart employee was arrested for allegedly stealing from the store…The owner said his employee stole approximately $700 cash out of a deposit bag along with some checks…The deputy also found methamphetamine in her purse.” WPSD Local 6, by Kryste Callais, December 8, 2017 “Wingo KY Mart Employee Arrested On Theft Charge http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/2017/12/08/wingo-ky-mart-employee-arrested-theft-charge/
• “Giant Eagle faces felony theft charge” The Cranberry Eagle, November 30, 2017, “He is accused of trying to take $4,400 in merchandise including vitamins, medicine, beer steins and water filters. Police said they found an empty stamp bag of suspected heroin, a hypodermic needle and a spoon with suspected drug residue on it.” http://www.thecranberryeagle.com/article/20171130/NEWS20/171139987/0/about_us
You get my point. If you aren’t conducting drug testing prior to hiring a candidate you may be asking for trouble in the future. The problem cuts across all job sectors, including retail.
Employee drug screening isn’t about trying to keep people with a problem from getting work. It’s about YOU keeping your store profitable and your employees and customers safe. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. can help you do both. Your staff and customers will appreciate your efforts.
For more information about pre-employment drug testing contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Checkpoint Overhead System-5 WC Blog 503
Overhead EAS System-4
Stop Shoplifting-4
Get An Upscale Look And Strong EAS Protection With A Checkpoint Overhead System
A long time ago, when I first started working in Retail Loss Prevention there was no such thing as an overhead EAS system. At that time EAS (acronym for electronic article surveillance) towers were kind of tall, clunky looking and not really pretty to look at. They were also kind of close together in order to get a better detection field when tagged items were carried through them. One of the complaints made by store management was that they wanted the protection offered by EAS tagging but they didn’t want these contraptions at the front doors. This was especially true in the upscale department store where I worked. The tagging of clothing was bad enough these were designer name brand items we were carrying and tags at that time were not attractive to look at. Let’s just say they didn’t enhance the appearance of the merchandise. Then you add to that the fact that customers had to enter and exit through the towers and obviously it just ruined the ambiance from the get-go. The issue is how do you stop shoplifting and retain the look you want for your store? We’ll delve into that in a moment. First I want to let everyone know what a Checkpoint Overhead System from Loss Prevention Systems Inc. is and what it can do for your store in terms of appearance and the ability to stop shoplifting.
To begin with a Checkpoint Overhead System is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system that operates on a system of radio waves emitted from an EAS tagged item to trigger overhead EAS system receivers. The receiver has a certain area in which it can pick up those waves and when it does it sounds an alarm that alerts store employees that tagged goods are being removed from the store. Employees go to the door, conduct a receipt check and recover the unpaid for items. In other words a Checkpoint Overhead System will stop shoplifting and improve profits. Like myself, Bill Bregar CEO of Loss Prevention Systems Inc. despises thieves and wants to help stores improve their bottom line through retail theft prevention. He understands that stores also have differing needs. Some want an upscale look and others simply want no antennas on the floor. Overhead EAS systems meet both requirements. Since they are installed on the ceiling they are great for stores with tight floor space or for the upscale look there is no tower or pedestal to distract your patrons. For someone who has worked in retail for over 27 years, nearly 20 of that in Retail Loss Prevention I can tell you I am impressed at the advantages this type of system offers retailers.
The question you may be asking now is, “I thought EAS towers were a deterrent to shoplifters, and doesn’t this diminish that deterrent value?” My response is, “Not at all.” Here is why I say that. If a store has a good merchandise protection plan in place Checkpoint tags are going to be very visible on merchandise. The majority of shoplifters, even the “impulse” shoplifter will recognize a tag when they see it. They know what it can do and they usually will not bother trying to steal a tagged item. They may actually turn out to be more perplexed when they see the tags and don’t see a tower, not thinking to look up for a Checkpoint overhead system. I believe this system will do as much to stop shoplifting as the traditional towers you are accustomed to seeing and perhaps more.
One other advantage to an overhead EAS system is that there is simpler wiring, not on the floor, all overhead in the ceiling. Having been with a technician when they would come to my store on a service call I saw the blocking up of an entrance he would sometimes be forced to do. Wiring was in the floor and could be a pain to work on. All of the wiring for this system is overhead. Talk about less of a distraction to patrons!
