Alpha Shark Tags-5 , Wardrobing-4 , Return Fraud-4
Shark Tags Help Balance Return Policy With Customer Service
Returns are a necessary evil when it comes to the retail business. There is a fine line between being a pushover and being too strict on customers that need to make a return. Businesses have to fight return fraud, but they have to maintain exemplary service in order to keep loyal customers. Wardrobing is the one particular type of return fraud that is considered to be the most heinous. That is where people purchase an item with the full intention of returning it. Basically, they want to “rent” what they want or need for free. Then they use the store’s return policy against them by having all the requirements like the original receipts, packaging, and price tags with the item. But of course, the store cannot resell the merchandise because it has been clearly used.
I am an avid online shopper. (I am excitedly waiting for a pair of shoes I just ordered a few days ago.) I have seen all kinds of return policies, and some are pretty stuff. I have seen restocking fees that range from 10% all the way up to 20% of the original purchase price for a return. Some stores require the customer to request a return authorization number within a certain number of days after receiving the item. Many times the customer has to pay for the return shipping if they bought the item online. I was looking at dresses for my daughter at a couple online dealers and most of them have posted they do not accept returns under any circumstances. That seems a little harsh. If I buy a dress online, I expect to be able to return it if it gets here and the sizing isn’t correct! But I get where these business are coming from. Wardrobing is a huge problem for retailers that sell formal wear. Many surveys put return fraud as one of the top of theft issues clothing retailers face.
Not to sound too cliché, but someone had to take a bite out of this type of crime. That problem is probably one reason the Alpha Shark Tag was invented. This is a nifty little tag that clips directly to an item or can be attached via lanyard. Many retailers that utilize the Alpha Shark Tag also use it to clip on a small copy of the return policy. The problem with wardrobing is the customer comes back with a wrinkled, soiled, smelly, spotted and stained garment they wore to go out on the town and they are now standing at the counter expecting a full refund. The store can no longer sell this item so they lose the original sale and the inventory. The purpose of the Alpha Shark Tag is to dissuade the buyer from attempting wardrobing. They are informed at the time of purchase that the tag must remain on the dress or other garment. It will not be removed by the clerk like most other tags on clothing. It is designed to be removed at home with a simple pair of household scissors. Once removed, however, the item is no longer eligible for any type of refund. It is important to note that the Alpha Shark Tag is meant to be clipped onto a very prominent area of the garment in order to discourage the customer from trying to wear it anyway. Instead of changing your return policy to a bunch of strict rules that punishes your loyal customers, try Alpha Shark Tags instead. Your customers will appreciate it.
For more information on how to stop Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Returns are a necessary evil when it comes to the retail business. There is a fine line between being a pushover and being too strict on customers that need to make a return. Businesses have to fight return fraud, but they have to maintain exemplary service in order to keep loyal customers. Wardrobing is the one particular type of return fraud that is considered to be the most heinous. That is where people purchase an item with the full intention of returning it. Basically, they want to “rent” what they want or need for free. Then they use the store’s return policy against them by having all the requirements like the original receipts, packaging, and price tags with the item. But of course, the store cannot resell the merchandise because it has been clearly used.
I am an avid online shopper. (I am excitedly waiting for a pair of shoes I just ordered a few days ago.) I have seen all kinds of return policies, and some are pretty stuff. I have seen restocking fees that range from 10% all the way up to 20% of the original purchase price for a return. Some stores require the customer to request a return authorization number within a certain number of days after receiving the item. Many times the customer has to pay for the return shipping if they bought the item online. I was looking at dresses for my daughter at a couple online dealers and most of them have posted they do not accept returns under any circumstances. That seems a little harsh. If I buy a dress online, I expect to be able to return it if it gets here and the sizing isn’t correct! But I get where these business are coming from. Wardrobing is a huge problem for retailers that sell formal wear. Many surveys put return fraud as one of the top of theft issues clothing retailers face.
