For brick and mortar clothing retailers, there are many different options available to combat theft in their stores.  But what are your options when don’t have a storefront, and your business is primarily online?  Online retailers don’t face all of the same challenges as traditional retailers, but some of the problems are similar.  For example, online wardrobing is a growing issue for clothing businesses on the internet.  This issue is the same type of dishonesty that occurs in stores, the only difference is that the merchandise is purchased online before being returned. If you are facing a similar challenge with your own business, there’s good news for you.  Alpha Shark Tags could very well be the solution to your problem, and save you a great deal of money by reducing fraudulent returns.   

This is the issue…online wardrobing starts off as a typical sale. ”Customers” go on the internet and look through your products, finding something that theky think would look good on them.  They then pick the size, style, color, and then they purchase the item. So what’s the problem?  The problem is that it doesn’t always end with the sale.  You have to expect that some merchandise that is purchased is going to wind up getting returned, but what you probably don’t expect is that the “customer” had no intention of keeping the item, or letting you keep your money from the sale.  

Although some people make a habit of this type of behavior, online wardrobing usually occurs when someone wants an expensive outfit, suit, or clothing item that they will probably only need or want to wear one time.  For example, if there is a big event that they need to attend and want to impress everyone there, but they really can’t afford to buy and keep the outfit, this is where the problem lies.  Why keep the item when you can wear it for the event and then return it and get your money back?  Of course this logic leads to dishonesty, but that doesn’t stop everyone from doing it.

But how can a merchandise protection device help you prevent theft if you don’t have an actual storefront?  It’s easy, because Alpha Shark Tags aren’t your typical clothing security tags.  They are made specifically to fight fraudulent returns, and all you have to do is attach the tags to your clothing before you ship the merchandise to the customer.  The customer can try on the clothing item without removing the tag, but they won’t want to wear it in public because it is highly visible.  If they like the purchased item and want to keep it, the tag can be easily removed with a pair of scissors.  

The goal of Alpha Shark Tags isn’t to eliminate returns altogether, but only to reduce the chances of fraudulent returns from occurring.  You can still accept returns, but you can require that the tag still be attached to the garment when it is returned if the customer wants a full refund.  If you decided to, you may want to offer a partial refund if the tag was removed from the garment before returned, but that is a decision you’d have to make and add to your refund policy.  

For more information contact us: (online wardrobing) or call 1.770.426.0547

It’s almost that season once again. What season you ask? Swimsuit season of course. I do apologize to anyone reading this who currently resides to the north. I’m very sorry and I hope, for your sake, the sun comes out soon. As a matter of fact, my store has already begun setting up the summer seasonal floor displays, complete with those new swimsuits. This past week also reminded me of why it’s important to use Checkpoint Tags on this product. 

I was conducting a floor audit not 5 days ago when I was in the middle of our apparel floor. I noticed a man browsing the swimsuits that had just begun arriving to the store. At first, I didn’t pay too much attention to him, as if figured he was dreaming about a warmer time. After a few more minutes, his behavior struck me as odd and I watched him pull a pair of pliers from his pocket and he started removing the Checkpoint Tags that were securing the product. Right in the open. Clearly this guy didn’t really have a plan. 

As I watched this gentlemen over the next 25 minutes, it was clear that he did have at least one plan. To defeat my Checkpoint System. The door clearly wouldn’t alarm if the Checkpoint Tags were removed and he was well aware of that. He wandered the store clipping the tags, as if he was the only person in the store. Oblivious to the fact that he was being watched by two LP agents and myself. After he had defeated just about every tag imaginable, he simple whipped out a shopping bag from his pocket and bagged his own merchandise. 

Mr. Shoplifter made it outside where he was met by my team. His first was reaction was to point out that the Checkpoint System didn’t alarm. He wouldn’t return to the store, but rather decided to argue with us. Unknown to him, local police were already on their way to the store. When the police arrived, he was still arguing with me. He informed the officer that he was being wrongfully accused of shoplifting, and that he didn’t have to comply with the police officers request simply because the Checkpoint System didn’t sound. 

I found this incredibly amusing. Here he is, dead to rights, with stolen goods still in his possession, arguing with the police. I thought for sure this guy would give up the act, but he started walking away from the officer. Up until this point, the officer was incredibly polite, and really had more patience that I could have imagined. When the officer grabbed this guy’s arm to stop him, he was met with resistance. Mr. Shoplifter was met with 50,000 volts. In the end, he took a ride to jail and we recovered our merchandise. 

For more information, contact us: Checkpoint Tags, or call 1.770.426.0547

In the convenience store business there is generally only one clerk on duty at most times, day or night.  This gives shoplifters the advantage because the employee is confined to the area behind the counter in order to keep an eye on the register.  It is time to give some inventory control back to these employees, and your business can do that with the help of the new Checkpoint N10.  This new model is perfect for the compact sales floor and valuable space in a convenience store.

Whether it is a planned theft or an impulse idea, there is a definite need for theft deterrence in this business.  In today’s world there is little profit in the selling of gasoline.  The real money is made when customers come inside and buy food, sodas, beer, and gadgets.  Unfortunately, when you have a lot of customers in the store at once, the clerk is preoccupied at the counter, and there is no one to oversee the sales floor or the walk-in cooler.  That is where the Checkpoint N10 can help out.  It is a visible and recognizable system, designed smaller, but still as powerful for theft detection.

I know a lot of people that have either worked or been supervisors in this businesses.  My assistant manager, my current boss, and my cousin all responded to my questions of what are the actual targets for theft in this environment.  All three gave me the exact same answers!  Obviously, beer is the number one problem.  Especially in locations with walk-in coolers, there is rampant beer theft, mostly people stealing single bottles by concealing them in their clothing.  Beef jerky is also a huge problem.  I work for a small retail pharmacy and we have a lot of beef jerky theft too.  It sounds crazy, but it is an expensive snack.  The good news is these items can be tagged so the Checkpoint N10 can detect if someone gets too close to the door with unpaid merchandise.  

The other top items on the list was medications and condoms.  Many stores choose to keep these behind the counter.  Studies show, however, that customers do not like to have to ask for items; they would rather be able to look at them, pick them up, and choose what they want.  The store will ultimately lose sales in either situation, if the items are left out unprotected or if they are kept behind the checkout.  Gadgets, like phone chargers and cases, are now popular items for thieves as well. Again, these items can be easily tagged with Checkpoint Labels.  

The labels and the system serve as excellent deterrents for impulse theft.  Most people don’t come in with the intent to steal.  The see a line of people waiting, the see the opportunity, and they make the split second decision to give it a try.  Checkpoint N10 can help change their minds and stop the thefts.

For more information contact us: 1.770.426.0547 or Antishoplifting.net