Sensormatic Security Labels – 5 WC Blog 756
Electronic Article Surveillance – 3
Advantages Of Using Sensormatic Security Labels Over Other Brands Part 2
In Part 1 of this series on Sensormatic security labels I discussed some problems that can be encountered with certain electronic article surveillance systems and labels. From phantom alarms at the doors to having to try to work with large labels there are can be disadvantages associated with some systems. On the other hand there are clear advantages to using Sensormatic security systems. After nearly 17 in Retail Loss Prevention I have had personal experience using different labels, tags and towers. I saw how effective the Sensormatic labels were in protecting merchandise.
This is a short list of what makes the Sensormatic security labels my preferred choice in anti-theft soft tags:
• Right out of the gate is the size of the Sensormatic labels. Whether we are talking about the Sensormatic AP Sheet Labels or the HBC Labels, these tags have a small footprint and take up little space on a piece of merchandise. This means that there are more small items that can be tagged than might have been possible with traditional radio frequency (RF) labels.
• Where RF electronic article surveillance labels are limited in the numbers of products they can be used on, the acoustic magnetic (AM) labels are virtually unlimited. AM labels are not affected by foils or metals so products such as foil gift wraps, foil gift bags, and even bicycles can be protected with a label.
• Because AM labels are not affected by metal, metal shopping carts are not problems for tagged merchandise. Metal shopping carts by their design can interfere with radio waves and disrupt the frequency of RF labels. AM labels are not impacted by this so retailers need not be concerned about what materials their buggies are made out of. Professional shoplifters occasionally use foil lined bags called booster bags to shoplift. These bags are intended to render RF labels useless so they won’t be detected as merchandise in a foil lined bag is carried out of a store. Again, AM labels are not affected by these bags and can still be detected by alarm pedestals.
• AM labels can withstand high humidity levels for certain periods of time without the effectiveness of the tag being impacted. They can also be stored for up to 96 hours in temperatures not exceeding 122 degrees Fahrenheit. This may not seem like a big deal at first but if labels are transported in delivery trucks temperatures and humidity can get high. Having labels that can stand up to these conditions and not lose their potency is an important feature that should not be underestimated by a retailer.
• Finally, and this is probably one of the most important differences in my opinion, Sensormatic’s labels can be reactivated with the Sensormatic Hand Wand.
Each of these are great reasons for investing in Sensormatic security labels but I really want to focus on the last point about reactivation.
When merchandise with an RF label is detuned at the point of sale that label is neutralized and can’t be used again. That is okay if all of your sales are final but we all know that merchandise returns are going to happen. So what happens when the merchandise is brought back and the packaging has an RF label still attached? Based on my experiences I will tell you that in the majority of cases nothing will happen. A new tag cannot be placed on top of an old tag and to be frank most retailers won’t even think about trying to place a new tag on a returned product. That means if the merchandise is in re-sellable condition it is going back out unprotected. It may look like it is tagged but it won’t work if someone decides to try to steal it. With the ability to reactivate Sensormatic security labels a retailer only needs to the Sensormatic Hand Wand available at the return desk to ensure product is secure and ready to be re-stocked.
As I have explained there are sound reasons for choosing to use Sensormatic security labels over other brands. They are proven to stop shoplifting and can be used in situations that would negate the effectiveness of other tags. Don’t take chances on electronic article surveillance labels that may deteriorate due to climate conditions or may not be active any longer. You can count on Sensormatic labels to help in keeping shortage low.
Need information on Sensormatic security labels? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
In Part 1 of this series on Sensormatic security labels I discussed some problems that can be encountered with certain electronic article surveillance systems and labels. From phantom alarms at the doors to having to try to work with large labels there are can be disadvantages associated with some systems. On the other hand there are clear advantages to using Sensormatic security systems. After nearly 17 in Retail Loss Prevention I have had personal experience using different labels, tags and towers. I saw how effective the Sensormatic labels were in protecting merchandise.
