Stop Shoplifting – 4 WC Blog 402
Employee Theft – 3
Training To Reduce Employee Theft – 3
Driving For Better Profits And Lower Shrink; Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. Offers Training To Reduce Employee Theft And Stop Shoplifting
A long time ago I taught my wife to drive. She had a few skills from when she was a little younger but had not pursued driving after that. Not long after we married we agreed there was a need for her to get her license so I spent time teaching her and she did earn her driver’s license. Turn the clock ahead 17 years and our son was ready to learn to drive. I spent time teaching him and giving him the basic skills. Wanting to be sure that he had all of the technical skills he would need to get through his driving test (and to lower insurance premiums) we sent him to a driver training school. Ahead another 3 years and I did the same training with our younger son and daughter. We sent them through driver training school also and our son went on to get his driver’s license. Our daughter chose to hold off. Now I am preparing her once again and guess what? I have found I have to review a few things, like parallel parking. More than 30 years of driving experience, 4 of those years as an Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist, and I have to refresh myself despite my driving experience (Thank You YouTube!). My reason for talking about this is that even with experience sometimes there are things you have to get refresher training on. For those things you don’t know how to do at all, getting the proper training pays off as you learn how to do something you never knew how to do in the first place. The same is true when it comes to retail loss prevention. You may be a store owner but that doesn’t necessarily translate to knowledge on how to stop shoplifting or prevent employee theft.
Training to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting doesn’t come just by being a store manager. Bad guys are creative with old and new methods to steal from stores. Whatever the manner of theft most people are not equipped with the knowledge required to catch the bad guys let alone recognize the signs and indicators that can identify who may steal or who is planning on stealing. Think of it like this, I have been in retail management and I have been a Loss Prevention Manager. Those experiences alone do not necessarily mean I could own my own store and run it successfully or even take the position of store manager. Even if I could do so I would still require a certain amount of training in order to be successful. The same applies to Loss Prevention. In order to be successful at shortage reduction a manager or owner should go through training to reduce employee theft and that training is available through Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. They offer seminars on employee theft, shoplifting and even pre-employment hiring. As someone with over 25 years of combined retail, Loss Prevention and retail management experience, I will tell you that taking these training seminars provides invaluable lessons that will pay off over and over again in the future.
I mentioned earlier that proper training can pay off down the road (pun intended, you didn’t think I would pass up the opportunity did you?). With driver training the payoff is reduced insurance premiums and lowered chances of accidents meaning a lower risk of costly car repairs. What are the expected benefits of training to reduce employee theft or training to stop shoplifting? The obvious comes to mind first, you will learn to identify where theft is taking place and you can start to take the proper measure to stop it. You will also learn about the tools to deter and prevent theft like the Checkpoint electronic article surveillance towers and tags. As theft goes down profits go up, THERE is your dividend, black ink on your bottom line. What about the not so obvious dividends, what are they? Did you ever consider that time card fraud is theft? Have you ever thought about an employee clocking another employee in and the person being clocked in isn’t at work? How about price change manipulation? Return fraud? Never considered what happened to those receipts customers didn’t want when they left the store did you? All of these things can add up to big losses, but LPSi can show you the way to put an end to the leaches who are trying to bleed you dry. Want countless dividends when you learn to stop shoplifting and employee theft? Sign up for the seminars today, what in the world are you waiting for?
Get more information on Training To Reduce Employee Theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now.
A long time ago I taught my wife to drive. She had a few skills from when she was a little younger but had not pursued driving after that. Not long after we married we agreed there was a need for her to get her license so I spent time teaching her and she did earn her driver’s license. Turn the clock ahead 17 years and our son was ready to learn to drive. I spent time teaching him and giving him the basic skills. Wanting to be sure that he had all of the technical skills he would need to get through his driving test (and to lower insurance premiums) we sent him to a driver training school. Ahead another 3 years and I did the same training with our younger son and daughter. We sent them through driver training school also and our son went on to get his driver’s license. Our daughter chose to hold off. Now I am preparing her once again and guess what? I have found I have to review a few things, like parallel parking. More than 30 years of driving experience, 4 of those years as an Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist, and I have to refresh myself despite my driving experience (Thank You YouTube!). My reason for talking about this is that even with experience sometimes there are things you have to get refresher training on. For those things you don’t know how to do at all, getting the proper training pays off as you learn how to do something you never knew how to do in the first place. The same is true when it comes to retail loss prevention. You may be a store owner but that doesn’t necessarily translate to knowledge on how to stop shoplifting or prevent employee theft.
