AA Blog 14
Checkpoint tags: 5
Retail Theft Prevention: 3
Don’t Let Shoplifters Run Your Business Into The Ground, Get Checkpoint Tags And Shoplifters Will Run To Your Competitors
When it comes to shoplifting loss prevention employees have some of the craziest stories. It continues to amaze me that there are so many people out there that not only shoplift, but do it on a regular basis, and have for many years. It almost becomes a sport for them. I have found that many of them have no remorse at all for stealing and do not see it as a negative thing. They are only disappointed when they get caught. I imagine there are plenty out there that never do get caught. Some of them are professionals who really educate themselves on retail theft prevention and what methods work best to avoid detection. They learn how particular stores operate and respond to shoplifting, so they can hone their skills, and remain undetected. Although, the majority of shoplifters, are typically normal people some of which have no intent to steal when they enter the store. They come from all different demographics and vary in age, shape and size. Even the rich, like Wynona Ryder or Lindsey Lohan, among others, have been caught shoplifting. This implies that money and necessity are not always the driving factor in these cases. Some shoplifters are less proficient than others and some use their age to their advantage. I have seen people try and conceal products such as large DVD players or other electronic devices in their clothes, as if the square shape of their body is normal. I have seen older people try and walk out with cases of beer, thinking that their age would deter employees from contacting them or trying to prevent them from leaving. I have also seen skilled shoplifters specifically go for items that were not tagged because they knew they could avoid detection. When it comes to shoplifting there is no perfect equation, no specific formula, we can use to identify shoplifters and or stop theft entirely. That is why it is so important for us in the retail theft prevention business to take action to protect our merchandise by using Checkpoint tags and labels.
Checkpoint tags are versatile, in that they provide security for many different products within the industry. They are a leader in retail theft prevention because they not only provide a physical deterrent they are also equipped with EAS technology. The EAS technology is coupled with EAS antennas to allow signaling and detection when they attempt to remove the merchandise from the store. They are easily deactivated at the time of sale, allowing for a smooth transaction and pleasant shopping experience. Checkpoint tags come in various sizes and types to include: hard tags, shackle tags and the auto peg tags. These tags can be attached to any product whether it is clothing, purses and bags, electronics, sporting goods and other household items. The auto peg hook protects peg hook merchandise such as razors, cosmetics or other display type items. These tags are made of a high quality and durable plastic that is difficult to damage or remove without being detected. So regardless of where the person is trying to conceal the product or even if they just try and walk out with it, the tags will alert loss prevention or other employees of the theft.
Checkpoint tags will deter and prevent shoplifting without the added cost of additional loss prevention manpower, video surveillance, or other equipment. These tags are reusable and easy to attach, resulting in a low cost means to improve security and increase profit. Every time someone manages to shoplift from you they are not only hurting your bottom line they are subsequently hurting your customers and the economy through price increases, unpaid taxes, and product availability. That’s why it is important to take the proper steps to protect yourself and ensure your customers are receiving the best products at the lowest prices.
Checkpoint tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
When it comes to shoplifting loss prevention employees have some of the craziest stories. It continues to amaze me that there are so many people out there that not only shoplift, but do it on a regular basis, and have for many years. It almost becomes a sport for them. I have found that many of them have no remorse at all for stealing and do not see it as a negative thing. They are only disappointed when they get caught. I imagine there are plenty out there that never do get caught. Some of them are professionals who really educate themselves on retail theft prevention and what methods work best to avoid detection. They learn how particular stores operate and respond to shoplifting, so they can hone their skills, and remain undetected. Although, the majority of shoplifters, are typically normal people some of which have no intent to steal when they enter the store. They come from all different demographics and vary in age, shape and size. Even the rich, like Wynona Ryder or Lindsey Lohan, among others, have been caught shoplifting. This implies that money and necessity are not always the driving factor in these cases. Some shoplifters are less proficient than others and some use their age to their advantage. I have seen people try and conceal products such as large DVD players or other electronic devices in their clothes, as if the square shape of their body is normal. I have seen older people try and walk out with cases of beer, thinking that their age would deter employees from contacting them or trying to prevent them from leaving. I have also seen skilled shoplifters specifically go for items that were not tagged because they knew they could avoid detection. When it comes to shoplifting there is no perfect equation, no specific formula, we can use to identify shoplifters and or stop theft entirely. That is why it is so important for us in the retail theft prevention business to take action to protect our merchandise by using Checkpoint tags and labels.
