Don’t Irritate Customers With Poor Merchandise Protection – Use Sensormatic Safers Part 2

 

Sensormatic Safers – 4                                                                                                                     WC Blog 738
Retail Anti-Theft Devices – 4
Don’t Irritate Customers With Poor Merchandise Protection – Use Sensormatic Safers Part 2
     Perhaps the title of this article should be, “Don’t irritate ME with Poor Merchandise Protection – Use Sensormatic Safers Part 2”. I started Part 1 of this series discussing several aspects of retail which have recently irritated ME as a customer in some stores. I will say though that I am very certain that what I get perturbed about also perturbs other customers and some of them even more so. In my list of grievances I mentioned several that had to do with the merchandise protection strategies or lack of strategies that need to be improved upon. While most of the issues took place when I was shopping in big box retail stores I know they will not heed my pleas to address the concerns. On the other hand owners of the smaller, independent stores may be open to the wisdom of someone with over 28 years of retail experience and 17 of those in Retail Loss Prevention.
     I am frustrated at store management dependence on locking showcases and locking peghooks in lieu of other retail anti-theft devices on the market that are much better alternatives. Lock-up display cases sound like a cure all for theft. Lock it behind a glass door and it can’t be stolen right? Put it on a locking peghook and customers can still look at the item but shoplifters are thwarted in trying to steal the product. Let’s say I agree with you (which I can tell you from personal experience is not necessarily the case, no pun intended) and these are effective at stopping criminals I know of another method of protection that surpasses these methods. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI), a company with over 30 years of experience in theft prevention and shortage improvement, suggests the Sensormatic Safers to their clients as a way to drive sales and prevent shoplifting. A product is placed in a Safer and locked inside of it. Since the protective device works with electronic article surveillance towers a customer or shoplifter who gets too close to Sensormatic pedestals at the front doors will trip the alarm. The merchandise is only removed at the point of sale by the cashier. 
     I prefer the use of these retail anti-theft devices over the traditional lock-up case or locking peghook and here is why. If I am a customer and I want to just look at something that is locked up I have to seek assistance. It may be through a call button or it could be I have to search for an employee who is able to assist me but regardless of the method I have to get help. I don’t even know that I am going to make a purchase I simply want to look at merchandise. I should also mention that if the employee I do find doesn’t have the keys to the case and has to get someone who does, I am either going to get more frustrated or I am going to walk out. From the store manager perspective I know you are on a tight payroll budget so you may not have anyone immediately assigned to open display cases. You are working hard to balance a schedule out to cover all of your hours and get tasks done. I am going to sidetrack just for a minute. LPSI can help you improve your scheduling effectiveness based on foot traffic and it will also improve your sales. Contact them about the benefits of a door counting sensor for your business. Back to what I was saying, the Safer allows customers to pick up and view items without the necessity of associates unlocking retail anti-theft devices. The customer can choose to carry the item through the store while shopping and the item is removed at the point of sale. The customer AND the store manager benefits from the use of Sensormatic Safers.
     I will make one other observation about display cases and locking peghooks from my personal experiences. I have seen thieves break into display cases from the backside, cutting through pegboard. I have also seen them manipulate doors and I have seen them work in teams to confuse an employee and steal merchandise. I have observed merchandise removed from security peghooks when the hang tab was cut through. These are not perfect solutions in terms of retail anti-theft devices.
     Sensormatic Safers give security and flexibility to retailers and freedom to the shopper. Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that merchandise protection does not have to be an impediment to driving sales. A Sensormatic security system allows retailers the ability to enjoy the best of both worlds and that makes customers happy and store owners happy.
Sensormatic Safers are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk. 

Perhaps the title of this article should be, “Don’t irritate ME with Poor Merchandise Protection – Use Sensormatic Safers Part 2”. I started Part 1 of this series discussing several aspects of retail which have recently irritated ME as a customer in some stores. I will say though that I am very certain that what I get perturbed about also perturbs other customers and some of them even more so. In my list of grievances I mentioned several that had to do with the merchandise protection strategies or lack of strategies that need to be improved upon. While most of the issues took place when I was shopping in big box retail stores I know they will not heed my pleas to address the concerns. On the other hand owners of the smaller, independent stores may be open to the wisdom of someone with over 28 years of retail experience and 17 of those in Retail Loss Prevention.

I am frustrated at store management dependence on locking showcases and locking peghooks in lieu of other retail anti-theft devices on the market that are much better alternatives. Lock-up display cases sound like a cure all for theft. Lock it behind a glass door and it can’t be stolen right? Put it on a locking peghook and customers can still look at the item but shoplifters are thwarted in trying to steal the product. Let’s say I agree with you (which I can tell you from personal experience is not necessarily the case, no pun intended) and these are effective at stopping criminals I know of another method of protection that surpasses these methods. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI), a company with over 30 years of experience in theft prevention and shortage improvement, suggests the Sensormatic Safers to their clients as a way to drive sales and prevent shoplifting. A product is placed in a Safer and locked inside of it. Since the protective device works with electronic article surveillance towers a customer or shoplifter who gets too close to Sensormatic pedestals at the front doors will trip the alarm. The merchandise is only removed at the point of sale by the cashier. 

I prefer the use of these retail anti-theft devices over the traditional lock-up case or locking peghook and here is why. If I am a customer and I want to just look at something that is locked up I have to seek assistance. It may be through a call button or it could be I have to search for an employee who is able to assist me but regardless of the method I have to get help. I don’t even know that I am going to make a purchase I simply want to look at merchandise. I should also mention that if the employee I do find doesn’t have the keys to the case and has to get someone who does, I am either going to get more frustrated or I am going to walk out. From the store manager perspective I know you are on a tight payroll budget so you may not have anyone immediately assigned to open display cases. You are working hard to balance a schedule out to cover all of your hours and get tasks done. I am going to sidetrack just for a minute. LPSI can help you improve your scheduling effectiveness based on foot traffic and it will also improve your sales. Contact them about the benefits of a door counting sensor for your business. Back to what I was saying, the Safer allows customers to pick up and view items without the necessity of associates unlocking retail anti-theft devices. The customer can choose to carry the item through the store while shopping and the item is removed at the point of sale. The customer AND the store manager benefits from the use of Sensormatic Safers.

I will make one other observation about display cases and locking peghooks from my personal experiences. I have seen thieves break into display cases from the backside, cutting through pegboard. I have also seen them manipulate doors and I have seen them work in teams to confuse an employee and steal merchandise. I have observed merchandise removed from security peghooks when the hang tab was cut through. These are not perfect solutions in terms of retail anti-theft devices.

Sensormatic Safers give security and flexibility to retailers and freedom to the shopper. Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that merchandise protection does not have to be an impediment to driving sales. A Sensormatic security system allows retailers the ability to enjoy the best of both worlds and that makes customers happy and store owners happy.

 

Sensormatic Safers are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.