I don’t purchase a lot of clothes online because I have difficulty finding the right sizes for the person I am buying for. Clothes sizes tend to vary by manufacturers so there is not always a uniform consistency. I recognize that my preferences are not necessarily representative of the public in general as more and more online only stores open up, selling merchandise over the internet versus in brick and mortar locations. This does open up some concerns over the issue of wardrobing. How difficult is it for online stores to control potential fraudulent returns due to wardrobing? I ask this because stores will be conducting inventories over the coming months and in the process, will have to account for all aspects of shortage. Online stores may not have a shoplifting issue, but they do have to contend with internal theft and the possibility of fraudulent returns and that is where the use of Alpha Shark Tags can be helpful.
Wardrobing isn’t necessarily a common term but it is a type of return fraud and does impact a store’s profits. The issue arises when someone buys an article of clothing, wears it a time or two, then returns it to the store with tags intact and a legitimate receipt and the buyer gets their money back. The purchaser hides the hang tags or removes the tags carefully, and replaces them when they are ready to return the garment. Since all the required items are present many stores will give the promised refund if the customer is not satisfied. The problem for a store owner or manager is that frequently this used merchandise cannot be sold again at the original price for which it was sold. There are frequently odors of food or perfume on the clothing, food or drink stains, possibly cigarette smells or even makeup stains that won’t entirely come out. This means destroying the item and maybe getting a partial credit from the manufacturer, if any credit at all. The store loses profit, if not gross margin.
Alpha Shark Tags effectively eliminate return fraud because if an item is returned with the Shark tag removed, the store turns down the refund. “How does this work?” you may ask. Alpha Shark Tags can only be attached to a clothing item once. The only method to remove it is to cut the tag off. Once removed, the store should already have a policy in place that explains that when a garment is returned and the tag has been cut-off it will not be accepted for a refund or exchange. The person who engages in wardrobing can hide manufacturer tags but there is no hiding a brightly colored Alpha Shark Tag. These tags are placed on a garment in a very visible location. When placed properly, the tag will be seen when the “customer” wears the item in public thereby defeating the method of fraud.
The question arises, “What am I supposed to do if I buy something and try it on and it doesn’t fit or it was a gift and the person I bought it for doesn’t like it?” There is no problem created for the purchaser when the item does not fit or is simply not what a gift recipient wanted. As long as the tag is still intact the item can be returned with the proper receipt information. The tag also has no effect on how a garment fits so the item can be tried on and the wearer will know if it is the proper size. The clothing can be returned to the online store and refunded and the store will be able to repackage and sell the item as new, a win-win for both parties.
Return fraud does impact profits and hurts inventory. It doesn’t matter whether the store is a walk-in building or an online entity wardrobing hurts the bottom line of both. Use Alpha Shark Tags and begin improving your next inventory today!
Wardrobing is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
AA Blog 28
Alpha Shark Tag: 5
Return Fraud: 3
Prevent Return Fraud With The Alpha Shark Tag
Children are truly a blessing and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but if any of you have children, you know how expensive they can be. As they get older, the costs increase significantly, especially if you have girls. I have two girls that are ten years apart. I have one that is 18 and one that is 8, so I have been through the teenage years, and will be going through it again in the near future. When you have girls they tend to be very high maintenance. They want designer clothes, they need their hair colored and cut every two months, plus they need makeup and their nails done. I would like to say this is where it ends, but that is only the beginning. Between school clothes, school activities and sports, and extra-curricular activities the expenses increase exponentially. Of course high school also includes at least three or four dances each year, with Homecoming and Prom being two major events in a girl’s life. These events alone are wallet busters. They need a dress, shoes, hair appointments, nails, makeup, and corsages and then you add dinner before, maybe a limo to arrive in style, and you are out at least a grand. The dress alone costs at least $300, and there is no way they can wear the same dress twice, that is a fashion no no. I think that part always hurt the most. Granted you could always try and sell it used to someone the following year, but you only get a fraction of what it is worth, which is very disheartening since it was only worn for about five hours. I know there are some people out there that would just take the dress back to the store the following day for a full refund. As tempting as that sounds I am not one of those people. Being in the retail business I know how frustrating retail fraud can be and the cost associated with this type of activity. That is why we use the Alpha Shark Tag in our stores.