Not to sound too cliché, but someone had to take a bite out of this type of crime. That problem is probably one reason the Alpha Shark Tag was invented. This is a nifty little tag that clips directly to an item or can be attached via lanyard. Many retailers that utilize the Alpha Shark Tag also use it to clip on a small copy of the return policy. The problem with wardrobing is the customer comes back with a wrinkled, soiled, smelly, spotted and stained garment they wore to go out on the town and they are now standing at the counter expecting a full refund. The store can no longer sell this item so they lose the original sale and the inventory. The purpose of the Alpha Shark Tag is to dissuade the buyer from attempting wardrobing. They are informed at the time of purchase that the tag must remain on the dress or other garment. It will not be removed by the clerk like most other tags on clothing. It is designed to be removed at home with a simple pair of household scissors. Once removed, however, the item is no longer eligible for any type of refund. It is important to note that the Alpha Shark Tag is meant to be clipped onto a very prominent area of the garment in order to discourage the customer from trying to wear it anyway. Instead of changing your return policy to a bunch of strict rules that punishes your loyal customers, try Alpha Shark Tags instead. Your customers will appreciate it.
For more information on how to stop Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Alpha Security – 5 WC blog 70
Retail Anti-Theft Devices – 4
Prevent Shoplifting -3
Alpha Spider Wrap-3
Alpha 3 Alarm-3
One Size May Not Fit All, But Alpha Security Has The Right Anti-Theft Device For You!
How many times do we hear the term “One Size Fits All”? I don’t know about you but I am usually hesitant to purchase anything that is sold as “One Size Fits All” or “Universal” because it rarely seems to work out for me. For example, I recently purchased a bathtub hardware kit for some plumbing work I had to do. I dropped about $45 or so into a “Universal” kit. Let me tell you this, I am not sure WHICH universe the kit was designed for but apparently it was not mine. After several trips to the hardware store I was able to get all the parts together and fix my problem (thank you ‘You Tube’!) I share this adventure because the same sort of issues can arise when looking for products that will help you prevent shoplifting. There are a lot of retail anti-theft devices on the market, but knowing what will or won’t be the right solution for your store can be a tricky problem. I am going to provide some information on Alpha Security products that will help you in your decision making process.
Before I get into a discussion of specific products, it should be understood that in order to prevent shoplifting or even employee theft, one crucial component a store needs to have is an electronic article surveillance system (EAS). This is the antenna system that detects retail anti-theft devices such as Alpha Security products and sounds an alarm as someone attempts to exit the store with an Alpha device on it. Checkpoint Systems would be one such company that could provide you with more information on installing an EAS system.
As for merchandise protection, Alpha Security has solutions to prevent shoplifting for everything from clothing to electronics. One product is not going to work for all of the categories of product you may sell. Alpha Spider Wrap, for example, is great for protecting boxed merchandise like computers and LCD televisions but it won’t do you any good for protecting suits or dresses. Likewise, Alpha 3-Alarm clothing tags will not be any help to you in the video game section of your store. Each retail anti-theft device has a type of merchandise or packaging design it is developed to protect. Even in these categories there are variations. For instance, Alpha Spider Wrap can be ordered in several sizes for protecting small boxes such as headphone sets to an extra- large wrap that will cover a television. Try to place an extra-large wrap on a small box and the wrap slips off, not a great idea.
If it is clothing you are trying to protect Alpha products provide a selection of devices to choose from, but you may have to consider what type of protection you need. An Alpha 3-Alarm tag may be great for designer jeans but not so useful for a brassier. The delicate fabrics and need for proper fitting may require an alternative anti-theft solution offered by Alpha Security. Finding the right solution for your product lines will prevent theft and offer your customer a pleasant shopping experience.
Alpha Security products offer the best line of defense against shoplifting because they are designed to fit specific needs. While one size fits all may sound good, having a product that fits a specific requirement is often the best solution. Whether it is an Alpha 3-Alarm tag for your soft line merchandise or Alpha Spider Wrap for electronics, Alpha’s retail anti-shoplifting product line can fit any need you may have.
For more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
How many times do we hear the term “One Size Fits All”? I don’t know about you but I am usually hesitant to purchase anything that is sold as “One Size Fits All” or “Universal” because it rarely seems to work out for me. For example, I recently purchased a bathtub hardware kit for some plumbing work I had to do. I dropped about $45 or so into a “Universal” kit. Let me tell you this, I am not sure WHICH universe the kit was designed for but apparently it was not mine. After several trips to the hardware store I was able to get all the parts together and fix my problem (thank you ‘You Tube’!) I share this adventure because the same sort of issues can arise when looking for products that will help you prevent shoplifting. There are a lot of retail anti-theft devices on the market, but knowing what will or won’t be the right solution for your store can be a tricky problem. I am going to provide some information on Alpha Security products that will help you in your decision making process.