This is a short list of what makes the Sensormatic security labels my preferred choice in anti-theft soft tags:
• Right out of the gate is the size of the Sensormatic labels. Whether we are talking about the Sensormatic AP Sheet Labels or the HBC Labels, these tags have a small footprint and take up little space on a piece of merchandise. This means that there are more small items that can be tagged than might have been possible with traditional radio frequency (RF) labels.
• Where RF electronic article surveillance labels are limited in the numbers of products they can be used on, the acoustic magnetic (AM) labels are virtually unlimited. AM labels are not affected by foils or metals so products such as foil gift wraps, foil gift bags, and even bicycles can be protected with a label.
• Because AM labels are not affected by metal, metal shopping carts are not problems for tagged merchandise. Metal shopping carts by their design can interfere with radio waves and disrupt the frequency of RF labels. AM labels are not impacted by this so retailers need not be concerned about what materials their buggies are made out of. Professional shoplifters occasionally use foil lined bags called booster bags to shoplift. These bags are intended to render RF labels useless so they won’t be detected as merchandise in a foil lined bag is carried out of a store. Again, AM labels are not affected by these bags and can still be detected by alarm pedestals.
• AM labels can withstand high humidity levels for certain periods of time without the effectiveness of the tag being impacted. They can also be stored for up to 96 hours in temperatures not exceeding 122 degrees Fahrenheit. This may not seem like a big deal at first but if labels are transported in delivery trucks temperatures and humidity can get high. Having labels that can stand up to these conditions and not lose their potency is an important feature that should not be underestimated by a retailer.
• Finally, and this is probably one of the most important differences in my opinion, Sensormatic’s labels can be reactivated with the Sensormatic Hand Wand.
Each of these are great reasons for investing in Sensormatic security labels but I really want to focus on the last point about reactivation.
When merchandise with an RF label is detuned at the point of sale that label is neutralized and can’t be used again. That is okay if all of your sales are final but we all know that merchandise returns are going to happen. So what happens when the merchandise is brought back and the packaging has an RF label still attached? Based on my experiences I will tell you that in the majority of cases nothing will happen. A new tag cannot be placed on top of an old tag and to be frank most retailers won’t even think about trying to place a new tag on a returned product. That means if the merchandise is in re-sellable condition it is going back out unprotected. It may look like it is tagged but it won’t work if someone decides to try to steal it. With the ability to reactivate Sensormatic security labels a retailer only needs to the Sensormatic Hand Wand available at the return desk to ensure product is secure and ready to be re-stocked.
As I have explained there are sound reasons for choosing to use Sensormatic security labels over other brands. They are proven to stop shoplifting and can be used in situations that would negate the effectiveness of other tags. Don’t take chances on electronic article surveillance labels that may deteriorate due to climate conditions or may not be active any longer. You can count on Sensormatic labels to help in keeping shortage low.
Need information on Sensormatic security labels? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Stop Shoplifting – 3 WC Blog 752
Sensormatic security system – 3
Customer’s Cryptic Computer Message – Did I Stop Shoplifting From Taking Place?
Usually I know if I have been able to stop shoplifting by recovering merchandise someone has dropped or by the demeanor of a customer if I offer them “too much” customer service. Several nights ago I encountered a very odd situation that I have never seen before. A customer entered the store and there was nothing suspicious about him other than he went to an area where people will tend to steal cell phone cases and accessories. I asked if I could help him find something. He seemed a little startled and said he was looking for an iPad for his nephew. Now I found that a bit odd. I love my nephews but not iPad love them. I told the gentleman we did not sell them but we did have alternative computer tablets that would be just as good and cost less money. I took him to that department. He gave a cursory look and was insistent that his nephew wanted an iPad and so he would just look around the store. I alerted our manager and I continued to watch the customer. He moved to some collectables we had and I engaged him in conversation about the items since I am a fan of these products too. My customer did not want anything to do with me and brushed me off. Now that my feelings were hurt I really wanted to give this fella my best customer service when he moved to another department. Again I was rebuffed. I watched him from a bit of a distance as he stopped at an all-in-one computer and started typing on it. He then quickly walked out of the store. When I looked at the computer screen he had typed, “You shouldn’t treat your customers like they are shoplifters.” I laughed and showed the manager on duty. Our store uses a Sensormatic security system to prevent theft but it works best when coupled with good customer service.