Whether you are trying to get a cleaner, more upscale look or just have felt you didn’t have the room for an EAS tower system but still want to prevent shoplifting, Loss Prevention Systems Inc. can assist you. A Checkpoint overhead system will give you security and a great first impression to your clients.
For more information on a Checkpoint Overhead System contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now
A long time ago, when I first started working in Retail Loss Prevention there was no such thing as an overhead EAS system. At that time EAS (acronym for electronic article surveillance) towers were kind of tall, clunky looking and not really pretty to look at. They were also kind of close together in order to get a better detection field when tagged items were carried through them. One of the complaints made by store management was that they wanted the protection offered by EAS tagging but they didn’t want these contraptions at the front doors. This was especially true in the upscale department store where I worked. The tagging of clothing was bad enough these were designer name brand items we were carrying and tags at that time were not attractive to look at. Let’s just say they didn’t enhance the appearance of the merchandise. Then you add to that the fact that customers had to enter and exit through the towers and obviously it just ruined the ambiance from the get-go. The issue is how do you stop shoplifting and retain the look you want for your store? We’ll delve into that in a moment. First I want to let everyone know what a Checkpoint Overhead System from Loss Prevention Systems Inc. is and what it can do for your store in terms of appearance and the ability to stop shoplifting.
To begin with a Checkpoint Overhead System is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system that operates on a system of radio waves emitted from an EAS tagged item to trigger overhead EAS system receivers. The receiver has a certain area in which it can pick up those waves and when it does it sounds an alarm that alerts store employees that tagged goods are being removed from the store. Employees go to the door, conduct a receipt check and recover the unpaid for items. In other words a Checkpoint Overhead System will stop shoplifting and improve profits. Like myself, Bill Bregar CEO of Loss Prevention Systems Inc. despises thieves and wants to help stores improve their bottom line through retail theft prevention. He understands that stores also have differing needs. Some want an upscale look and others simply want no antennas on the floor. Overhead EAS systems meet both requirements. Since they are installed on the ceiling they are great for stores with tight floor space or for the upscale look there is no tower or pedestal to distract your patrons. For someone who has worked in retail for over 27 years, nearly 20 of that in Retail Loss Prevention I can tell you I am impressed at the advantages this type of system offers retailers.
The question you may be asking now is, “I thought EAS towers were a deterrent to shoplifters, and doesn’t this diminish that deterrent value?” My response is, “Not at all.” Here is why I say that. If a store has a good merchandise protection plan in place Checkpoint tags are going to be very visible on merchandise. The majority of shoplifters, even the “impulse” shoplifter will recognize a tag when they see it. They know what it can do and they usually will not bother trying to steal a tagged item. They may actually turn out to be more perplexed when they see the tags and don’t see a tower, not thinking to look up for a Checkpoint overhead system. I believe this system will do as much to stop shoplifting as the traditional towers you are accustomed to seeing and perhaps more.
One other advantage to an overhead EAS system is that there is simpler wiring, not on the floor, all overhead in the ceiling. Having been with a technician when they would come to my store on a service call I saw the blocking up of an entrance he would sometimes be forced to do. Wiring was in the floor and could be a pain to work on. All of the wiring for this system is overhead. Talk about less of a distraction to patrons!
Whether you are trying to get a cleaner, more upscale look or just have felt you didn’t have the room for an EAS tower system but still want to prevent shoplifting, Loss Prevention Systems Inc. can assist you. A Checkpoint overhead system will give you security and a great first impression to your clients.
For more information on a Checkpoint Overhead System contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now
ALPHA KEEPERS STOP FAKE SIDEBURNS FRAUDSTER FROM STEALING HIGH VALUE MERCHANDISE!
Alpha Keepers: 4 ML Blog 15
Prevent Shoplifting: 3
As a Loss Prevention expert, I’ve seen it ALL. I’ve caught grandmas loading up empty bags, to teachers concealing high dollar products. I’ve even caught people who like to wear funny costumes, thinking it will disguise themselves stealing. When you are on CCTV cameras all day, you truly never know what you will see next. No matter what funny or nonsensical incident you observe, it is important to know what merchandise protection will deter ANY shoplifter incident you may experience. Most stores will place spider wraps and large tags on their products for theft prevention purposes. But what can you do about your high dollar merchandise that cannot be spider wrapped or tagged? Alpha Keepers can be used for a majority of product to prevent shoplifting in retailers.
