Electronic Article Surveillance –5 WC blog 04
EAS tags – 4
Stop Shoplifting – 3
Electronic Article Surveillance: Sound The Alarm
Is there anyone else out there who has experienced the frustration of making a purchase and then the alarm from the electronic article surveillance system sounds when you attempt to exit a store? More annoying still, the cashier waves to you and says you’re okay and continues checking out the next customer? To top off the experience, it seems everyone in the store is staring at you. I know in my own experience, my reaction can depend on how my day is going, and with a knowledge of loss prevention, I am aware that no system is perfect so I may be a little more forgiving than the average customer. As an Assets Protection Manager I have also been on the receiving end of the angry customer who has been inconvenienced by an alarm that has sounded due to the failure of EAS tags to be deactivated. This is the customer who is going to make their feelings known, and they may not do it so quietly or politely.
I am a huge proponent of retail theft prevention measures, especially electronic article surveillance systems. There is no question that these systems make a significant impact on improving the profits of the stores that invest in them. Having the antennas at the doors makes a shoplifter consider whether they want to risk setting off the alarm. EAS tags on merchandise act as deterrents against the would-be thief. It must be remembered that the technology that is on the market can only go so far in efforts to stop shoplifting. Business owners and managers must also train employees on systems they choose to invest in. Employees need to be aware of the importance of deactivating all merchandise that passes over their checkout lanes. It is not enough to simply have an acronym that employees are to memorize to get compliance. Time needs to be spent properly training employees. Invest the time explaining to the employee why minimizing and preferably eliminating false alarms at the doors is so important. If there are no dedicated security personnel, then a cashier may have to be the person trained to test the equipment. Training also must include proper response to electronic article surveillance alarm activations.
The first and most obvious reason to eliminate false alarms is the negative experience to the honest customer. Customers who have experienced a false alarm are not concerned whether the cause of the alarm is due to faulty equipment or a cashier not deactivating EAS tags, they want someone to address the immediate situation. A well trained employee can defuse a situation quickly and allow the customer to leave still having a positive attitude about their overall experience. Eliminating false alarms will also add credibility to the deterrence value of the alarm system. When people see that no one responds to an electronic article surveillance alarm the bad guys are among those watching and they do evaluate stores based on response or the lack of response to an alarm. No system will stop shoplifting if it is ignored when it sounds. Following proper deactivation procedures of EAS tags at the point of sale and quick response to alarms will reinforce a company’s commitment to theft prevention and good customer service.
Make the investment in an electronic article surveillance system and train employees so they see the value of the systems and understand how critical their role is in monitoring and responding to alarms. Employees will be motivated when they see the system does stop shoplifting. Building a culture of customer service and a secure environment can go hand in hand to building a profitable business.
For more information on Electronic Article Surveillance, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Is there anyone else out there who has experienced the frustration of making a purchase and then the alarm from the electronic article surveillance system sounds when you attempt to exit a store? More annoying still, the cashier waves to you and says you’re okay and continues checking out the next customer? To top off the experience, it seems everyone in the store is staring at you. I know in my own experience, my reaction can depend on how my day is going, and with a knowledge of loss prevention, I am aware that no system is perfect so I may be a little more forgiving than the average customer. As an Assets Protection Manager I have also been on the receiving end of the angry customer who has been inconvenienced by an alarm that has sounded due to the failure of EAS tags to be deactivated. This is the customer who is going to make their feelings known, and they may not do it so quietly or politely.
I am a huge proponent of retail theft prevention measures, especially electronic article surveillance systems. There is no question that these systems make a significant impact on improving the profits of the stores that invest in them. Having the antennas at the doors makes a shoplifter consider whether they want to risk setting off the alarm. EAS tags on merchandise act as deterrents against the would-be thief. It must be remembered that the technology that is on the market can only go so far in efforts to stop shoplifting. Business owners and managers must also train employees on systems they choose to invest in. Employees need to be aware of the importance of deactivating all merchandise that passes over their checkout lanes. It is not enough to simply have an acronym that employees are to memorize to get compliance. Time needs to be spent properly training employees. Invest the time explaining to the employee why minimizing and preferably eliminating false alarms at the doors is so important. If there are no dedicated security personnel, then a cashier may have to be the person trained to test the equipment. Training also must include proper response to electronic article surveillance alarm activations.
The first and most obvious reason to eliminate false alarms is the negative experience to the honest customer. Customers who have experienced a false alarm are not concerned whether the cause of the alarm is due to faulty equipment or a cashier not deactivating EAS tags, they want someone to address the immediate situation. A well trained employee can defuse a situation quickly and allow the customer to leave still having a positive attitude about their overall experience. Eliminating false alarms will also add credibility to the deterrence value of the alarm system. When people see that no one responds to an electronic article surveillance alarm the bad guys are among those watching and they do evaluate stores based on response or the lack of response to an alarm. No system will stop shoplifting if it is ignored when it sounds. Following proper deactivation procedures of EAS tags at the point of sale and quick response to alarms will reinforce a company’s commitment to theft prevention and good customer service.