Training to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting doesn’t come just by being a store manager. Bad guys are creative with old and new methods to steal from stores. Whatever the manner of theft most people are not equipped with the knowledge required to catch the bad guys let alone recognize the signs and indicators that can identify who may steal or who is planning on stealing. Think of it like this, I have been in retail management and I have been a Loss Prevention Manager. Those experiences alone do not necessarily mean I could own my own store and run it successfully or even take the position of store manager. Even if I could do so I would still require a certain amount of training in order to be successful. The same applies to Loss Prevention. In order to be successful at shortage reduction a manager or owner should go through training to reduce employee theft and that training is available through Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. They offer seminars on employee theft, shoplifting and even pre-employment hiring. As someone with over 25 years of combined retail, Loss Prevention and retail management experience, I will tell you that taking these training seminars provides invaluable lessons that will pay off over and over again in the future.
I mentioned earlier that proper training can pay off down the road (pun intended, you didn’t think I would pass up the opportunity did you?). With driver training the payoff is reduced insurance premiums and lowered chances of accidents meaning a lower risk of costly car repairs. What are the expected benefits of training to reduce employee theft or training to stop shoplifting? The obvious comes to mind first, you will learn to identify where theft is taking place and you can start to take the proper measure to stop it. You will also learn about the tools to deter and prevent theft like the Checkpoint electronic article surveillance towers and tags. As theft goes down profits go up, THERE is your dividend, black ink on your bottom line. What about the not so obvious dividends, what are they? Did you ever consider that time card fraud is theft? Have you ever thought about an employee clocking another employee in and the person being clocked in isn’t at work? How about price change manipulation? Return fraud? Never considered what happened to those receipts customers didn’t want when they left the store did you? All of these things can add up to big losses, but LPSi can show you the way to put an end to the leaches who are trying to bleed you dry. Want countless dividends when you learn to stop shoplifting and employee theft? Sign up for the seminars today, what in the world are you waiting for?
Get more information on Training To Reduce Employee Theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now.
Alpha Shark Tags – 3 WC Blog 367
Wardrobing -3
Return Fraud -4
You May Feel Embattled By Theft And Return Fraud; A Good Shortage Action Plan That Includes Alpha Shark Tags Can Help You Overcome The Opposition
I am a military history buff therefore I have certain quotes that I find I like that can be applied to both life and war.
Sun Tzu – Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster
Napoleon Bonaparte – You must not fight too often with one enemy or you will teach him all your art of war.
Sun Tzu – He who will win knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
General George Patton Jr. – A good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed at some indefinite point in the future.
General George Patton Jr. – You’re never beaten until you admit it.
Dwight D. Eisenhower – What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight –it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
What in the world does this have to do with retail and especially preventing theft, fraud and shortage?! I’m glad you asked. Shoplifters and those committing fraud are the enemies of retailers. The business owner can sit by and be the victim or they can know their enemy and to paraphrase Sun Tzu, subdue the enemy without fighting them, winning the battles because they know the enemy and their strategies. Part of retail theft and fraud prevention is having a good action plan. Those who commit return fraud and shoplift CAN be beaten, when a store owner or manager has the tools and knowledge to deter or prevent their activity.
What tools are available to business owners to prevent return fraud? How about Alpha Shark Tags to start with? While shoplifters are out to just steal merchandise for personal use or to sell, the fraudster is often using store policies against the store to purchase clothes, wear them and bring the items back for a full refund. It is so prevalent that it has the name wardrobing attached to it. Tags and receipts are retained and often tags are re-attached to the merchandise and after being worn out a time or two, all items are returned for a full refund. The clothing sometimes is returned with small stains, or body odors, make-up stains or cologne smells. Retailers take the hit by selling the merchandise and then taking it back but often reducing the price or having to get rid of it and marking it out-of-stock. If a retailer uses Alpha Shark Tags, they defeat wardrobing fraud before it can happen. These tags are pinned on clothes with the stipulation that if the clothes are returned the pin has to be in place and intact. When properly placed, these brightly colored tags stand out like a sore thumb and someone used to committing fraud can’t wear the merchandise or people will be aware it is going to be returned. Rather than try to get away with the activity they shop elsewhere.