I frequently watch my CCTV cameras to analyze high theft trends, and to look for shoplifters to catch. I was watching cameras one afternoon, and noticed a subject acting suspicious and selected an expensive tactical bag. The subject was wearing a camo hoodie, a greenish satchel bag, and was clean shaven. The Manager on duty also noticed the behavior, so asked if the subject needed any help. The subject got nervous, left the merchandise, and exited the store. I obtained several face shots of the subject on camera, in case he decided to come back to my location at a later time. The following day, the same subject came back into the store wearing the exact same hoodie, greenish satchel, but this time something was VERY different. The subject placed massive, party style fake sideburns & a goatee on his face. It was very obvious & easy to see they were fake, stick on facial hair. Immediately I started receiving calls from associates to see if I was watching the subject. He must have thought this was disguising himself, but instead it brought attention to himself. I could not believe he did that, especially since he did not go through the trouble to change out his clothes or bag. Next, the subject selected 2 high dollar knives, secured by Alpha Keepers. The subject went to a corner of the store, which he thought did not have cameras. He tries to pry the security devices open, but failed miserably. He pulls out his own knife and tries cutting through them, but cannot. He tried for a total of 15 minutes, then finally gave up. His ultimate plans failed, and he left all the merchandise. My store lost nothing in this incident, but could have lost 2 high dollar products, not including the return trips that would have followed. After showing the video of both incidents to my team members, we could not believe that the subject actually came into the store clean shaven one evening, and the next with party style fake facial hair. After this incident, I have not seen him back in my location! This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha Keepers to prevent shoplifting.
There is never a dull moment working in Loss Prevention, and you never know what you will see! It’s moments like this that make us not only laugh, but realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest level possible. Alpha Keepers are available in different sizes and can be used in many different departments. The customer can also see the product information through the keepers, so it does not inhibit your sales. Due to the success rate, we decided to invest in these devices at all my locations. Utilizing the best security devices prevent shoplifting, no matter what strange situation may arise in your building.
Need information on the Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
As a Loss Prevention expert, I’ve seen it ALL. I’ve caught grandmas loading up empty bags, to teachers concealing high dollar products. I’ve even caught people who like to wear funny costumes, thinking it will disguise themselves stealing. When you are on CCTV cameras all day, you truly never know what you will see next. No matter what funny or nonsensical incident you observe, it is important to know what merchandise protection will deter ANY shoplifter incident you may experience. Most stores will place spider wraps and large tags on their products for theft prevention purposes. But what can you do about your high dollar merchandise that cannot be spider wrapped or tagged? Alpha Keepers can be used for a majority of product to prevent shoplifting in retailers.
I frequently watch my CCTV cameras to analyze high theft trends, and to look for shoplifters to catch. I was watching cameras one afternoon, and noticed a subject acting suspicious and selected an expensive tactical bag. The subject was wearing a camo hoodie, a greenish satchel bag, and was clean shaven. The Manager on duty also noticed the behavior, so asked if the subject needed any help. The subject got nervous, left the merchandise, and exited the store. I obtained several face shots of the subject on camera, in case he decided to come back to my location at a later time. The following day, the same subject came back into the store wearing the exact same hoodie, greenish satchel, but this time something was VERY different. The subject placed massive, party style fake sideburns & a goatee on his face. It was very obvious & easy to see they were fake, stick on facial hair. Immediately I started receiving calls from associates to see if I was watching the subject. He must have thought this was disguising himself, but instead it brought attention to himself. I could not believe he did that, especially since he did not go through the trouble to change out his clothes or bag. Next, the subject selected 2 high dollar knives, secured by Alpha Keepers. The subject went to a corner of the store, which he thought did not have cameras. He tries to pry the security devices open, but failed miserably. He pulls out his own knife and tries cutting through them, but cannot. He tried for a total of 15 minutes, then finally gave up. His ultimate plans failed, and he left all the merchandise. My store lost nothing in this incident, but could have lost 2 high dollar products, not including the return trips that would have followed. After showing the video of both incidents to my team members, we could not believe that the subject actually came into the store clean shaven one evening, and the next with party style fake facial hair. After this incident, I have not seen him back in my location! This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha Keepers to prevent shoplifting.