Before I get into a discussion of specific products, it should be understood that in order to prevent shoplifting or even employee theft, one crucial component a store needs to have is an electronic article surveillance system (EAS). This is the antenna system that detects retail anti-theft devices such as Alpha Security products and sounds an alarm as someone attempts to exit the store with an Alpha device on it. Checkpoint Systems would be one such company that could provide you with more information on installing an EAS system.
As for merchandise protection, Alpha Security has solutions to prevent shoplifting for everything from clothing to electronics. One product is not going to work for all of the categories of product you may sell. Alpha Spider Wrap, for example, is great for protecting boxed merchandise like computers and LCD televisions but it won’t do you any good for protecting suits or dresses. Likewise, Alpha 3-Alarm clothing tags will not be any help to you in the video game section of your store. Each retail anti-theft device has a type of merchandise or packaging design it is developed to protect. Even in these categories there are variations. For instance, Alpha Spider Wrap can be ordered in several sizes for protecting small boxes such as headphone sets to an extra- large wrap that will cover a television. Try to place an extra-large wrap on a small box and the wrap slips off, not a great idea.
If it is clothing you are trying to protect Alpha products provide a selection of devices to choose from, but you may have to consider what type of protection you need. An Alpha 3-Alarm tag may be great for designer jeans but not so useful for a brassier. The delicate fabrics and need for proper fitting may require an alternative anti-theft solution offered by Alpha Security. Finding the right solution for your product lines will prevent theft and offer your customer a pleasant shopping experience.
Alpha Security products offer the best line of defense against shoplifting because they are designed to fit specific needs. While one size fits all may sound good, having a product that fits a specific requirement is often the best solution. Whether it is an Alpha 3-Alarm tag for your soft line merchandise or Alpha Spider Wrap for electronics, Alpha’s retail anti-shoplifting product line can fit any need you may have.
For more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Bottle Locks -5 WC blog 83
Liquor bottle security -4
Lack of Locks Lead To Looted Bottles- Bottle Locks Stump Shoplifters
I am reading reports on recent wine thefts from grocery stores and some I find rather amusing for example one headline reads, “Police: Man guzzles stolen wine in grocery store bathroom, steals sushi in pants”; another headline reads, “Woman stole wine to follow boyfriend to jail”. On the other hand there are some headlines that make me nearly choke as I read them, “More than $250,000 worth of wine stolen from Branford distributer” and “Thief steals $2k-worth of rare wine from N.J. store, cops say”. As I continued to look at videos of shoplifters stealing wine and liquor, I noticed that where I could see clear images of the bottles I did not notice bottle locks on the merchandise! One video from November 2015, was from a news team interviewing a liquor store owner about a shoplifter who has been stealing from his store. The store owner points to a $119.99 bottle of Patron liquor (the shelf label was clearly visible) and describes how the shoplifters are stealing from his store. Absolutely no liquor bottle security measures, aside from cameras, were visible from what I was seeing.
Though these are not my stores, and I am no longer actively in the Loss Prevention field, I get frustrated when I see these types of reports and I know that there are steps these owners could be taking to prevent these types of thefts. The simple addition of bottle locks would prevent a large amount of the theft these stores are experiencing. Bottle locks are placed over the bottle cap and lock in place so a thief can’t open the bottle. These locks are secure enough that if someone were to attempt to pry one off of a bottle they are likely to break the bottle. If a liquor store owner installs an electronic article surveillance system (EAS) at all store entrances, bottles with locks on them passing through the antenna will activate the EAS alarm system. Liquor bottle security doesn’t have to be a complicated endeavor and it can save big bucks in shortage.
Store owners who rely on closed circuit television for security fail to realize that these are passive tools unless monitored by security personnel or store staff. When looking through videos posted online, most of them refer to shoplifters caught on camera. This is because someone noticed, after the fact that merchandise was missing and they went back and reviewed video to look for footage of possible suspects. The downside is the shoplifters are usually long gone and police are seeking assistance from the community to identify suspects. Using bottle locks does two things for the store owner/manager, first if an alarm is triggered when a locked bottle gets to the door, someone can respond to the alarm immediately and possibly recover merchandise. Second, if a shoplifter were to activate the alarm and run, even if they get away police can be called right away and video review can take place immediately, not hours or days later. The ability to respond as soon as a theft or attempted theft takes place gives police a much better chance of catching a thief.