The Alpha Shark Tag provides the retailer with the means to prevent this type of behavior. This tag is designed to be placed on high priced or designer items without damaging the product. They can be used on clothing, bags, shoes and other items, typically associated with return fraud. These are inexpensive devices that provide a bright visual deterrent that can be used to supplement your store return policy. These devices, once removed cannot be re-attached by the customer. Therefore, many retailers use the Alpha Shark Tag as a means to enforce their store return policy. Stores are placing these tags on their high frequency return items and refusing to supply a refund if the tag has been removed from the item. The store simply places the tag in a very obvious location that can’t be concealed during the use of the item, thus preventing return fraud. These can also be used for online or catalog sales by simply adding the tag to the item prior to shipment. I understand why people are associated with these types of returns, but I also know the cost to the retailer can be significant, if they don’t take action to prevent this type of behavior.
If you are a retailer and you are tired of footing the cost associated with re-stocking worn/used merchandise, I recommend you get the Alpha Shark Tag. These tags work great as a deterrent because many people shop with the intent to commit return fraud. They know their daughter will only wear the dress once, so why keep the item when they can just use it once and return it. These devices can be equipped with the retailers’ return policy to add an additional deterrent, thus sending these fraudsters to your competitor.
Alpha Shark Tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Children are truly a blessing and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but if any of you have children, you know how expensive they can be. As they get older, the costs increase significantly, especially if you have girls. I have two girls that are ten years apart. I have one that is 18 and one that is 8, so I have been through the teenage years, and will be going through it again in the near future. When you have girls they tend to be very high maintenance. They want designer clothes, they need their hair colored and cut every two months, plus they need makeup and their nails done. I would like to say this is where it ends, but that is only the beginning. Between school clothes, school activities and sports, and extra-curricular activities the expenses increase exponentially. Of course high school also includes at least three or four dances each year, with Homecoming and Prom being two major events in a girl’s life. These events alone are wallet busters. They need a dress, shoes, hair appointments, nails, makeup, and corsages and then you add dinner before, maybe a limo to arrive in style, and you are out at least a grand. The dress alone costs at least $300, and there is no way they can wear the same dress twice, that is a fashion no no. I think that part always hurt the most. Granted you could always try and sell it used to someone the following year, but you only get a fraction of what it is worth, which is very disheartening since it was only worn for about five hours. I know there are some people out there that would just take the dress back to the store the following day for a full refund. As tempting as that sounds I am not one of those people. Being in the retail business I know how frustrating retail fraud can be and the cost associated with this type of activity. That is why we use the Alpha Shark Tag in our stores.
The Alpha Shark Tag provides the retailer with the means to prevent this type of behavior. This tag is designed to be placed on high priced or designer items without damaging the product. They can be used on clothing, bags, shoes and other items, typically associated with return fraud. These are inexpensive devices that provide a bright visual deterrent that can be used to supplement your store return policy. These devices, once removed cannot be re-attached by the customer. Therefore, many retailers use the Alpha Shark Tag as a means to enforce their store return policy. Stores are placing these tags on their high frequency return items and refusing to supply a refund if the tag has been removed from the item. The store simply places the tag in a very obvious location that can’t be concealed during the use of the item, thus preventing return fraud. These can also be used for online or catalog sales by simply adding the tag to the item prior to shipment. I understand why people are associated with these types of returns, but I also know the cost to the retailer can be significant, if they don’t take action to prevent this type of behavior.
If you are a retailer and you are tired of footing the cost associated with re-stocking worn/used merchandise, I recommend you get the Alpha Shark Tag. These tags work great as a deterrent because many people shop with the intent to commit return fraud. They know their daughter will only wear the dress once, so why keep the item when they can just use it once and return it. These devices can be equipped with the retailers’ return policy to add an additional deterrent, thus sending these fraudsters to your competitor.
Alpha Shark Tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Training to reduce employee theft-3 WC Blog 304
Stop shoplifting-4
Employee Theft-3
Can Your Employees Be Stealing? Professional Manager Training To Reduce Employee Theft Is Now Available For Everyone
I can remember when I started working in the Loss Prevention field over 26 years ago and I had no idea what it would entail. I assumed I was going to catch shoplifters stealing clothes, how hard could that be? There were about two days of training from the human resources department on company procedures. I then was required to spend time on the salesfloor and operating a cash register but I knew that wasn’t what I would be happy doing, I wanted to start catching bad guys. Finally I was released to go to the Loss Prevention department! I learned about closed circuit television (and yes, VCR’s), and I began learning how to identify signs of shoplifting. I eventually helped stop shoplifting by assisting in catching thieves, then catching them on my own. As I learned to do my job and became better at it, I began to learn about employee theft. I can’t say I didn’t know it existed, but I had no idea there were so many methods that employees will use to steal. When I eventually took a promotional opportunity to move to a Loss Prevention Manager for another company, I took with me the knowledge I had gained. In my new role I learned even more and had additional training to reduce employee theft. If it was important for me to receive ongoing training, how important is it for a retail owner and managers of stores with no security resources to receive training to reduce employee theft?