There is never a dull moment working in Loss Prevention, and you never know what you will see! It’s moments like this that make us not only laugh, but realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest level possible. Alpha Keepers are available in different sizes and can be used in many different departments. The customer can also see the product information through the keepers, so it does not inhibit your sales. Due to the success rate, we decided to invest in these devices at all my locations. Utilizing the best security devices prevent shoplifting, no matter what strange situation may arise in your building.
Need information on the Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Training to reduce employee theft – 4 WC Blog 468
Employee Theft-3
Managers Need To Be Tuned In To Employee Theft
Does your store have a process for marking out or store-using merchandise for store needs? The store I currently work for does and so have the prior three stores I worked in as a Loss Prevention Associate or Manager. In my current store if there is a need for let’s say trash bags and we have run out, someone on the store management team can permit the item to be “store-used” and removed from store shelves. The employee marks the sku number in a book and later the manager removes it from store inventory. The item is to be marked in some manner as store property so there is no question it has been processed properly. If a manager hasn’t gone through training to reduce employee theft they may not realize when someone is taking advantage of a process. Employee theft can also take place when managers are too trusting and don’t question what or why an associate is doing something.
You may not have even realized there was a need for training to reduce employee theft or you may not have known there was training available. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. has programs available that will educate retail owners and managers on why employee theft is such a big concern and how it affects stores. The training demonstrates the various methods that employees use to steal from their employer whether it is cash or merchandise. Bill Bregar, owner and President of Loss Prevention Systems Inc., draws on his education, training and years of upper level Retail Loss Prevention Management experience to educate others. He can show you how losses are occurring in your store without you realizing it until it is time to conduct an annual inventory. Since most smaller or independent retail owners can’t afford a Loss Prevention team of their own, managers HAVE to know how employee theft takes place and how they can prevent it. This training does that!
The reason I am talking about store using merchandise and employee theft is because I encountered such an issue during my time as a Loss Prevention for a big box retail store. I was going through our store’s requisition log verifying nothing seemed unusual or outlandish. Initially the records for the month were looking in order. The employee who had done the requisition was listed, the date was written, the item description was logged in and an approving manager’s initials were in place. As I was nearing the end I found one store use that seemed odd. Our maintenance person had requisitioned an expensive multiplier tool. He was not working so I went to his work area which was locked and could not locate it. I asked the manager who approved it if there was a reason for the requisition. The manager said the maintenance person said he needed it so he gave the okay. I reminded the manager that the maintenance department had a procedure for ordering the supplies and tools they needed and that this was not a required item. The manager had not considered that there was a possibility there could be an employee theft issue. This was a manager who HAD undergone training to reduce employee theft. He had been trained as a store associate by me and when promoted went through a detailed manager training program.
Ultimately I confronted the employee and asked about the tool. He showed me a cheap version of a multi-tool and I told him that was not the one he had requisitioned. He then said he had it at home and that he always took his tools home at the end of the day. I to writing him up for failure to follow procedures and warned him to leave store merchandise at the store.
While the requisition and the employee’s intention to steal the item (in my mind at least) were at issue, the bigger problem was the manager not being alert to a potential theft issue. How many other things was the manager not tuned in to? Managers can prevent shortage and theft but they must know there are employees in the ranks who are willing to steal even if they are likeable people. Training to reduce employee theft can bring awareness to your team and make your business more profitable.
Need information on employee theft? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Does your store have a process for marking out or store-using merchandise for store needs? The store I currently work for does and so have the prior three stores I worked in as a Loss Prevention Associate or Manager. In my current store if there is a need for let’s say trash bags and we have run out, someone on the store management team can permit the item to be “store-used” and removed from store shelves. The employee marks the sku number in a book and later the manager removes it from store inventory. The item is to be marked in some manner as store property so there is no question it has been processed properly. If a manager hasn’t gone through training to reduce employee theft they may not realize when someone is taking advantage of a process. Employee theft can also take place when managers are too trusting and don’t question what or why an associate is doing something.