Electronic article surveillance equipment does deter shoplifting. From the time the criminal walks into the store and sees the towers to the visibility of anti-theft tags and labels all of this technology tells a potential thief that criminal activity will be risky if not impossible. There are crooks who are smart enough to know that some merchandise can be removed from packaging if not protected properly and then taken. These tend to be the more professional shoplifters who steal for a living. Giving customer service to everyone should already be a priority in a store but for these professionals it is an added deterrent along with the anti-theft devices. Customer service leads to increased sales and it does help to deter criminal activity as I believe it did in my situation. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) owner Bill Bregar has been in the Retail Theft Prevention consultation business since 1983. He stresses to his clients the importance of building a customer service culture in the store in addition to the installation of a Sensormatic security system to stop shoplifting. Like me he understands how customer service works in conjunction with electronic article surveillance to minimize the risk of theft and how it improves profit. For those clients that do not have a Sensormatic security system in the store LPSI is a supplier but also offers the additional benefit of free, live shoplifting prevention training. You won’t get THAT offer anywhere else.
Did my customer intend to steal since he left his not-so-cryptic message on our computer? Well, I received a text from the store manager two days later saying that the police had come by the store with stolen merchandise. The suspect and two accomplices returned the next day and stole merchandise and it was recovered in the course of another incident involving the suspect. My “customer” also had felony warrants in other states. It’s nice to know that this old Loss Prevention Manager still has an instinct about how to identify and stop shoplifting. Since I can’t be there to help your store, take time to contact LPSI and see all they offer that can help your team reduce theft. Don’t delay you don’t know when my “customer” will get out and visit your store next.
Need information on a Sensormatic security system? Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Usually I know if I have been able to stop shoplifting by recovering merchandise someone has dropped or by the demeanor of a customer if I offer them “too much” customer service. Several nights ago I encountered a very odd situation that I have never seen before. A customer entered the store and there was nothing suspicious about him other than he went to an area where people will tend to steal cell phone cases and accessories. I asked if I could help him find something. He seemed a little startled and said he was looking for an iPad for his nephew. Now I found that a bit odd. I love my nephews but not iPad love them. I told the gentleman we did not sell them but we did have alternative computer tablets that would be just as good and cost less money. I took him to that department. He gave a cursory look and was insistent that his nephew wanted an iPad and so he would just look around the store. I alerted our manager and I continued to watch the customer. He moved to some collectables we had and I engaged him in conversation about the items since I am a fan of these products too. My customer did not want anything to do with me and brushed me off. Now that my feelings were hurt I really wanted to give this fella my best customer service when he moved to another department. Again I was rebuffed. I watched him from a bit of a distance as he stopped at an all-in-one computer and started typing on it. He then quickly walked out of the store. When I looked at the computer screen he had typed, “You shouldn’t treat your customers like they are shoplifters.” I laughed and showed the manager on duty. Our store uses a Sensormatic security system to prevent theft but it works best when coupled with good customer service.
Electronic article surveillance equipment does deter shoplifting. From the time the criminal walks into the store and sees the towers to the visibility of anti-theft tags and labels all of this technology tells a potential thief that criminal activity will be risky if not impossible. There are crooks who are smart enough to know that some merchandise can be removed from packaging if not protected properly and then taken. These tend to be the more professional shoplifters who steal for a living. Giving customer service to everyone should already be a priority in a store but for these professionals it is an added deterrent along with the anti-theft devices. Customer service leads to increased sales and it does help to deter criminal activity as I believe it did in my situation. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) owner Bill Bregar has been in the Retail Theft Prevention consultation business since 1983. He stresses to his clients the importance of building a customer service culture in the store in addition to the installation of a Sensormatic security system to stop shoplifting. Like me he understands how customer service works in conjunction with electronic article surveillance to minimize the risk of theft and how it improves profit. For those clients that do not have a Sensormatic security system in the store LPSI is a supplier but also offers the additional benefit of free, live shoplifting prevention training. You won’t get THAT offer anywhere else.