How else does a retailer defeat the enemy that would put them out of business if their crime is left unchecked? By creating shortage action plans focused on addressing weaknesses in return policies, identifying high merchandise shrinkage areas and making it an area of customer service focus. I have been part of creating large, unwieldy action plans that were detailed, long, filled with deadlines and due dates that have totally fallen apart within a few months of being finalized. The most effective plans are short, direct, have specific objectives and can be executed quickly, for example placing a security camera and dome over a high theft area. It may be as easy as starting an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tagging program and having EAS pedestals installed. Remember Patton’s quote? Execute a good plan today rather than a perfect plan at some point in the future.
I know you aren’t going into combat you are selling merchandise. It’s your business and hopefully your passion. There’s a saying in sports, “Protect This House”. Protect YOUR house against theft. Use Alpha Shark Tags to stop return fraud, EAS tags to prevent theft and customer service to deter theft and increase sales and attachment rates. You could be suffering at the hands of thieves right now but, “You’re never beaten until you admit it”. Let Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) help you turn things around with our expert advice about wardrobing return fraud, shoplifting, planning and hiring practices, our website and monthly newsletter. We also offer training seminars on employee theft, shoplifting and pre-employment hiring. We CAN help your business thrive.
Need information on Alpha Shark Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
I am a military history buff therefore I have certain quotes that I find I like that can be applied to both life and war.
Sun Tzu – Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.
Napoleon Bonaparte – You must not fight too often with one enemy or you will teach him all your art of war.
Sun Tzu – He who will win knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
General George Patton Jr. – A good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed at some indefinite point in the future. You’re never beaten until you admit it.
Dwight D. Eisenhower – What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight –it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
What in the world does this have to do with retail and especially preventing theft, fraud and shortage?! I’m glad you asked. Shoplifters and those committing fraud are the enemies of retailers. The business owner can sit by and be the victim or they can know their enemy and to paraphrase Sun Tzu, subdue the enemy without fighting them, winning the battles because they know the enemy and their strategies. Part of retail theft and fraud prevention is having a good action plan. Those who commit return fraud and shoplift CAN be beaten, when a store owner or manager has the tools and knowledge to deter or prevent their activity.
What tools are available to business owners to prevent return fraud? How about Alpha Shark Tags to start with? While shoplifters are out to just steal merchandise for personal use or to sell, the fraudster is often using store policies against the store to purchase clothes, wear them and bring the items back for a full refund. It is so prevalent that it has the name wardrobing attached to it. Tags and receipts are retained and often tags are re-attached to the merchandise and after being worn out a time or two, all items are returned for a full refund. The clothing sometimes is returned with small stains, or body odors, make-up stains or cologne smells. Retailers take the hit by selling the merchandise and then taking it back but often reducing the price or having to get rid of it and marking it out-of-stock. If a retailer uses Alpha Shark Tags, they defeat wardrobing fraud before it can happen. These tags are pinned on clothes with the stipulation that if the clothes are returned the pin has to be in place and intact. When properly placed, these brightly colored tags stand out like a sore thumb and someone used to committing fraud can’t wear the merchandise or people will be aware it is going to be returned. Rather than try to get away with the activity they shop elsewhere.
How else does a retailer defeat the enemy that would put them out of business if their crime is left unchecked? By creating shortage action plans focused on addressing weaknesses in return policies, identifying high merchandise shrinkage areas and making it an area of customer service focus. I have been part of creating large, unwieldy action plans that were detailed, long, filled with deadlines and due dates that have totally fallen apart within a few months of being finalized. The most effective plans are short, direct, have specific objectives and can be executed quickly, for example placing a security camera and dome over a high theft area. It may be as easy as starting an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tagging program and having EAS pedestals installed. Remember Patton’s quote? Execute a good plan today rather than a perfect plan at some point in the future.
