Shoplifting security devices - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

10/11/2008 02:51:27 AM · #1

Are there any people out there in retail or who used to be in retail that can explain something to me??? Here's the deal: I go to the mall today with my wife and kids. I buy a sports jacket from a big dept. store. I get home and find that there is a security device attached to it. And yet no alarm went off when I left the store - how odd. My wife says I need to go back and have them remove it with their special tool. I say to hell with that - I can get the thing off. I manage to pry it loose a bit and then it breaks and this red ink or paint and little shards of glass go everywhere. I am like WTF????? Why in holy hell would they put a device on the garment that will destroy it if removal is attempted?? I am racking my brain trying to think of the deterrent value or any value in this even if I stole the damn thing. I ~~was~~ am ticked off like I haven't been for awhile. The red paint ruined the jacket, stained my hands, ruined the shirt I was wearing and might have ruined the floor were it carpeted instead of laminate. Excuse me if I was ignorant of this method of "security" - I'm not an avid shopper. Still - the whole concept makes absolutely NO FREAKIN SENSE to me.

Tomorrow I am going to grab my pitchfork and torch and take the jacket back and incinerate the freakin store (figuratively speaking of course).

*deep breaths*

trevytrev

Canon EOS-5D

10/11/2008 02:58:52 AM · #2

Never seen one in action Art but I have heard of those nasty things. They figure if you are going to steal it you won't be able to use it so destroy it. Did it have a warning on the tag b/c they usually do? good luck on the refund/exchange! Oh and btw....were are the pics?

togtog

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/11/2008 09:20:30 AM · #3

Hey Art, sorry to hear about your troubles, and I wish you luck getting it resolved. I've never worked retail but I do know about those dye tags. Firstly yes the alarm should have sounded, they can not be deactivated like magnetic swipe tags.

Secondly as you found out are designed to rupture dye onto the product. As trev said it is intended to destroy the item of clothing to discourage further shoplifting, also to prevent resale of the item.

The dye is permanent and cannot be washed out. It seems idiotic that their security device would destroy the item it is trying to protect. Since the alarm is intended to go off, it prevents removal from the store. The store hopes a potential shoplifter knows they cannot remove the device with their bare hands and will go somewhere else to steal.

The tag is attached with a flexed plastic spring to the pin. It is possible to cut the item from some clothing but will leave an obvious tear or hole. The tag is removed with a special pliers that pushes on the back in the right spot to release a catch holding the pin. The tags are reusable. The pliers is usually chained to their counter or checked at each store closing by a manager to prevent its theft.

In the event the tag does not set off the alarm, as happened to you, the tag is bulky enough to prevent casual wearing of the item without being removed.

Once again very sorry about this, I wish you luck and if you haven't already left, look for a warning on the device if it lacks such a warning at least take photos and maybe contact a lawyer. If it did not warn you to not remove the tag then I would hold them liable for any and all damage caused.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

10/11/2008 03:08:45 PM · #4

Originally posted by trevytrev:

Oh and btw....were are the pics?

Well, I managed to get macro out of it for the side challenge.

Thanks for the comments togtog - if I had known what the device was designed to do, I could have removed it more carefully - like simply wrapping a plastic bag tightly around it while cutting the pin. The whole concept just seems stupid to me. What's next - a small incendiary device that ignites the grament in a ball of intense flames? Hmmmmm.......

trevytrev

Canon EOS-5D

10/11/2008 03:17:28 PM · #5

Thanks for posting the pic, I always wondered what those things looked liked after they blew up. Does the dye shoot out or just ooze? Also curious to know if the store is going to at least replace the jacket for you, have you asked yet? Napalm would be a good deterrent for shoplifters.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

10/11/2008 03:19:51 PM · #6

Oh the store will be replacing the jacket - I'm going to take it in Monday. If they give me ANY crap about returning it, you'll be rading about me in the news. ;-)

edit: sorry - forgot to answer your question - there was a little glass vile made of really thin glass that shattered and scattered everywhere with the red dye. I can't tell if it was under pressure or not.

Message edited by author 2008-10-11 15:21:30.

littlegett

Canon EOS-20D

10/11/2008 03:29:09 PM · #7

Some of the ink devices also have a magnetic trigger, so the special pliers have to also be magnetic to remove it.

So, the reason or possible reason for no alarm sounding is that the device was only an ink device, a visual deterrent to not steal.

Second possibility is that their door sensors are only there for decoration and have no use execept visual notice.

another is, the door sensors were not turned on.

another is everything malfunctioned except the ink.

Anyway, those things can can be removed with very delicate and long operation with a hacksaw and very secure plastic bags.

When you talk to the store, tell them you pulled the jacket out of the bag, tossed it on a hard chair and it started bleeding. thats when you looked at the device and tried to remove it. Make sure you have your receipt and mister angree eyes and they should replace it.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

10/11/2008 03:35:44 PM · #8

I wonder if the security gate was even turned on. They seem to malfunction more often than they work and, around here, staff doesn't usually even react when they sound. I've seen staff so annoyed with their constant false alarms that they simply walk over and flip the switch.

When I trigger them (about a quarter of the time I go through them, I'd guess) I stop and check for any missed tags myself, but I've only been stopped ONCE by staff (for one of those dye tags).

I had one sound when I walked into the store and was told, "Oh, don't worry about it. Cellphones and such can set it off."