Did my customer intend to steal since he left his not-so-cryptic message on our computer? Well, I received a text from the store manager two days later saying that the police had come by the store with stolen merchandise. The suspect and two accomplices returned the next day and stole merchandise and it was recovered in the course of another incident involving the suspect. My “customer” also had felony warrants in other states. It’s nice to know that this old Loss Prevention Manager still has an instinct about how to identify and stop shoplifting. Since I can’t be there to help your store, take time to contact LPSI and see all they offer that can help your team reduce theft. Don’t delay you don’t know when my “customer” will get out and visit your store next.
Need information on a Sensormatic security system? Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Electronic Article Surveillance – 4 WC Blog 768
Sensormatic hard tags – 3
Great Power Comes With The Use Of Sensormatic Hard Tags
Electronic article surveillance is an extremely popular form of retail security but if it is not implemented properly it can become problematic. I do not say this to discourage owners and managers from purchasing a Sensormatic security system or Sensormatic tags but to make sure that people understand there are responsibilities that come with owning and using a system. To steal a quote from the “Spiderman” movie, “With great power comes great responsibility”. Anti-theft systems are powerful and can stop shoplifting but they can hurt customer service too.
I have long believed that the failure to remove Sensormatic hard tags when a customer makes a purchase does cause a problem for the retailer. Shoppers get irritated and embarrassed by false alarms. The alarm itself causes a distraction to other shoppers (which is okay if the alarm is legitimate but not because of a cashier error). False alarms take up unnecessary time from the responding supervisor. To add to all of these I have noticed that some websites that claim to tell people how to remove electronic article surveillance tags (not related to Sensormatic or any anti-theft system dealer or manufacturer) allegedly do so in response to finding tags still on merchandise after a customer gets home. I do know that tags are sometimes left on merchandise and it does create a headache for the patron. It has happened to me and I have had to go back to the store and have the tag removed. Did the alarm sound when I left the store? Yes, I think so, other people were walking out and in at the same time. After waiting for someone to respond to the alarm I got irritated and left. As you would expect when I returned the alarm went off again and people looked at me and I was further annoyed. Then there is the look from the return desk employee that lets you know they don’t quite believe your story with or without a receipt. Customer distractions can lead to customer dissatisfaction and THAT can hurt future sales from that shopper and those friends of theirs they talk to about their experience.
I want to digress for a moment and talk about those websites that allege to “show” or “tell” someone how to remove Sensormatic hard tags without the proper removal tool only a store should possess. After reading through several of these sites I just shook my head in disgust. First, if I take them at their word that they are “helping” those who have made purchases and found a tag left on their merchandise, I can still say they are not helping. The methods that I was reading about would very likely lead to damaged product completely defeating the purpose for not returning to the store. The methods could also result in injury to the person following the ill-advised instructions. I do not wish to see people get injured especially when they are following stupid advice. Second, I don’t buy that the writers or videographer wannabe’s are really trying to help hapless shoppers. I happen to believe the intention of these people is to encourage theft. Why would they do that? I can’t speak to their reasoning, of course I can’t explain why people want to shoplift either all I know is I have dedicated many years to catching and stopping criminals.
Retail owners and managers please heed my recommendation, use electronic article surveillance in your store. If you have an older system, consider upgrading to a newer, more energy-efficient Sensormatic system. Use genuine Sensormatic hard tags to protect against theft and increase the profit for your store through reduced shortage and increased sales (resulting from the decreased theft). I can hear it now, “But you just told me that there can be customer service issues if cashiers don’t remove tags”. What I said was there can be problems if a system is not implemented properly. That is where Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) comes in to play. With the purchase of a new Sensormatic security system from LPSI you receive the training you and your team need to properly operate a system. From tagging of products to system testing and alarm response LPSI will ensure your store will operate an effective anti-theft program.