Checkpoint tags are versatile, in that they provide security for many different products within the industry. They are a leader in retail theft prevention because they not only provide a physical deterrent they are also equipped with EAS technology. The EAS technology is coupled with EAS antennas to allow signaling and detection when they attempt to remove the merchandise from the store. They are easily deactivated at the time of sale, allowing for a smooth transaction and pleasant shopping experience. Checkpoint tags come in various sizes and types to include: hard tags, shackle tags and the auto peg tags. These tags can be attached to any product whether it is clothing, purses and bags, electronics, sporting goods and other household items. The auto peg hook protects peg hook merchandise such as razors, cosmetics or other display type items. These tags are made of a high quality and durable plastic that is difficult to damage or remove without being detected. So regardless of where the person is trying to conceal the product or even if they just try and walk out with it, the tags will alert loss prevention or other employees of the theft.
Checkpoint tags will deter and prevent shoplifting without the added cost of additional loss prevention manpower, video surveillance, or other equipment. These tags are reusable and easy to attach, resulting in a low cost means to improve security and increase profit. Every time someone manages to shoplift from you they are not only hurting your bottom line they are subsequently hurting your customers and the economy through price increases, unpaid taxes, and product availability. That’s why it is important to take the proper steps to protect yourself and ensure your customers are receiving the best products at the lowest prices.
Checkpoint tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
What are some of the things that used to drive me crazy as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager and A Manager On Duty that I would like to clear up for people:
- No, the “sampler” chocolates with a cellophane wrap and a price tag on them are not free samples.
- Yes, we have a cooler of drinks at the checklanes and bags of chips, and no they are not complimentary to start your shopping journey as you enter the store.
- Yes, the size small shirt that is blue at the bottom of the stack is the same size small as the small red one you looked at on the top of the stack. And no, the shirts are not self-folding after you toss it back on the fixture.
- Yes, the price you see is the best price you will get, and no we are not a yard sale where you can dicker on a price.
- No, we don’t have a service to pick up the shopping cart you rolled all the way home and left there.
- Yes, a limit of six items at a time in the fitting room means six and not twenty.
- Oh, the lawnmower you want to return three months after buying it that has grass, dirt, scratches and dents doesn’t work so you want your money back? Gee, I don’t see why that would be a problem, and you say it hasn’t worked right since you bought it?
Finally; Yes, I see the tags are on the bathing suit you are returning and yes you have a receipt, and while I am sure that you bought it with sand already in it, I still can’t believe you are returning this! It was true I had people return swim wear they had obviously worn to the beach and at the end of their vacation return to the store. Tags were put back on the merchandise, they had receipts and policy dictated I had to accept the returns. Had Alpha Shark Tags been available to us, we would not have had those problems.
Why would Alpha Shark Tags have helped to prevent the return of used swim wear (or any other clothing for that matter)? These tags work because they are attached to clothing and not removed until the purchaser does so when they get home and decide to keep the item. Unlike manufacturer labels and price tickets that are attached by a plastic hang tag, the Alpha Shark Tag is clipped together and must be cut off to be removed. Once removed the tag cannot be reattached and is rendered useless. What does this matter? There are customers that commit return fraud by wardrobing. Wardrobing is the act of purchasing merchandise with the intention of wearing it once or twice and returning it. By using Shark Tags on garments a store is able to prevent wardrobing.