I know you aren’t going into combat you are selling merchandise. It’s your business and hopefully your passion. There’s a saying in sports, “Protect This House”. Protect YOUR house against theft. Use Alpha Shark Tags to stop return fraud, EAS tags to prevent theft and customer service to deter theft and increase sales and attachment rates. You could be suffering at the hands of thieves right now but, “You’re never beaten until you admit it”. Let Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) help you turn things around with our expert advice about wardrobing return fraud, shoplifting, planning and hiring practices, our website and monthly newsletter. We also offer training seminars on employee theft, shoplifting and pre-employment hiring. We CAN help your business thrive.
Need information on Alpha Shark Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Return Fraud – 3 WC Blog 362
Wardrobing Tags – 4
Don’t Get Bummed Over Bikinis And Beachwear That Have Been Worn; Stop Return Fraud With Wardrobing Tags
As a veteran and an avid reader of military books, especially biographies and autobiographies, I have a high regard for those brothers and sisters who have served in uniform and especially combat veterans. I did not serve during a period of combat so though I am a veteran, I have a high esteem for those who have. That being said, as I read my books, watch military movies and documentaries, I pick up on some things that just stick with me. One of those things is a term I have read over and over in books about Navy SEALs, when the authors talk about their experiences of BUDs training, they almost always reference getting “wet and sandy”. This expression is derived from one of the torturous exercises that they constantly endure of running into the cold surf water and then coming out and rolling or crawling through the sandy beaches. To be one of the best of the best, every SEAL goes through it. If you are like me and want a great read, I am going to stray a little and suggest you take time to read the book “Lone Survivor” by Marcus Luttrell. Now I know you are wondering, “what in the world does the term “wet and sandy” have to do with return fraud or wardrobing?” Hold your horses, I’m getting there. Working in retail in a beach resort area we often get vacationers who go through our stores looking for the hottest new beachwear. They are only here for a few days to a week so they tend to pack light, intending to buy something when they get here and boy do they have a lot of stores and shops to choose from to find a new bikini or swim trunks. The problem for retailers is that many of the visitors wear the swim clothes to the beach, get “wet and sandy” and attempt to return the items, with the tags and receipts. Because they have receipts and store managers don’t want to risk a negative customer survey or the scene that may be caused, they allow this type of return fraud to take place. This kind of fraud could be prevented with the use of wardrobing tags.
Wardrobing tags are applied to garments in a very visible location where they will be very hard to hide. The purpose is to make the clothing unable to be worn in public without people knowing the item is going to be returned. Basically it shames the purchaser of the item if they try to wear it to an event or out in public. Those who engage in this kind of fraud want to be seen in the clothes, they just don’t want others to know they don’t intend to keep them. In many situations, the practitioners of wardrobing hide clothing hang tags inside the garment or they are very clever at removing the tags and reattaching them. The attachment guns can be bought at any office supply store along with refill plastic attachments. After wearing the clothes the “customer” returns the item(s) to the store with tags intact and receipt in hand and get a refund. Many stores have liberal return policies and make no issue of odors or minor stains on the garments. If they do get pointed out, the “customer” frequently causes a scene so the manager or employee will want to get it taken care of and get them out of the store.
Does this really happen even for swimwear? Yes it does. I have dealt with customers who have brought in merchandise that I believed had just come off the beach. Sand still in the seams, water can be wrung out and the customer has sworn the bathing suit shrank up on them and could not be worn! Yes, they have the tags and the original receipt and no, there is simply no way this garment can be resold, marked down or salvaged. The managers take the clothes back and the merchandise is marked out of stock, costing the store money. The best way to defend against these outlandish returns is to use the wardrobing tags on the merchandise. The customer either has to cut it off which then renders the possibility of a return null and void OR they wear the swimwear with the tag right where it is so all the world can see it.
Wet and sandy is appropriate for Navy SEAL trainees and for beachgoers while on vacation. It is not an appropriate descriptor for bathing suits when the customer is trying to do a return. Prevent return fraud and use wardrobing tags on all of the clothing you sell, including bathing suits.