Faulty loss prevention equipment, lack of training and poor tag removal processes can hurt a store’s reputation. Sensormatic has a reputation as a leader in retail theft prevention and is used by retailers world-wide to help fight shortage and improve profits. LPSI will show you how you can have great responsibility as you as add the great power of a Sensormatic electronic article surveillance system.
For more information on Sensormatic hard tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Electronic article surveillance is an extremely popular form of retail security but if it is not implemented properly it can become problematic. I do not say this to discourage owners and managers from purchasing a Sensormatic security system or Sensormatic tags but to make sure that people understand there are responsibilities that come with owning and using a system. To steal a quote from the “Spiderman” movie, “With great power comes great responsibility”. Anti-theft systems are powerful and can stop shoplifting but they can hurt customer service too.
I have long believed that the failure to remove Sensormatic hard tags when a customer makes a purchase does cause a problem for the retailer. Shoppers get irritated and embarrassed by false alarms. The alarm itself causes a distraction to other shoppers (which is okay if the alarm is legitimate but not because of a cashier error). False alarms take up unnecessary time from the responding supervisor. To add to all of these I have noticed that some websites that claim to tell people how to remove electronic article surveillance tags (not related to Sensormatic or any anti-theft system dealer or manufacturer) allegedly do so in response to finding tags still on merchandise after a customer gets home. I do know that tags are sometimes left on merchandise and it does create a headache for the patron. It has happened to me and I have had to go back to the store and have the tag removed. Did the alarm sound when I left the store? Yes, I think so, other people were walking out and in at the same time. After waiting for someone to respond to the alarm I got irritated and left. As you would expect when I returned the alarm went off again and people looked at me and I was further annoyed. Then there is the look from the return desk employee that lets you know they don’t quite believe your story with or without a receipt. Customer distractions can lead to customer dissatisfaction and THAT can hurt future sales from that shopper and those friends of theirs they talk to about their experience.
I want to digress for a moment and talk about those websites that allege to “show” or “tell” someone how to remove Sensormatic hard tags without the proper removal tool only a store should possess. After reading through several of these sites I just shook my head in disgust. First, if I take them at their word that they are “helping” those who have made purchases and found a tag left on their merchandise, I can still say they are not helping. The methods that I was reading about would very likely lead to damaged product completely defeating the purpose for not returning to the store. The methods could also result in injury to the person following the ill-advised instructions. I do not wish to see people get injured especially when they are following stupid advice. Second, I don’t buy that the writers or videographer wannabe’s are really trying to help hapless shoppers. I happen to believe the intention of these people is to encourage theft. Why would they do that? I can’t speak to their reasoning, of course I can’t explain why people want to shoplift either all I know is I have dedicated many years to catching and stopping criminals.
Retail owners and managers please heed my recommendation, use electronic article surveillance in your store. If you have an older system, consider upgrading to a newer, more energy-efficient Sensormatic system. Use genuine Sensormatic hard tags to protect against theft and increase the profit for your store through reduced shortage and increased sales (resulting from the decreased theft). I can hear it now, “But you just told me that there can be customer service issues if cashiers don’t remove tags”. What I said was there can be problems if a system is not implemented properly. That is where Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) comes in to play. With the purchase of a new Sensormatic security system from LPSI you receive the training you and your team need to properly operate a system. From tagging of products to system testing and alarm response LPSI will ensure your store will operate an effective anti-theft program.
Faulty loss prevention equipment, lack of training and poor tag removal processes can hurt a store’s reputation. Sensormatic has a reputation as a leader in retail theft prevention and is used by retailers world-wide to help fight shortage and improve profits. LPSI will show you how you can have great responsibility as you as add the great power of a Sensormatic electronic article surveillance system.