Employee theft can include more than simply cash theft from a register or stealing a pack of gum from a checklane. Return fraud, gift card fraud, merchandise theft, and even time card manipulation all impact store profits and can be detrimental to customer service as well. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. offers training programs that can help owners and managers learn how to identify and address issues, reducing the impact they can have on a business. Additional training programs are offered to help stop shoplifting in stores. There is no better resource for training than by an expert who has been in the field and has experience investigating and prosecuting internal theft cases. This experience is available to help retail managers learn what they can do to deter associate theft and stop shoplifting.
I recognize that many small stores do not have a Loss Prevention department. Even national chain stores do not all have in-store security but rather someone at a district or regional level responsible for employee theft investigations. These Loss Prevention managers often visit stores and conduct safety and security audits and spend time training and educating store managers. So what is a small, independently owned store manager to do when he or she can’t afford their own Loss Prevention personnel? Store managers must become educated on the impact of theft on their store and how to identify signs of dishonest activity. An employee who is going to steal isn’t going to advertise their intentions. There are some thieves who are good at what they do and they can make it difficult even for a trained security professional to catch them. There are steps a management team can take to help preclude employees from stealing first place. From pre-employment screening to holding new employee orientations that include the topics of internal theft and how to stop shoplifting, Loss Prevention Systems, inc. wants to help you with training to reduce employee theft.
You may not have a Loss Prevention department but with the proper training you can learn how to protect your business from unnecessary losses. Let us help you keep shortage low and profits high.
Get more information on training to reduce employee theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
I can remember when I started working in the Loss Prevention field over 26 years ago and I had no idea what it would entail. I assumed I was going to catch shoplifters stealing clothes, how hard could that be? There were about two days of training from the human resources department on company procedures. I then was required to spend time on the salesfloor and operating a cash register but I knew that wasn’t what I would be happy doing, I wanted to start catching bad guys. Finally I was released to go to the Loss Prevention department! I learned about closed circuit television (and yes, VCR’s), and I began learning how to identify signs of shoplifting. I eventually helped stop shoplifting by assisting in catching thieves, then catching them on my own. As I learned to do my job and became better at it, I began to learn about employee theft. I can’t say I didn’t know it existed, but I had no idea there were so many methods that employees will use to steal. When I eventually took a promotional opportunity to move to a Loss Prevention Manager for another company, I took with me the knowledge I had gained. In my new role I learned even more and had additional training to reduce employee theft. If it was important for me to receive ongoing training, how important is it for a retail owner and managers of stores with no security resources to receive training to reduce employee theft?
Employee theft can include more than simply cash theft from a register or stealing a pack of gum from a checklane. Return fraud, gift card fraud, merchandise theft, and even time card manipulation all impact store profits and can be detrimental to customer service as well. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. offers training programs that can help owners and managers learn how to identify and address issues, reducing the impact they can have on a business. Additional training programs are offered to help stop shoplifting in stores. There is no better resource for training than by an expert who has been in the field and has experience investigating and prosecuting internal theft cases. This experience is available to help retail managers learn what they can do to deter associate theft and stop shoplifting.
I recognize that many small stores do not have a Loss Prevention department. Even national chain stores do not all have in-store security but rather someone at a district or regional level responsible for employee theft investigations. These Loss Prevention managers often visit stores and conduct safety and security audits and spend time training and educating store managers. So what is a small, independently owned store manager to do when he or she can’t afford their own Loss Prevention personnel? Store managers must become educated on the impact of theft on their store and how to identify signs of dishonest activity. An employee who is going to steal isn’t going to advertise their intentions. There are some thieves who are good at what they do and they can make it difficult even for a trained security professional to catch them. There are steps a management team can take to help preclude employees from stealing first place. From pre-employment screening to holding new employee orientations that include the topics of internal theft and how to stop shoplifting, Loss Prevention Systems, inc. wants to help you with training to reduce employee theft.
You may not have a Loss Prevention department but with the proper training you can learn how to protect your business from unnecessary losses. Let us help you keep shortage low and profits high.