Need information on wardrobing tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
As a veteran and an avid reader of military books, especially biographies and autobiographies, I have a high regard for those brothers and sisters who have served in uniform and especially combat veterans. I did not serve during a period of combat so though I am a veteran, I have a high esteem for those who have. That being said, as I read my books, watch military movies and documentaries, I pick up on some things that just stick with me. One of those things is a term I have read over and over in books about Navy SEALs, when the authors talk about their experiences of BUDs training, they almost always reference getting “wet and sandy”. This expression is derived from one of the torturous exercises that they constantly endure of running into the cold surf water and then coming out and rolling or crawling through the sandy beaches. To be one of the best of the best, every SEAL goes through it. If you are like me and want a great read, I am going to stray a little and suggest you take time to read the book “Lone Survivor” by Marcus Luttrell. Now I know you are wondering, “what in the world does the term “wet and sandy” have to do with return fraud or wardrobing?” Hold your horses, I’m getting there. Working in retail in a beach resort area we often get vacationers who go through our stores looking for the hottest new beachwear. They are only here for a few days to a week so they tend to pack light, intending to buy something when they get here and boy do they have a lot of stores and shops to choose from to find a new bikini or swim trunks. The problem for retailers is that many of the visitors wear the swim clothes to the beach, get “wet and sandy” and attempt to return the items, with the tags and receipts. Because they have receipts and store managers don’t want to risk a negative customer survey or the scene that may be caused, they allow this type of return fraud to take place. This kind of fraud could be prevented with the use of wardrobing tags.
Wardrobing tags are applied to garments in a very visible location where they will be very hard to hide. The purpose is to make the clothing unable to be worn in public without people knowing the item is going to be returned. Basically it shames the purchaser of the item if they try to wear it to an event or out in public. Those who engage in this kind of fraud want to be seen in the clothes, they just don’t want others to know they don’t intend to keep them. In many situations, the practitioners of wardrobing hide clothing hang tags inside the garment or they are very clever at removing the tags and reattaching them. The attachment guns can be bought at any office supply store along with refill plastic attachments. After wearing the clothes the “customer” returns the item(s) to the store with tags intact and receipt in hand and get a refund. Many stores have liberal return policies and make no issue of odors or minor stains on the garments. If they do get pointed out, the “customer” frequently causes a scene so the manager or employee will want to get it taken care of and get them out of the store.
Does this really happen even for swimwear? Yes it does. I have dealt with customers who have brought in merchandise that I believed had just come off the beach. Sand still in the seams, water can be wrung out and the customer has sworn the bathing suit shrank up on them and could not be worn! Yes, they have the tags and the original receipt and no, there is simply no way this garment can be resold, marked down or salvaged. The managers take the clothes back and the merchandise is marked out of stock, costing the store money. The best way to defend against these outlandish returns is to use the wardrobing tags on the merchandise. The customer either has to cut it off which then renders the possibility of a return null and void OR they wear the swimwear with the tag right where it is so all the world can see it.
Wet and sandy is appropriate for Navy SEAL trainees and for beachgoers while on vacation. It is not an appropriate descriptor for bathing suits when the customer is trying to do a return. Prevent return fraud and use wardrobing tags on all of the clothing you sell, including bathing suits.
Need information on wardrobing tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Wardrobing -4 WC Blog 361
Return Fraud -3
Alpha Shark Tags – 3
Clothing Retailers Closing Shops Due To Decreased Profits; Improve Profits And Prevent Wardrobing And Return Fraud With Alpha Shark Tags
I was walking through a mall in our area a few days ago and noticed a number of empty spaces where clothing stores once stood. I find it somewhat depressing to be quite honest. I was also alarmed that an anchor store in that same mall was on an initial list of store closings this major chain was going to shut down. Every indicator seems to point to these stores not being as profitable as they once were. Some are struggling due to theft, some are just not appealing to what the customers want or the prices are not competitive with online stores. I also wonder how much is due to return fraud that these stores may be experiencing. I know from my many years in Retail Loss Prevention that there is a significant amount of abuse of store return policies. A number of people purchases clothes, wear them and return them getting full refunds for their purchases. It happens frequently enough that there is even a name for it, wardrobing. For store managers it can be difficult to distinguish between clothes that have been worn a few times and those that were tried on. I found it disturbing that there are websites, discussion boards and blogs that discuss how items can be re-ticketed and returned.