For more information on Sensormatic hard tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Sensormatic security label – 4 WC Blog 755
Electronic Article Surveillance – 5
Advantages Of Using Sensormatic Security Labels Over Other Brands Part 1
Are there advantages for stores to use Sensormatic security labels rather than other security labels on the market? I started out in the 1990’s in Loss Prevention and I used the big electronic article surveillance tags to protect clothing. I was pleased when those anti-theft labels got smaller but they were still bigger than the tags I saw competitor retailers using. Some other stores were using small, plastic-looking contraptions. They were adhesive just like our labels but smaller and took up much less room on merchandise. I knew some of the disadvantages of using the labels I was used to using. The size of the labels could cause tagging problems and some materials were causing false alarms at the towers. These were two big disadvantages of the system and labels we had to use. Did the other product offer something that would have been to the advantage of our store?
Leadership far above me made decisions on how merchandise in our stores would be protected so I had no say in how security was handled. If asked though I would have suggested the labels used by our competitors after I learned more about them. I should be clear, the electronic article surveillance labels we were using were working but there was a better choice on the market we should have explored. Anti-theft labels are an effective deterrent to crime and I would prefer to see stores using something rather than nothing at all. There is a distinct difference in how tags perform. They both work but one is more reliable and one does have performance advantages over the other. After learning more about Sensormatic security labels (and later using them with another retailer) I believe they are the superior tag. They would be my first choice if I was in the position to choose which a store would use.
One of the problems I encountered with the electronic article surveillance systems I was used to using was that we experienced phantom alarms. False alarms were created by a variety of different items the store sold . Foil gift wrap, tin foil rolls for cooking, coiled cords on power tools and even vacuum cleaners were potential culprits that could cause alarm towers to alert unnecessarily. You may even have been the victim of one of these false alarm situations yourself. If so, you know how annoying these can be to everyone involved. A customer who has paid for their purchase prepares to exit and the alarm begins blaring causing everyone to stop and stare. It can be uncomfortable and can be embarrassing. I know because it has happened to me. A supervisor responds to the door, which can take time if they are busy with something else and then they have to check the receipt against the merchandise. When they can’t find an obvious cause for an alarm the supervisor has to go through the purchase trying to find the offending item. If the result is due to the type of merchandise there is no way to deactivate an item and the customer has to exit with merchandise that alarms again. There was one point where false electronic article surveillance alarms became such a nuisance I had to place a service call wasting the technician’s time and our money.
Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) specializes in fighting retail theft and fraud. They understand the impact electronic article surveillance can have on stopping criminal activity. They also know that any system that is installed has to be reliable. Used equipment, unknown branded systems and systems that are prone to false alarms can result in poor employee response to activations. Shoplifters watch to see how workers react and how thorough they are in inspections. They identify stores that are attentive and which exhibit poor training and target the easier prey. LPSI makes a point of recommending the Sensormatic security systems and labels to their clientele. The equipment is reliable and so are the Sensormatic security labels that should be used with them.
I have used several different name brands of EAS labels in my career and I have a very strong opinion about which I prefer. In Part 2 of this series I will discuss the advantages that come with using Sensormatic security labels over other types of labels. After you have read through the articles, I recommend you visit the LPSI website to find out how you can improve your profit line with a Sensormatic system.
For more information about Sensormatic security labels contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Are there advantages for stores to use Sensormatic security labels rather than other security labels on the market? I started out in the 1990’s in Loss Prevention and I used the big electronic article surveillance tags to protect clothing. I was pleased when those anti-theft labels got smaller but they were still bigger than the tags I saw competitor retailers using. Some other stores were using small, plastic-looking contraptions. They were adhesive just like our labels but smaller and took up much less room on merchandise. I knew some of the disadvantages of using the labels I was used to using. The size of the labels could cause tagging problems and some materials were causing false alarms at the towers. These were two big disadvantages of the system and labels we had to use. Did the other product offer something that would have been to the advantage of our store?
Leadership far above me made decisions on how merchandise in our stores would be protected so I had no say in how security was handled. If asked though I would have suggested the labels used by our competitors after I learned more about them. I should be clear, the electronic article surveillance labels we were using were working but there was a better choice on the market we should have explored. Anti-theft labels are an effective deterrent to crime and I would prefer to see stores using something rather than nothing at all. There is a distinct difference in how tags perform. They both work but one is more reliable and one does have performance advantages over the other. After learning more about Sensormatic security labels (and later using them with another retailer) I believe they are the superior tag. They would be my first choice if I was in the position to choose which a store would use.