I really don't understand why stores go to the expense of installing a system that works so poorly and that staff ignore.

eta; IMO there should be no problem with a return as long as you have your receipt. It WAS their mistake. I'd also ask for some reparation, possibly a discount, for your bother.

Message edited by author 2008-10-11 15:38:35.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/11/2008 10:22:58 PM · #9

Hmmmm I hate to say this, but you should have listened to your missus. Good luck with getting a new jacket.

Ray

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

10/11/2008 10:30:31 PM · #10

Originally posted by RayEthier:

Hmmmm I hate to say this, but you should have listened to your missus.

Oh yeah, THAT'S a news flash!...........8>)

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/11/2008 10:34:05 PM · #11

Originally posted by RayEthier:

Hmmmm I hate to say this, but you should have listened to your missus. Good luck with getting a new jacket.

Ray

That's a given ;)

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

10/11/2008 11:36:07 PM · #12

I worked in retail a long time. Yes, Art, you should of taken it back and had them to remove the security device. But with that said it is the stores fault; they had a faulty tag and/or door sensor along with a clerks that did not do their job correctly. If I had to guess, it's a seasonable employee that was hired on as Holiday help. The customer is not expected to know how the device works and the damages that can occur if he/she tries to take it off to keep from making a trip back to the store.

You should be able to get a new jacket as long as you bring the receipt as proof your purchased jacket. It may not be as simple as, "sorry here's a new jacket". The manager may do a quick inventory check on that item # to make sure the store is not missing one. Often a thief will pay for one item while stealing the same item and then return one; free item.

If I was the manager of that store I would exchange the jacket and offer my apologies for any inconvenience that may have occurred as a result of my store's failure to protect a honest customer. But you need to keep your cool because the manager is going to be your friend or enemy when you go to exchange the item based on your attitude. I'm speaking from experience as a 10 year retail manager.

Hope that helps
Scott

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

10/14/2008 02:13:57 PM · #13

When I was younger, I used to pell the RFID security tags off of items and put the tag inside someone else's backpack or pocket etc.

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

Sigma 18-250 f/3.5 - 6.3 DC OS HSM

10/14/2008 05:09:09 PM · #14

Well, today's Tuesday, and you said you'd return it Monday.....So....what happened?

trevytrev

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

10/14/2008 05:12:25 PM · #15

Originally posted by NathanW:

Well, today's Tuesday, and you said you'd return it Monday.....So....what happened?

GO,GO GODZILLA!!

10/14/2008 05:14:28 PM · #16

I asked my wife to return it. She's not back yet. Hmmmmm...

Apple iPhone 5

10/14/2008 05:35:10 PM · #17

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

I asked my wife to return it. She's not back yet. Hmmmmm...

A night in the cells.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

10/14/2008 06:06:12 PM · #18

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

I asked my wife to return it. She's not back yet. Hmmmmm...

Art, you big nonconfrontational softie!

Prash

Nikon D90

10/14/2008 06:38:23 PM · #19

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

People at Macy's once forgot to remove a similar bulky tag from a shirt my wife bought. Surprisingly the alarm didnt go off.. and we only realised the tag was still there later that day at home. Fortunately she didnt need that shirt for a week.. and good for her, she got a calmheaded and poised husband (sorry Art ehehehh;-).. so we kept it only to get it back to the store and had the tag removed.

We were actually concerned of 2 things when we took it back:

[1] What if the alarm goes off when we are entering the store with this thing on?
[2] What if the staff there complain that we just stole a shirt and are trying to get away with it without paying for it? (they could always say that the receipt we had was legit but this shirt was the second one we wanted).

Luckily none of the two happened and we saved ourselves from a permanent dye splash (now I know that actually.. didnt know abt the dye thingy before).

Good luck, Art, hope you will get it exchanged.

Message edited by author 2008-10-14 18:39:19.

10/14/2008 06:40:37 PM · #20

Originally posted by Prash:

[1] What if the alarm goes off when we are entering the store with this thing on?

Same concern. That's why I sent the wife. :)

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/20/2008 10:51:39 PM · #21

Sheesh, been on tenterhooks for days and I'm bloody sore from it! You never did give us the end of the story :P

crayon

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1

10/20/2008 11:33:12 PM · #22

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by Prash:
[1] What if the alarm goes off when we are entering the store with this thing on?

Same concern. That's why I sent the wife. :)

yup - we wont wanna have the security staff ID you as one of the FBI's most wanted (serial village burning)
or even better, send Riley - nobody would suspect a thing :p

sorry to hear about your jacket and the carpet - but Art, be careful of those security thingy on clothings next time.
They are built as deterrents to potential theft.

TCGuru

Canon EOS-40D

10/20/2008 11:59:27 PM · #23

You know, I had a clerk do that to me one time in JCPenny. I got home and the security tags were still on ALL my clothes. No alarm. Nothing. I tell the husband. He says, "Okok, give me a minute." He goes away with the clothing for 15 minutes, comes back, no security tags and no damage to the clothing.

I did ask him how he did it, but he wouldn't tell me...

Ahhhh the mysteries of life...

Art, sorry to hear about your trouble. I know that dye is built to be nasty and stain for a few days. Only wish I lived next door.

10/21/2008 02:41:46 AM · #24

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Sheesh, been on tenterhooks for days and I'm bloody sore from it! You never did give us the end of the story :P

oops. sorry.