For those who are unfamiliar with wardrobing it is quite simply the act of purchasing clothes with the intent of wearing it once or twice and returning the item for a full refund. Those who engage in this pretend to justify it by suggesting that they are staying within the policies the stores set up. This is simply an excuse. To purchase an item and try it on at home and decide you don’t like it is one thing. To purchase an item so you can wear it out and be seen in it and then return it is deceitful and does constitute return fraud (but is not necessarily illegal). There is one sure method to prevent this type of fraud and a few other steps a retailer can take to deter it. Placing Alpha Shark Tags on a garment is the sure method of prevention and can be used by online retailers and brick and mortar stores. A Shark Tag is not an anti-theft device, it is a one-time use brightly colored tag that is pinned to a garment. The tag stays on the clothes when they are bought and the customer cuts it off after they get home and decide they want to keep the item. The store return policy should stipulate that without the tag intact on the merchandise, no refund is permitted.
What else can retailers do to try to prevent wardrobing, in addition to using Alpha Shark Tags, especially since the internet is filled with tips for how to get around return policies?
• Have the store return policy clearly stated at the point of sale and if possible have it print as a message on the receipt.
• The internet provides tips on how to hide merchandise hang tags and reattach them. This means it is important for store personnel to look for other indicators the item was worn. Look for food or make-up stains. Smell for odors of cologne, perfume or cigarette smoke, all of which could point to the clothes having been worn out somewhere.
• Charge a restocking/cleaning fee for merchandise that has the signs mentioned above, smells, stains and possible rips or tears. Anything that would require a merchant to possibly suspect wardrobing has occurred and cause them to have to mark down merchandise would be included.
• Be consistent with your policies and back up your return desk team. If you or your managers become wishy washy or “do it this one time” you take away the credibility of your employees and undermine them. You also cannot track how many “one times” you gave someone.
Of course there is never a perfect system, but taking precautions can deter a lot of the return fraud that goes on in retail.
Is this the sole cause for the demise of many retailers? Certainly not, the internet has made shopping for clothes a very competitive business and people are going to go for the best value. But theft and fraud do take a toll on profits. Use Alpha Shark Tags on all clothing items, have a clearly stated return policy and stick by it. You’ll find you can remain very customer friendly and still be profitable without constantly fighting return fraud.
Get more information on wardrobing, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
I was walking through a mall in our area a few days ago and noticed a number of empty spaces where clothing stores once stood. I find it somewhat depressing to be quite honest. I was also alarmed that an anchor store in that same mall was on an initial list of store closings this major chain was going to shut down. Every indicator seems to point to these stores not being as profitable as they once were. Some are struggling due to theft, some are just not appealing to what the customers want or the prices are not competitive with online stores. I also wonder how much is due to return fraud that these stores may be experiencing. I know from my many years in Retail Loss Prevention that there is a significant amount of abuse of store return policies. A number of people purchases clothes, wear them and return them getting full refunds for their purchases. It happens frequently enough that there is even a name for it, wardrobing. For store managers it can be difficult to distinguish between clothes that have been worn a few times and those that were tried on. I found it disturbing that there are websites, discussion boards and blogs that discuss how items can be re-ticketed and returned.
For those who are unfamiliar with wardrobing it is quite simply the act of purchasing clothes with the intent of wearing it once or twice and returning the item for a full refund. Those who engage in this pretend to justify it by suggesting that they are staying within the policies the stores set up. This is simply an excuse. To purchase an item and try it on at home and decide you don’t like it is one thing. To purchase an item so you can wear it out and be seen in it and then return it is deceitful and does constitute return fraud (but is not necessarily illegal). There is one sure method to prevent this type of fraud and a few other steps a retailer can take to deter it. Placing Alpha Shark Tags on a garment is the sure method of prevention and can be used by online retailers and brick and mortar stores. A Shark Tag is not an anti-theft device, it is a one-time use brightly colored tag that is pinned to a garment. The tag stays on the clothes when they are bought and the customer cuts it off after they get home and decide they want to keep the item. The store return policy should stipulate that without the tag intact on the merchandise, no refund is permitted.