Wardrobing requires a customer to keep receipts and often they reattach price tags and merchandise tickets. With Alpha Shark Tags stores can enforce a policy requiring a tag to be on the merchandise in order to return it to the store. Yes, the clothing can still be tried on without any problems and a customer can know exactly what it will look like when they wear it. Clothes can even be given as a gift along with a gift receipt and then returned if the item doesn’t fit, as long as the tag is in place. For retailers, the beauty of the Shark Tag is that without the tag in place and attached, they can deny the return. The clothes that are returned will still be new and ready for resale, there is no necessity to markdown the garment due to wear.
Don’t lose profits due to wardrobing return fraud, use Alpha Shark Tags and have confidence that returned clothes are new and unused. You can also avoid some of those pet peeves that I was forced to endure.
Need more information on Alpha Shark Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
AIn this series I am discussing the dangers of data breaches to the reputation of a business, specifically medical care providers and how using Alpha Thunder Tags can help protect against medical tablet theft or i-pad theft. In 2014 and 2015 we saw a number of large retailers that were hacked and customer data exposed to potential criminal activity. It seemed that not a day went by when there wasn’t another story in the news about these cyber attacks. Hospitals experienced similar data breaches in addition to reports of stolen medical laptops and computers. Consumers were concerned that their personal information would be used for identity theft purposes and their credit history would be ruined. Does all of this exposure damage a company’s reputation? You bet it does. In an Aug 23, 2016 article in www.computerworld.com titled, “19% of shoppers would abandon a retailer that’s been hacked”, by Matt Hamben, the author writes, “The 2016 KPMG Consumer Loss Barometer report surveyed 448 consumers in the U.S. and found that 19% would abandon a retailer entirely over a hack. Another 33% said that fears their personal information would be exposed would keep them from a breached retailer for more than three months.”
You might be thinking I am comparing apples to oranges. How does a retail store data breach compare to a hospital or medical data breach? Consumer concerns with a retail store being hacked tend to revolve around the chance that credit card information could be stolen and used by criminals to open new accounts. When patient information is exposed, more is at stake than just credit card data. Medical history, prescriptions, addresses, billing information are all susceptable to fraudulent use. Both situations result in lowered consumer confidence. As clinics, hospitals and doctor offices are relying more on mobile technology such as tablets and i-pads, the chances of a device being stolen grows. Medical tablet theft or i-pad theft can lead to stored patient information being accessed by unauthorized users. If an Alpha Thunder Tag is attached to these devices the opportunity for theft is signifcantly reduced. A medical facility can install electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas at entrance/exits and if someone tries to smuggle a protected device out of that door, the antenna alarm is activated. The Alpha Thunder Tag also has a built in alarm that sounds if someone gets out the door and refuses to stop for those responding to the antenna alarm. The tags are built with tamper-proof protection to prevent a thief from removing the tag then leaving the building with the device. By protecting devices, you will protect the patient information contained in the device, or even the ability for someone to gain access to other client databases.
Interestingly, a data breach for a healthcare provider has a greater negative impact than a breach of a retailer. In a March 25, 2015 story on acainternational.org titled, “Most Patients Would Avoid Healthcare Providers After a Data Breach”, the article states, “More than half of recent hospital patients are willing to switch healthcare providers if their current provider undergoes a data breach, according to a TransUnion Healthcare report on results of a new survey.” http://www.acainternational.org/healthcaremarket-most-patients-would-avoid-healthcare-providers-after-a-data-breach-35518.aspx If a greater percentage of patients are concerned with a data breach of a healthcare provider than customers are with retail breaches, then one must consider the financial impact to the facility that loses potentially half of their patients. Hospitals and medical offices must do all they can to avoid losing such a significant portion of their clients. Protecting against medical tablet theft and i-pad theft is a step in the right direction.
Don’t risk losing your patient’s data or your patients due to the theft of mobile medical devices. Use Alpha Thunder Tags and retain your customer’s confidence and their information.
Need more information on Alpha Thunder Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