One of the problems I encountered with the electronic article surveillance systems I was used to using was that we experienced phantom alarms. False alarms were created by a variety of different items the store sold . Foil gift wrap, tin foil rolls for cooking, coiled cords on power tools and even vacuum cleaners were potential culprits that could cause alarm towers to alert unnecessarily. You may even have been the victim of one of these false alarm situations yourself. If so, you know how annoying these can be to everyone involved. A customer who has paid for their purchase prepares to exit and the alarm begins blaring causing everyone to stop and stare. It can be uncomfortable and can be embarrassing. I know because it has happened to me. A supervisor responds to the door, which can take time if they are busy with something else and then they have to check the receipt against the merchandise. When they can’t find an obvious cause for an alarm the supervisor has to go through the purchase trying to find the offending item. If the result is due to the type of merchandise there is no way to deactivate an item and the customer has to exit with merchandise that alarms again. There was one point where false electronic article surveillance alarms became such a nuisance I had to place a service call wasting the technician’s time and our money.
Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) specializes in fighting retail theft and fraud. They understand the impact electronic article surveillance can have on stopping criminal activity. They also know that any system that is installed has to be reliable. Used equipment, unknown branded systems and systems that are prone to false alarms can result in poor employee response to activations. Shoplifters watch to see how workers react and how thorough they are in inspections. They identify stores that are attentive and which exhibit poor training and target the easier prey. LPSI makes a point of recommending the Sensormatic security systems and labels to their clientele. The equipment is reliable and so are the Sensormatic security labels that should be used with them.
I have used several different name brands of EAS labels in my career and I have a very strong opinion about which I prefer. In Part 2 of this series I will discuss the advantages that come with using Sensormatic security labels over other types of labels. After you have read through the articles, I recommend you visit the LPSI website to find out how you can improve your profit line with a Sensormatic system.
For more information about Sensormatic security labels contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Retail Traffic Counting – 3 WC Blog 742
Customer Counting Systems -3
Using Customer Counting Systems To Improve Customer Service – Part 1
Writing about the importance of retail traffic counting to improve sales and also writing about how it can help reduce shortage seem to be incongruent at first glance. How does keeping track of the number of people entering your store have anything to do with efforts to prevent shoplifting or any other criminal activity, i.e. purse snatching, property theft, sexual misconduct and so on? The questions came to my mind as I was preparing to write an article on recent customer service experiences I encountered in recent visits to two different fast food chains. One visit was exceptional and one was the polar opposite. Then I had to consider that I was not only going to explain the tie in between customer counting systems, customer service and the impact on theft deterrence I was also going to toss in the fast food business to retail store owners and operators. I started to question my own sanity. As I considered the mess I was trying to create it dawned on me, it all DOES relate and it makes the fact that I am comparing restaurants to stores makes no difference. Both are service industries and who is being served? Customers are being served, that is who.
The two experiences that led me to this topic started when I had gone to a famous burger restaurant. Someone may be arching their brow in curiosity about which chain I am talking about but I am going to refrain. I like the food and this is not my experience at all of their restaurants. This day was busy and the parking lot was full and the line of cars for the drive though was lengthy. I chose to go inside rather than sit idling for too long. I was able to order in just a few minutes but as I stood waiting I watched the activity behind the counter and the customers waiting with me. Cashiers were chatting with customers who had already placed orders while the people trying to bag orders and get the food were harried and looked anxious. The manager was yelling at cooks and employees asking where orders were and trying to give directions but she seemed to be barely in control, bagging orders herself and barking at staff. On top of this some customers who, like me, were waiting for their food were frazzled. Some customers who ordered after us received their food before us. When I did get to the car with my food I checked the bag before driving off and found I had been shorted a burger. This was a very unpleasant customer service experience. It was clear to me that no planning went into staffing for the day and perhaps retail traffic counting COULD have been a useful tool for this business. I also saw that management as being a part of the problem not managing but rather reacting to situations and not in control.