Get more information on training to reduce employee theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Retail Theft Prevention-4 WC Blog 280
Checkpoint security systems-4
Checkpoint Tags-3
Stop shoplifting-3
Complacency Can Carry Consequences; Emphasize Theft Daily And Use Retail Anti-Theft Devices On All Merchandise
How secure is your merchandise? Do you feel like you have strong controls in place to prevent and deter theft? It can be easy for store employees, including managers and supervisors to become complacent when it comes to retail theft prevention. Whether it is merchandise theft, cash theft or fraud of various types, we can all fall victim to complacency. I bring this up because recently at the store I work for a cashier had two computer tablets stolen from him. Were the tablets secured? While they were locked up in the stockroom they were. The theft took place when the employee took the tablets to the register to ring up. The tablets were left on the counter in front of the customer. A credit card was presented as payment but when the card was declined the thief grabbed his credit card and the two tablets and ran out the door.
Retail theft prevention requires a multi-faceted approach to stop shoplifting and other retail crimes. It should start with installing Checkpoint security systems and all the components necessary to operate the system effectively. Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) antennas should be set up at entrances and exits and deactivation units for each checkout stand. Detachment tools secured to the register stands will ensure hard Checkpoint tags can be removed upon customer checkout. Protecting every piece of merchandise with hard or soft Checkpoint tags will stop shoplifting through deterrence and/or EAS antenna alarm activations. Theft prevention also includes controlling keys to registers and doors, employee awareness of possible signs of credit card fraud, counterfeit money schemes, short change artists and methods of shoplifting and return fraud. A Checkpoint security system can prevent the majority of shoplifting but it still requires employee education and training for proper deactivation and alarm response. It also does not prevent all the theft related crimes retailers contend with daily.
So, what could have the employee done differently with the tablet theft? He had to take the merchandise out of a locked stockroom in order to even get it for the customer. In this case, the tablets should have been kept out of reach of the customer until the transaction had completely gone through. He should have also been suspicious when the customer wanted two of the same tablets, valued around $500 a piece. Transactions that are not common should be viewed with a suspicion.
I am not trying to play Monday morning quarterback, I had a recent incident in which I was a little suspicious of a transaction and even got another employee with supervisor responsibilities to double check me. A customer was making a purchase of $3 and some change total and paying with a $100 bill. I marked the bill with a counterfeit pen and it marked properly. I had the second employee look at the bill and he agreed it felt odd but agreed with the marking pen. I completed the transaction and the customer left. I should have called for the Manager on Duty but did not until it was all done and I later learned the bill was actually counterfeit. Lesson learned. By the way, my background? About 15 years of Loss Prevention Management, 20 years of Retail Loss Prevention experience total and 26 years of total retail background.
One more example, our store uses EAS retail theft prevention devices to stop shoplifting. Recently the company Loss Prevention department revised a company theft protection strategy which gives stores direction on items to be protected with anti-shoplifting tags. Within a week of the change, a high ticket piece of merchandise (over a hundred dollars) that used to be secured with an anti-shoplifting device was stolen. Prior to the removal of the protective device there had not been a theft issue with the item in question. A Checkpoint Security System is generally as effective as the amount of merchandise protected with Checkpoint tags or other EAS anti-shoplifting devices. The removal of tags and protective devices puts products at risk.
If you don’t have one, invest in a Checkpoint Security System to prevent merchandise theft. If you DO have a system, don’t allow complacency to set in. Protect as much merchandise as you possibly can and make sure theft and fraud are regular topics of discussion with your employees. Employees make the difference in how effective your retail theft prevention strategies truly are.
Need information on Checkpoint Security Systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
How secure is your merchandise? Do you feel like you have strong controls in place to prevent and deter theft? It can be easy for store employees, including managers and supervisors to become complacent when it comes to retail theft prevention. Whether it is merchandise theft, cash theft or fraud of various types, we can all fall victim to complacency. I bring this up because recently at the store I work for a cashier had two computer tablets stolen from him. Were the tablets secured? While they were locked up in the stockroom they were. The theft took place when the employee took the tablets to the register to ring up. The tablets were left on the counter in front of the customer. A credit card was presented as payment but when the card was declined the thief grabbed his credit card and the two tablets and ran out the door.