You may not have even realized there was a need for training to reduce employee theft or you may not have known there was training available. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. has programs available that will educate retail owners and managers on why employee theft is such a big concern and how it affects stores. The training demonstrates the various methods that employees use to steal from their employer whether it is cash or merchandise. Bill Bregar, owner and President of Loss Prevention Systems Inc., draws on his education, training and years of upper level Retail Loss Prevention Management experience to educate others. He can show you how losses are occurring in your store without you realizing it until it is time to conduct an annual inventory. Since most smaller or independent retail owners can’t afford a Loss Prevention team of their own, managers HAVE to know how employee theft takes place and how they can prevent it. This training does that!
The reason I am talking about store using merchandise and employee theft is because I encountered such an issue during my time as a Loss Prevention for a big box retail store. I was going through our store’s requisition log verifying nothing seemed unusual or outlandish. Initially the records for the month were looking in order. The employee who had done the requisition was listed, the date was written, the item description was logged in and an approving manager’s initials were in place. As I was nearing the end I found one store use that seemed odd. Our maintenance person had requisitioned an expensive multiplier tool. He was not working so I went to his work area which was locked and could not locate it. I asked the manager who approved it if there was a reason for the requisition. The manager said the maintenance person said he needed it so he gave the okay. I reminded the manager that the maintenance department had a procedure for ordering the supplies and tools they needed and that this was not a required item. The manager had not considered that there was a possibility there could be an employee theft issue. This was a manager who HAD undergone training to reduce employee theft. He had been trained as a store associate by me and when promoted went through a detailed manager training program.
Ultimately I confronted the employee and asked about the tool. He showed me a cheap version of a multi-tool and I told him that was not the one he had requisitioned. He then said he had it at home and that he always took his tools home at the end of the day. I to writing him up for failure to follow procedures and warned him to leave store merchandise at the store.
While the requisition and the employee’s intention to steal the item (in my mind at least) were at issue, the bigger problem was the manager not being alert to a potential theft issue. How many other things was the manager not tuned in to? Managers can prevent shortage and theft but they must know there are employees in the ranks who are willing to steal even if they are likeable people. Training to reduce employee theft can bring awareness to your team and make your business more profitable.
Need information on employee theft? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Return Fraud-5 WC Blog 393
Wardrobing-5
Online Clothing Rental Stores Are Not A Remedy To Return Fraud Caused By Wardrobing
For retailers clothing return fraud has been a problem for many years. Customers come in to find an outfit they like, purchase it and take it home. The customer removes or hides the tags and wears the garments out to an event or just to be seen in public. Often this is to impress their friends and give the appearance that they are purchasing new clothes on a regular basis. After they wear the clothes once or twice the purchaser puts the clothing tags back on the merchandise or if they had taped them up they allow the tags to hang loose again. The clothes are then returned to the store and the customer has the original receipt and seeks a full refund. This type of return fraud is known as wardrobing.
You may be wondering why a store would allow wardrobing to take place. Perhaps you own a small retail clothing shop yourself and can’t understand how someone could let this happen. It may surprise you but if you have been selling clothes for any length of time you have probably been the victim of a clothing return scam and didn’t realize it. Office supply stores and even online sites provide easy access to the purchase of ticketing guns that use the plastic hangers that hold manufacturer hang tags on clothing. It isn’t difficult to take off and replace tags in this fashion. The other trick is simply to tuck a tag up the sleeve of a shirt or jacket or down the neck and tape it against the material to avoid it falling out and being seen by others. Aside from possible stains or odors, when the tags are in place again it can be very hard to know the clothing had been worn. I have often joked that it would be better if stores just rented clothes and it wouldn’t matter if people wore the garments and returned them.
I bring this all up because the other day I saw a commercial for an online retailer that rents clothes out. For a moment I thought that it sounded like a good idea. Then I looked into a couple of similar websites that advertised services that closely resembled the advertisement I had watched on television. I did a little digging and found that what it looks like these retailers do is have customers sign up for subscriptions and then pay a monthly fee or they charge for an item to be rented and an additional charge if it is not returned on time. Some websites even give an option to rent the item for one price or purchase it outright for another price. While this does sound good and could provide opportunities for a person to wear a rented wardrobe I am not convinced it will do any good in preventing wardrobing among the swindlers who engage in the activity.