Now this was the poor example of customer service and I don’t like to dwell on negatives. I would prefer to help a business correct a problem and improve the customer service. As customer service improves sales grow. Bill Bregar, the founder of Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. would agree with me on this point. His background is in investigations and retail Loss Prevention but he knows the value of a great customer service culture. Bill recognizes how it serves to improve sales and will also reduce store theft and that is the reason he supports the use of customer counting systems to track foot traffic. Using that information retailers can plan and schedule much more effectively for future store activity. Sensormatic offers a retail traffic counting sensor that can be added to many existing Sensormatic electronic article surveillance towers. Those retailers that already use Sensormatic security systems will have the added benefit of tracking alarm activity which can aid in theft prevention plans and evaluating alarm response.
I love a good cliff hanger and so I am going to leave one of my own here. If you would like to read about the great customer service experience I had and what was so different about it from the first restaurant you will need to look for Part 2 to this series. This will be particularly important if you want to see how customer counting systems and customer service can be used in your business and grow your sales.
Get more information on retail traffic counting, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now.
Writing about the importance of retail traffic counting to improve sales and also writing about how it can help reduce shortage seem to be incongruent at first glance. How does keeping track of the number of people entering your store have anything to do with efforts to prevent shoplifting or any other criminal activity, i.e. purse snatching, property theft, sexual misconduct and so on? The questions came to my mind as I was preparing to write an article on recent customer service experiences I encountered in recent visits to two different fast food chains. One visit was exceptional and one was the polar opposite. Then I had to consider that I was not only going to explain the tie in between customer counting systems, customer service and the impact on theft deterrence I was also going to toss in the fast food business to retail store owners and operators. I started to question my own sanity. As I considered the mess I was trying to create it dawned on me, it all DOES relate and it makes the fact that I am comparing restaurants to stores makes no difference. Both are service industries and who is being served? Customers are being served, that is who.
The two experiences that led me to this topic started when I had gone to a famous burger restaurant. Someone may be arching their brow in curiosity about which chain I am talking about but I am going to refrain. I like the food and this is not my experience at all of their restaurants. This day was busy and the parking lot was full and the line of cars for the drive though was lengthy. I chose to go inside rather than sit idling for too long. I was able to order in just a few minutes but as I stood waiting I watched the activity behind the counter and the customers waiting with me. Cashiers were chatting with customers who had already placed orders while the people trying to bag orders and get the food were harried and looked anxious. The manager was yelling at cooks and employees asking where orders were and trying to give directions but she seemed to be barely in control, bagging orders herself and barking at staff. On top of this some customers who, like me, were waiting for their food were frazzled. Some customers who ordered after us received their food before us. When I did get to the car with my food I checked the bag before driving off and found I had been shorted a burger. This was a very unpleasant customer service experience. It was clear to me that no planning went into staffing for the day and perhaps retail traffic counting COULD have been a useful tool for this business. I also saw that management as being a part of the problem not managing but rather reacting to situations and not in control.
Now this was the poor example of customer service and I don’t like to dwell on negatives. I would prefer to help a business correct a problem and improve the customer service. As customer service improves sales grow. Bill Bregar, the founder of Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. would agree with me on this point. His background is in investigations and retail Loss Prevention but he knows the value of a great customer service culture. Bill recognizes how it serves to improve sales and will also reduce store theft and that is the reason he supports the use of customer counting systems to track foot traffic. Using that information retailers can plan and schedule much more effectively for future store activity. Sensormatic offers a retail traffic counting sensor that can be added to many existing Sensormatic electronic article surveillance towers. Those retailers that already use Sensormatic security systems will have the added benefit of tracking alarm activity which can aid in theft prevention plans and evaluating alarm response.
I love a good cliff hanger and so I am going to leave one of my own here. If you would like to read about the great customer service experience I had and what was so different about it from the first restaurant you will need to look for Part 2 to this series. This will be particularly important if you want to see how customer counting systems and customer service can be used in your business and grow your sales.
Get more information on retail traffic counting, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now.