What else can retailers do to try to prevent wardrobing, in addition to using Alpha Shark Tags, especially since the internet is filled with tips for how to get around return policies?
• Have the store return policy clearly stated at the point of sale and if possible have it print as a message on the receipt.
• The internet provides tips on how to hide merchandise hang tags and reattach them. This means it is important for store personnel to look for other indicators the item was worn. Look for food or make-up stains. Smell for odors of cologne, perfume or cigarette smoke, all of which could point to the clothes having been worn out somewhere.
• Charge a restocking/cleaning fee for merchandise that has the signs mentioned above, smells, stains and possible rips or tears. Anything that would require a merchant to possibly suspect wardrobing has occurred and cause them to have to mark down merchandise would be included.
• Be consistent with your policies and back up your return desk team. If you or your managers become wishy washy or “do it this one time” you take away the credibility of your employees and undermine them. You also cannot track how many “one times” you gave someone.
Of course there is never a perfect system, but taking precautions can deter a lot of the return fraud that goes on in retail.
Is this the sole cause for the demise of many retailers? Certainly not, the internet has made shopping for clothes a very competitive business and people are going to go for the best value. But theft and fraud do take a toll on profits. Use Alpha Shark Tags on all clothing items, have a clearly stated return policy and stick by it. You’ll find you can remain very customer friendly and still be profitable without constantly fighting return fraud.
Get more information on wardrobing, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Employee Theft-3 WC Blog 323
Training to reduce employee theft-3
Employee Background Checks-3
“Sweethearting” May Not Be So Good For Your Business; Find Out How Training To Reduce Employee Theft Can Help You Identify And Stop This And Other Dishonest Activity
I went to a coffee shop located next to the campus library where I work and for the second time in recent weeks I had something happen that has prompted me to write about the issue. I work late nights at the library and this particular coffee shop closes about an hour after I arrive to work so I occasionally grab a cup of coffee a few minutes before they close. The employees know I am a staff member and take my order and are supposed to ring my transaction, give me an employee discount and take my payment. Twice now the employees have tried to tell me not to worry about paying, I assume because it is near the end of the night and they will probably be throwing out the remainder of the coffee. Because of my background in Loss Prevention I am uncomfortable with this and insist on paying for my drinks. I know some of you may be thinking I am being silly, that they are closing soon and dumping it anyways, why not just take the drink? In my opinion, there is a bigger issue at stake here, at what point do you draw the line for your employees? Can being “flexible” on little things like this lead to larger issues of theft? It can be a slippery slope when you permit grey areas for employees. Many managers have a difficult time making the distinction because they have not had training to reduce employee theft. Consideration should also be given to the possibility that this can snowball into full blown associate crime. When employers lack knowledge of theft concerns they are probably not aware that employee background checks can help prevent a store being the victim of employee theft and fraud.
Why do managers need training to reduce employee theft? Because associate theft takes many forms and the untrained owner or manager can miss the indicators that would point out that theft is taking place. Losses could be in the form of return fraud, cash theft, merchandise theft, price manipulation and so much more. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. has experienced Loss Prevention experts that can train you and your managers on identification of theft, prevention techniques and warning signals that can lead to employee theft.
Additional modules from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. include optional training on pre-employment hiring and how it can help employers avoid hiring people who may harm your business. In cases, like the one I experienced at the coffee shop there is a term for it called “Sweethearting”. In an article in LPMInsider, “Sweethearting: The Dark Side of Good Customer Service”, by Richard C. Hollinger, PhD, March 6, 2017, the author provides the definition of Sweethearting from an article he cites; “Service Sweethearting: It’s Antecedents and Customer Consequences”, by Michael K. Brady, Clay Voorhees and Michael J. Brusco, March 2012 issue of Journal of Marketing, “Sweethearting occurs when frontline workers give unauthorized free or discounted goods and services to customer conspirators.” While this activity can start off with good intentions of providing the great customer service employees are encouraged to practice, it can quickly turn into a regular exercise that costs businesses money. Dr. Hollinger writes, “Pre-employment Screening tests can head off sweethearting if we add measures that look for high scores on “personal ethics” and, alternatively, low scores on the “need social approval from others.” http://losspreventionmedia.com/insider/employee-theft/sweethearting-the-dark-side-of-good-customer-service/ In other words, employee background checks can help in weeding out potential employees who may be inclined to engage in these behaviors.