Retail theft prevention requires a multi-faceted approach to stop shoplifting and other retail crimes. It should start with installing Checkpoint security systems and all the components necessary to operate the system effectively. Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) antennas should be set up at entrances and exits and deactivation units for each checkout stand. Detachment tools secured to the register stands will ensure hard Checkpoint tags can be removed upon customer checkout. Protecting every piece of merchandise with hard or soft Checkpoint tags will stop shoplifting through deterrence and/or EAS antenna alarm activations. Theft prevention also includes controlling keys to registers and doors, employee awareness of possible signs of credit card fraud, counterfeit money schemes, short change artists and methods of shoplifting and return fraud. A Checkpoint security system can prevent the majority of shoplifting but it still requires employee education and training for proper deactivation and alarm response. It also does not prevent all the theft related crimes retailers contend with daily.
So, what could have the employee done differently with the tablet theft? He had to take the merchandise out of a locked stockroom in order to even get it for the customer. In this case, the tablets should have been kept out of reach of the customer until the transaction had completely gone through. He should have also been suspicious when the customer wanted two of the same tablets, valued around $500 a piece. Transactions that are not common should be viewed with a suspicion.
I am not trying to play Monday morning quarterback, I had a recent incident in which I was a little suspicious of a transaction and even got another employee with supervisor responsibilities to double check me. A customer was making a purchase of $3 and some change total and paying with a $100 bill. I marked the bill with a counterfeit pen and it marked properly. I had the second employee look at the bill and he agreed it felt odd but agreed with the marking pen. I completed the transaction and the customer left. I should have called for the Manager on Duty but did not until it was all done and I later learned the bill was actually counterfeit. Lesson learned. By the way, my background? About 15 years of Loss Prevention Management, 20 years of Retail Loss Prevention experience total and 26 years of total retail background.
One more example, our store uses EAS retail theft prevention devices to stop shoplifting. Recently the company Loss Prevention department revised a company theft protection strategy which gives stores direction on items to be protected with anti-shoplifting tags. Within a week of the change, a high ticket piece of merchandise (over a hundred dollars) that used to be secured with an anti-shoplifting device was stolen. Prior to the removal of the protective device there had not been a theft issue with the item in question. A Checkpoint Security System is generally as effective as the amount of merchandise protected with Checkpoint tags or other EAS anti-shoplifting devices. The removal of tags and protective devices puts products at risk.
If you don’t have one, invest in a Checkpoint Security System to prevent merchandise theft. If you DO have a system, don’t allow complacency to set in. Protect as much merchandise as you possibly can and make sure theft and fraud are regular topics of discussion with your employees. Employees make the difference in how effective your retail theft prevention strategies truly are.
Need information on Checkpoint Security Systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Alpha Shark Tags-3 WC Blog 203
Wardrobing-5
Return Fraud-3
Dressing For Success May Result In Stores Being Victims Of Wardrobing; Prevent Return Fraud With Alpha Shark Tags Part 2
In part 1 of this series I discussed the difficulty that can experienced by someone who has been in the workforce for a while and is now having to job hunt. New college graduates can face similar problems since they tend to be on fixed budgets. My wife and I are the parents of three young adults. We have two sons who are in college and will be graduating in a year and two years respectively. One will be entering the job market as a teacher, the other may take an extra year or two and get his MBA and go into the world of business and finance. They will all be competing for jobs against other ambitious job seekers, some with prior work experience and some that are on the same “fresh out of college” level. It is important that as they begin interviewing they make strong first impressions, and part of that involves what they wear to the interview. The problem is that a new interview outfit can be expensive and it may be tempting for someone to buy an outfit or suit, wear it to their interview then return the clothes to the store for a refund. In retail this is called wardrobing and unfortunately it is more common than many people realize.
Wardrobing is a form of return fraud that takes place when a customer makes a purchase with the intent of wearing the item out someplace, maybe a party or special event and then returning it for a refund of what they paid for the items. Often those who are wardrobing will tuck price tags under the sleeve or the neckline and tape it up so the tags won’t be seen. Some will go so far as to purchase swift attachment guns and reattach the tags to the clothes. When they are done they return the clothes, with the receipt and tags in place, often saying the reason for return is that they changed their mind. This is fraudulent, because it deprives the retailer of the sale, and even the sales clerks, in some instances, lose commissions. The clothes sometimes have all sorts of odors on them, perfumes, food smells, cigarette smoke, that makes them unsellable, but if they are free of stains it is difficult to refuse a return. A retailer can take steps to prevent this type of return fraud if they will use Alpha Shark Tags on the clothes they sell.