The question arises, why bother with liquor bottle security and locks if someone can still steal a bottle or bottles? From my own experience and from reviewing these online incidents, I can tell you that many of the high dollar shoplifting cases are the result of repeat shoplifters. These thieves hit the same stores over and over because the opportunity is available to them. Merchandise is readily available, no measures are in place to deter them and I would speculate that there are not enough employees available to give the level of service needed to remove the opportunity to steal. The bad guys don’t want attention, so as long as nothing will set off an alarm or alert employees that a theft is taking place, they are comfortable returning to the same stores.
Bottle Locks and an EAS system as part of a security system that incorporates EAS antennas and closed circuit television will drive theft down. Don’t be an easy target for shoplifters, invest in liquor bottle security, and see your profits grow.
For more information on Bottle Locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
I am reading reports on recent wine thefts from grocery stores and some I find rather amusing for example one headline reads, “Police: Man guzzles stolen wine in grocery store bathroom, steals sushi in pants”; another headline reads, “Woman stole wine to follow boyfriend to jail”. On the other hand there are some headlines that make me nearly choke as I read them, “More than $250,000 worth of wine stolen from Branford distributer” and “Thief steals $2k-worth of rare wine from N.J. store, cops say”. As I continued to look at videos of shoplifters stealing wine and liquor, I noticed that where I could see clear images of the bottles I did not notice bottle locks on the merchandise! One video from November 2015, was from a news team interviewing a liquor store owner about a shoplifter who has been stealing from his store. The store owner points to a $119.99 bottle of Patron liquor (the shelf label was clearly visible) and describes how the shoplifters are stealing from his store. Absolutely no liquor bottle security measures, aside from cameras, were visible from what I was seeing.
Though these are not my stores, and I am no longer actively in the Loss Prevention field, I get frustrated when I see these types of reports and I know that there are steps these owners could be taking to prevent these types of thefts. The simple addition of bottle locks would prevent a large amount of the theft these stores are experiencing. Bottle locks are placed over the bottle cap and lock in place so a thief can’t open the bottle. These locks are secure enough that if someone were to attempt to pry one off of a bottle they are likely to break the bottle. If a liquor store owner installs an electronic article surveillance system (EAS) at all store entrances, bottles with locks on them passing through the antenna will activate the EAS alarm system. Liquor bottle security doesn’t have to be a complicated endeavor and it can save big bucks in shortage.
Store owners who rely on closed circuit television for security fail to realize that these are passive tools unless monitored by security personnel or store staff. When looking through videos posted online, most of them refer to shoplifters caught on camera. This is because someone noticed, after the fact that merchandise was missing and they went back and reviewed video to look for footage of possible suspects. he downside is the shoplifters are usually long gone and police are seeking assistance from the community to identify suspects. Using bottle locks does two things for the store owner/manager, first if an alarm is triggered when a locked bottle gets to the door, someone can respond to the alarm immediately and possibly recover merchandise. Second, if a shoplifter were to activate the alarm and run, even if they get away police can be called right away and video review can take place immediately, not hours or days later. The ability to respond as soon as a theft or attempted theft takes place gives police a much better chance of catching a thief.
The question arises, why bother with liquor bottle security and locks if someone can still steal a bottle or bottles? From my own experience and from reviewing these online incidents, I can tell you that many of the high dollar shoplifting cases are the result of repeat shoplifters. These thieves hit the same stores over and over because the opportunity is available to them. Merchandise is readily available, no measures are in place to deter them and I would speculate that there are not enough employees available to give the level of service needed to remove the opportunity to steal. The bad guys don’t want attention, so as long as nothing will set off an alarm or alert employees that a theft is taking place, they are comfortable returning to the same stores.
Bottle Locks, EAS system and closed circuit televisions will drive theft down. Don’t be an easy target for shoplifters, invest in liquor bottle security, and see your profits grow.
For more information on Bottle Locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