While they may start innocently, like giving away a cup of coffee at the end of a shift because it is going to be thrown out anyways, I have personally seen these situations multiply to include more people and bigger losses. I have apprehended groups of employees who started out giving unauthorized discounts on food and drinks to friends that spiraled into full blown employee theft cases involving passing of merchandise. It is amazing how much that $1.89 cup of coffee can really end up costing you in the long run.
Don’t allow sweethearting to develop in your business. You can prevent lost profits through training to reduce employee theft and conducting employee background checks. Find out how much you don’t know from the experts who have worked in the field.
Training to reduce employee theft is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
I went to a coffee shop located next to the campus library where I work and for the second time in recent weeks I had something happen that has prompted me to write about the issue. I work late nights at the library and this particular coffee shop closes about an hour after I arrive to work so I occasionally grab a cup of coffee a few minutes before they close. The employees know I am a staff member and take my order and are supposed to ring my transaction, give me an employee discount and take my payment. Twice now the employees have tried to tell me not to worry about paying, I assume because it is near the end of the night and they will probably be throwing out the remainder of the coffee. Because of my background in Loss Prevention I am uncomfortable with this and insist on paying for my drinks. I know some of you may be thinking I am being silly, that they are closing soon and dumping it anyways, why not just take the drink? In my opinion, there is a bigger issue at stake here, at what point do you draw the line for your employees? Can being “flexible” on little things like this lead to larger issues of theft? It can be a slippery slope when you permit grey areas for employees. Many managers have a difficult time making the distinction because they have not had training to reduce employee theft. Consideration should also be given to the possibility that this can snowball into full blown associate crime. When employers lack knowledge of theft concerns they are probably not aware that employee background checks can help prevent a store being the victim of employee theft and fraud.
Why do managers need training to reduce employee theft? Because associate theft takes many forms and the untrained owner or manager can miss the indicators that would point out that theft is taking place. Losses could be in the form of return fraud, cash theft, merchandise theft, price manipulation and so much more. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. has experienced Loss Prevention experts that can train you and your managers on identification of theft, prevention techniques and warning signals that can lead to employee theft.
Additional modules from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. include optional training on pre-employment hiring and how it can help employers avoid hiring people who may harm your business. In cases, like the one I experienced at the coffee shop there is a term for it called “Sweethearting”. In an article in LPMInsider, “Sweethearting: The Dark Side of Good Customer Service”, by Richard C. Hollinger, PhD, March 6, 2017, the author provides the definition of Sweethearting from an article he cites; “Service Sweethearting: It’s Antecedents and Customer Consequences”, by Michael K. Brady, Clay Voorhees and Michael J. Brusco, March 2012 issue of Journal of Marketing, “Sweethearting occurs when frontline workers give unauthorized free or discounted goods and services to customer conspirators.” While this activity can start off with good intentions of providing the great customer service employees are encouraged to practice, it can quickly turn into a regular exercise that costs businesses money. Dr. Hollinger writes, “Pre-employment Screening tests can head off sweethearting if we add measures that look for high scores on “personal ethics” and, alternatively, low scores on the “need social approval from others.” http://losspreventionmedia.com/insider/employee-theft/sweethearting-the-dark-side-of-good-customer-service/ In other words, employee background checks can help in weeding out potential employees who may be inclined to engage in these behaviors.
While they may start innocently, like giving away a cup of coffee at the end of a shift because it is going to be thrown out anyways, I have personally seen these situations multiply to include more people and bigger losses. I have apprehended groups of employees who started out giving unauthorized discounts on food and drinks to friends that spiraled into full blown employee theft cases involving passing of merchandise. It is amazing how much that $1.89 cup of coffee can really end up costing you in the long run.
Don’t allow sweethearting to develop in your business. You can prevent lost profits through training to reduce employee theft and conducting employee background checks. Find out how much you don’t know from the experts who have worked in the field.
Training to reduce employee theft is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