Alpha Shark Tags can only be used once and when removed cannot be reapplied to a garment. The tags are put on by store associates and are removed by the customer when the customer gets the item home. The tags are not obtrusive and they won’t interfere with trying on a piece of clothing. By using Shark Tags the store benefits by requiring the tag to be intact on the merchandise to return it.
So what is my point in reference to job interviews and the chance of wardrobing? Well, according to an article in http://www.businessinsider.com/mens-interview-suits-2014-8 by Breton Fischetti, August 25, 2014, titled, “4 Things To Know When Buying Your First Interview Suit”, “A solid price point for the first suit should be around $500, give or take. Plenty of options can be found around and below that amount, but avoid very inexpensive suits, as they are often poor quality and will look cheap.” Now, I fully understand the writer’s point, making a good impression and buying a suit that will last is important. On the other hand, I would argue that for the first time interviewee, this may be a financial burden at this stage of a new career. If this is the trend that being promoted then it is easy to see how someone could be tempted to “purchase” a new suit and following the interview, return it to the store where they purchased it. The $500 investment would be for a few days at most and then refunded at the time of return.
Job interviews are important and dressing well is just as important, but it should never be a burden to a retailer. Interview attire should become part of a person’s professional wardrobe. Sell the clothes, be fair in your return policy but don’t be the victim of wardrobing and return fraud. Use Alpha Shark Tags and stay profitable and help future interviewees look great.
Get more information on Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
In part 1 of this series I discussed the difficulty that can experienced by someone who has been in the workforce for a while and is now having to job hunt. New college graduates can face similar problems since they tend to be on fixed budgets. My wife and I are the parents of three young adults. We have two sons who are in college and will be graduating in a year and two years respectively. One will be entering the job market as a teacher, the other may take an extra year or two and get his MBA and go into the world of business and finance. They will all be competing for jobs against other ambitious job seekers, some with prior work experience and some that are on the same “fresh out of college” level. It is important that as they begin interviewing they make strong first impressions, and part of that involves what they wear to the interview. The problem is that a new interview outfit can be expensive and it may be tempting for someone to buy an outfit or suit, wear it to their interview then return the clothes to the store for a refund. In retail this is called wardrobing and unfortunately it is more common than many people realize.
Wardrobing is a form of return fraud that takes place when a customer makes a purchase with the intent of wearing the item out someplace, maybe a party or special event and then returning it for a refund of what they paid for the items. Often those who are wardrobing will tuck price tags under the sleeve or the neckline and tape it up so the tags won’t be seen. Some will go so far as to purchase swift attachment guns and reattach the tags to the clothes. When they are done they return the clothes, with the receipt and tags in place, often saying the reason for return is that they changed their mind. This is fraudulent, because it deprives the retailer of the sale, and even the sales clerks, in some instances, lose commissions. The clothes sometimes have all sorts of odors on them, perfumes, food smells, cigarette smoke, that makes them unsellable, but if they are free of stains it is difficult to refuse a return. A retailer can take steps to prevent this type of return fraud if they will use Alpha Shark Tags on the clothes they sell.
Alpha Shark Tags can only be used once and when removed cannot be reapplied to a garment. The tags are put on by store associates and are removed by the customer when the customer gets the item home. The tags are not obtrusive and they won’t interfere with trying on a piece of clothing. By using Shark Tags the store benefits by requiring the tag to be intact on the merchandise to return it.
So what is my point in reference to job interviews and the chance of wardrobing? Well, according to an article in http://www.businessinsider.com/mens-interview-suits-2014-8 by Breton Fischetti, August 25, 2014, titled, “4 Things To Know When Buying Your First Interview Suit”, “A solid price point for the first suit should be around $500, give or take. Plenty of options can be found around and below that amount, but avoid very inexpensive suits, as they are often poor quality and will look cheap.” Now, I fully understand the writer’s point, making a good impression and buying a suit that will last is important. On the other hand, I would argue that for the first time interviewee, this may be a financial burden at this stage of a new career. If this is the trend that being promoted then it is easy to see how someone could be tempted to “purchase” a new suit and following the interview, return it to the store where they purchased it. The $500 investment would be for a few days at most and then refunded at the time of return.
Job interviews are important and dressing well is just as important, but it should never be a burden to a retailer. Interview attire should become part of a person’s professional wardrobe. Sell the clothes, be fair in your return policy but don’t be the victim of wardrobing and return fraud. Use Alpha Shark Tags and stay profitable and help future interviewees look great.
Get more information on Alpha Shark Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