Make the investment in an electronic article surveillance system and train employees so they see the value of the systems and understand how critical their role is in monitoring and responding to alarms. Employees will be motivated when they see the system does stop shoplifting. Building a culture of customer service and a secure environment can go hand in hand to building a profitable business.
For more information on Electronic Article Surveillance, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
PROTECTING YOUR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS WITH ALPHA THUNDER TAGS
Tablets are rising in popularity almost by the day. Gone are the days of toting around a bulky laptop, or a computer on wheels. Wireless tablets are finding their way into every imaginable field. Most prevalent is there use in the medical field. Doctors, nurses, dentists and almost every specialty in-between are switching from bulky push computers and paper charts to the ease and simplicity of a tablet. You know what else is on the rise? Theft of those same tablets.
Talk to any retail manager that carries these items and you will find out just how large the problem really is. Retail stores have to take extreme measures to protect their merchandise. With these advances in security technology, thieves will often move to the path of least resistance. Often times that means stealing from stores that have minimal security. What’s happening more frequently is that we are seeing that it is increasingly difficult for a thief to get their hands on tablets in stores. Due to the strong week control measures in place in hospitals, there is a rise in theft of these devices within the medical field. After all, the tablets can be wiped clean very easily and resold in minutes on the street. What can you do to protect the investments you’ve made in medical tech?
Enter the Alpha Thunder tag. These tags are the gold standard in several big chain retailers throughout the country because they work. Here are the basics of how the tag works:
The Thunder tag is placed onto the back of the tablet with custom adhesive. A plunger on the back-side of the tag detects any tampering. If the tag is removed from the device, it sounds an ear piercing 95dba alarm. In order for the tag to work properly, you will also need to install a tower antenna, such as the N10 antenna. These almost invisible gates detect when the tag passes through (say an exit door). This would also alert staff or security that a tag is exiting the building.
If you do a quick google search on how to prevent tablet theft, you’ll see hundreds of different locks, cases and software aimed at protecting tablets, specifically in the medical field. The costs can quickly add up into the thousands. We all are aware of the rising health care costs and the strain that puts on hospital budgets. Administrators need to find a way to leverage technology for efficiency in addition to securing those assets in a cost effective manner. The Alpha Thunder tag, along with the N10 antenna are a fantastic solution to this problem and can help hospitals across the country solve a problem that the retail community has had for years.
For more information about (Alpha Thunder Tag) contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Tablets are rising in popularity almost by the day. Gone are the days of toting around a bulky laptop, or a computer on wheels. Wireless tablets are finding their way into every imaginable field. Most prevalent is there use in the medical field. Doctors, nurses, dentists and almost every specialty in-between are switching from bulky push computers and paper charts to the ease and simplicity of a tablet. You know what else is on the rise? Tablet theft.
Talk to any retail manager that carries these items and you will find out just how large the problem really is. Retail stores have to take extreme measures to protect their merchandise. With these advances in security technology, thieves will often move to the path of least resistance. Often times that means stealing from stores that have minimal security. What’s happening more frequently is that we are seeing that it is increasingly difficult for a thief to get their hands on tablets in stores. Due to the strong week control measures in place in hospitals, there is a rise in theft of these devices within the medical field. After all, the tablets can be wiped clean very easily and resold in minutes on the street. What can you do to protect the investments you’ve made in medical tech?
Enter the Alpha Thunder tag. These tags are the gold standard in several big chain retailers throughout the country because they work. Here are the basics of how the tag works:
The Thunder tag is placed onto the back of the tablet with custom adhesive. A plunger on the back-side of the tag detects any tampering. If the tag is removed from the device, it sounds an ear piercing 95dba alarm. In order for the tag to work properly, you will also need to install a tower antenna, such as the N10 antenna. These almost invisible gates detect when the tag passes through (say an exit door). This would also alert staff or security that a tag is exiting the building.
If you do a quick google search on how to prevent tablet theft, you’ll see hundreds of different locks, cases and software aimed at protecting tablets, specifically in the medical field. The costs can quickly add up into the thousands. We all are aware of the rising health care costs and the strain that puts on hospital budgets. Administrators need to find a way to leverage technology for efficiency in addition to securing those assets in a cost effective manner. The Alpha Thunder tag, along with the N10 antenna are a fantastic solution to this problem and can help hospitals across the country solve a problem that the retail community has had for years.
For more information about Alpha Thunder Tag contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Wardrobing-5 WC blog 48
Alpha Shark Tags-5
Return Fraud-5
Ward Off Return Fraud: Win With Alpha Shark Tags
I enjoy looking up factoids for my articles. Despite my retail experience, I am often shocked by the information I find. In some cases, if I were a business owner, a few of the statistics would shake me up. Here are a few tidbits I came across on a website called “The Retail Equation”:
• The U.S. retail industry lost 10.8 billion to 17.6 billion to return fraud in 2014.
• Return fraud cost retailers and workers between 382,000 and 620,000 jobs last year.
• Retail Revenue losses are costing states a total of $663 million to $1.076 billion in lost sales taxes
The numbers are staggering. One of the major types of return fraud is wardrobing and it can be difficult to prevent. Due to the impact wardrobing has had on the retail industry; Alpha Shark Tags were created as a means to deter this activity.