Here is what I am saying, if someone wardrobes, the perpetrator does not want to pay anything for the clothing they are purchasing. Their mindset is to appear to be buying the clothes and then return them for a full refund. The act of wardrobing is to avoid paying anything at all for the clothing. Therefore, renting clothes online or purchasing a subscription is not going to appeal to people who commit return fraud.
I did find it interesting that at least one of the clothing rental companies I looked up appears to use wardrobing tags on their merchandise. In their FAQ section they remind a client not to remove the “security tag” until they have tried on the merchandise to ensure it fits. If it is removed the client is charged the rental fee when it is returned. This sounds much like Alpha Shark Tags which are one- time use tags that are to be cut off by a customer, not the store. Once cut off it prevents the item from being able to be returned whether it is to a traditional brick and mortar store or an online retailer.
Return fraud is a drain on retailers. From the amount of time a salesperson spends helping the fraudster to the determination of what to do with the merchandise when it is returned. Is the garment serviceable? Are there stains or odors? Does it have to be cleaned or marked out of stock and destroyed? All of these things can cost the store more money. Don’t allow return fraud to hurt your profit line, use Alpha Shark Tags and don’t worry if you have or have not been a victim in the past, you won’t be again.
Need information on return fraud? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
For retailers clothing return fraud has been a problem for many years. Customers come in to find an outfit they like, purchase it and take it home. The customer removes or hides the tags and wears the garments out to an event or just to be seen in public. Often this is to impress their friends and give the appearance that they are purchasing new clothes on a regular basis. After they wear the clothes once or twice the purchaser puts the clothing tags back on the merchandise or if they had taped them up they allow the tags to hang loose again. The clothes are then returned to the store and the customer has the original receipt and seeks a full refund. This type of return fraud is known as wardrobing.
You may be wondering why a store would allow wardrobing to take place. Perhaps you own a small retail clothing shop yourself and can’t understand how someone could let this happen. It may surprise you but if you have been selling clothes for any length of time you have probably been the victim of a clothing return scam and didn’t realize it. Office supply stores and even online sites provide easy access to the purchase of ticketing guns that use the plastic hangers that hold manufacturer hang tags on clothing. It isn’t difficult to take off and replace tags in this fashion. The other trick is simply to tuck a tag up the sleeve of a shirt or jacket or down the neck and tape it against the material to avoid it falling out and being seen by others. Aside from possible stains or odors, when the tags are in place again it can be very hard to know the clothing had been worn. I have often joked that it would be better if stores just rented clothes and it wouldn’t matter if people wore the garments and returned them.
I bring this all up because the other day I saw a commercial for an online retailer that rents clothes out. For a moment I thought that it sounded like a good idea. Then I looked into a couple of similar websites that advertised services that closely resembled the advertisement I had watched on television. I did a little digging and found that what it looks like these retailers do is have customers sign up for subscriptions and then pay a monthly fee or they charge for an item to be rented and an additional charge if it is not returned on time. Some websites even give an option to rent the item for one price or purchase it outright for another price. While this does sound good and could provide opportunities for a person to wear a rented wardrobe I am not convinced it will do any good in preventing wardrobing among the swindlers who engage in the activity.
Here is what I am saying, if someone wardrobes, the perpetrator does not want to pay anything for the clothing they are purchasing. Their mindset is to appear to be buying the clothes and then return them for a full refund. The act of wardrobing is to avoid paying anything at all for the clothing. Therefore, renting clothes online or purchasing a subscription is not going to appeal to people who commit return fraud.
I did find it interesting that at least one of the clothing rental companies I looked up appears to use wardrobing tags on their merchandise. In their FAQ section they remind a client not to remove the “security tag” until they have tried on the merchandise to ensure it fits. If it is removed the client is charged the rental fee when it is returned. This sounds much like Alpha Shark Tags which are one- time use tags that are to be cut off by a customer, not the store. Once cut off it prevents the item from being able to be returned whether it is to a traditional brick and mortar store or an online retailer.
Return fraud is a drain on retailers. From the amount of time a salesperson spends helping the fraudster to the determination of what to do with the merchandise when it is returned. Is the garment serviceable? Are there stains or odors? Does it have to be cleaned or marked out of stock and destroyed? All of these things can cost the store more money. Don’t allow return fraud to hurt your profit line, use Alpha Shark Tags and don’t worry if you have or have not been a victim in the past, you won’t be again.
Need information on return fraud? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