Let me briefly explain the practice of wardrobing. Customers who engage in this behavior purchase clothes take them home and find ways to remove tags or conceal them. The merchandise is then worn to an event, a party, a social engagement or any other outing and usually returned within a few days. The tags are often reattached or “unhidden” and the item is returned for a refund. In the past, many retailers took these items back, even if there were indications they may have been worn. The idea was that often the customer was considered a “regular” and managers did not want to risk losing the patron. Besides, the excuse managers would use to take back the garments was that the customer had their receipt. Make up stains or odors on the clothes, well don’t worry about it, we’ll just mark it down or defect the item out of stock. Without a means of preventing the fraud other than turning down the return and risk causing a scene, or losing that “regular” customer, retailers were somewhat limited in their options. That is where Alpha Shark Tags come in to play.
Alpha Shark Tags are attached to clothes in a highly visible location and pinned closed. Once closed, they cannot be removed except by cutting them off of the garment. They are brightly colored to ensure they will be visible to other people. The tag therefore defeats the fraudulent attempt to look like a new item has been purchased for a night on the town. The tags have to be cut off by the purchaser once they get the clothing item home and choose to wear it. An optional, custom printed tag can be ordered to warn purchasers of the store return policy and remind them an item cannot be returned if the tag has been removed. The printed tag is pinned to the garment with the Alpha Shark Tag so the purchaser cannot claim to have seen a warning.
Unless you are renting out clothes, wardrobing is robbing your business of profitability. Marking down clothing due to damage or prior wear will reduce your profit margin or totally eat it away. If your store is marking clothing out of stock you are losing cost and profit. Taking into consideration the initial processing of the original sale, the time sales staff may have spent assisting the customer in the purchasing decision and finally the return processing, you are probably costing yourself money.
If you decide that return fraud is costing you money and you are now going to take steps to prevent wardrobing in your business, I have one final caution. Enforce your return policies. If you start using tags to deter fraud, be sure your associates clearly point out the return policy and the Alpha Shark Tags at the time of the sale. Make it clear that no returns will be accepted if the tag is removed. Post the return policy in a prominent location at your point of sale. Follow these suggestions and you can make a big impact on preventing return fraud in your store.
For more information on wardrobing contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
I enjoy looking up factoids for my articles. Despite my retail experience, I am often shocked by the information I find. In some cases, if I were a business owner, a few of the statistics would shake me up. Here are a few tidbits I came across on a website called “The Retail Equation”:
• The U.S. retail industry lost 10.8 billion to 17.6 billion to return fraud in 2014.
• Return fraud cost retailers and workers between 382,000 and 620,000 jobs last year.
• Retail Revenue losses are costing states a total of $663 million to $1.076 billion in lost sales taxes
The numbers are staggering. One of the major types of return fraud is wardrobing and it can be difficult to prevent. Due to the impact wardrobing has had on the retail industry; Alpha Shark Tags were created as a means to deter this activity.
Let me briefly explain the practice of wardrobing. Customers who engage in this behavior purchase clothes take them home and find ways to remove tags or conceal them. The merchandise is then worn to an event, a party, a social engagement or any other outing and usually returned within a few days. The tags are often reattached or “unhidden” and the item is returned for a refund. In the past, many retailers took these items back, even if there were indications they may have been worn. The idea was that often the customer was considered a “regular” and managers did not want to risk losing the patron. Besides, the excuse managers would use to take back the garments was that the customer had their receipt. Make up stains or odors on the clothes, well don’t worry about it, we’ll just mark it down or defect the item out of stock. Without a means of preventing the fraud other than turning down the return and risk causing a scene, or losing that “regular” customer, retailers were somewhat limited in their options. That is where Alpha Shark Tags come in to play.
Alpha Shark Tags are attached to clothes in a highly visible location and pinned closed. Once closed, they cannot be removed except by cutting them off of the garment. They are brightly colored to ensure they will be visible to other people. The tag therefore defeats the fraudulent attempt to look like a new item has been purchased for a night on the town. The tags have to be cut off by the purchaser once they get the clothing item home and choose to wear it. An optional, custom printed tag can be ordered to warn purchasers of the store return policy and remind them an item cannot be returned if the tag has been removed. The printed tag is pinned to the garment with the Alpha Shark Tag so the purchaser cannot claim to have seen a warning.
Unless you are renting out clothes, wardrobing is robbing your business of profitability. Marking down clothing due to damage or prior wear will reduce your profit margin or totally eat it away. If your store is marking clothing out of stock you are losing cost and profit. Taking into consideration the initial processing of the original sale, the time sales staff may have spent assisting the customer in the purchasing decision and finally the return processing, you are probably costing yourself money.
If you decide that return fraud is costing you money and you are now going to take steps to prevent wardrobing in your business, I have one final caution. Enforce your return policies. If you start using tags to deter fraud, be sure your associates clearly point out the return policy and the Alpha Shark Tags at the time of the sale. Make it clear that no returns will be accepted if the tag is removed. Post the return policy in a prominent location at your point of sale. Follow these suggestions and you can make a big impact on preventing return fraud in your store.
For more information on wardrobing contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
