Those Plastic Security Tags

On Monday night my daughter and I went clothes shopping. When I got home to look at our purchases and cut off the tags I noticed the sales clerk had forgotten to remove that heavy, plastic "security" tag on the one item.

I surely was not going to go all the way back to the mall to have her take it off. My daughter said, "you could leave it on and make a fashion statement." I said, "like what? I stole this jacket." We both laughed.

The next day while relatng it to a friend she cautioned me about trying to take it off myself. So last night I hauled my reluctant self back to the store where I purchased it. The clerk told me that if I had tried to remove it myself a type of permanent ink would've stained my hands and ruined the jacket as well. I could just imagine walking into a store with ink stained hands that say to everyone, she's a thief.

I hear this happens quite often but it's a first for me. How did she remember to remove all the security tags on the other items and not this one?

This is to serve as a warning if it happens to one of you. Take it back to the store and have the clerk properly remove the tag.

[ January 25, 2006, 12:36 PM: Message edited by: ladybug ]

If the security tag was left on, how come you didn't "beep" on the way out?

I wondered the same thing, Bluebird. But I guess that doesn't always happen. I watch very carefully to be sure those plastic tags are removed before I leave the check-out counter. It's kind of a sad commentary on our society that such precautions are routinely necessary.

I asked the clerk the same thing. She said it's deactivated when you pay for the item at the check out, but I wonder because I've seen others set it off.

I don't get why they would deactivate it if it's going to be removed anyway. Usually, the security barcodes that have to be deactivated are the ones that go on electronics and such. They don't remove those.
I agree with you, Jackie, that it is a sad commentary. It is always the honest citizens that have to put up with hassles because of the criminals and those who think they should get something for nothing.

My son received a leather jacket for Christmas from his girlfriend...the security tag left on. Up and under the lining...the clerk said it was deactivated at check-out, but, it was a good thing he didn't try to remove it on his own... otherwise the ink would have been everywhere.

We pay for these "security" measures in higher costs for clothing.

It sure was annoying finding that thing still attached and knowing my jacket would be ruined if I tried to take it off myself.

Unfortunately we have to put up with this stuff because of criminals.

It's also happened to us, but at Chirstmas. On eof the kids got a ajcket and the tag was still on it. Not too big a problem because the store was only five minutes away.

I love it when you're shopping and go near the entrance with some clothes in your hand. The alarm goes off and everyone looks at you like you're trying to get out the door.

Wow, I guess this happens A LOT!!

We even have one of those alarms in our public library. Sometimes the librarians neglect to deactivate the books, and the beeper goes off when you leave. Everyone knows and laughs about it, but it's still annoying and embarrassing.

My dad's career was in retail. It always amazed him how creative thieves could be in devising methods to shoplift. Of course, that was long before the day of plastic tags and beepers.

Was Head of Security for Joseph Magnins The Store of the Stars on the Las Vegas strip and I have never known a security tag that didn't beep or that was deactivated once the item was paid for, is this something new? Seems that we are going backwards in safeguards if that is the case. I never saw a tag with ink in it either especially with the merchandise prices in this upscale store....Can you imagine the lawsuits if clerks forgot to remove tags and people tried to and ruined an expensive garment plus permanently stained their hands? Oh boy!!!

[ January 25, 2006, 05:59 PM: Message edited by: chatty lady ]

Jackie, all of our libraries have that security system too.

Well, I must say that this is a new one on me . I worked retail and If you went out the door those security system would beep and I have never seen any ink in them . I purchased a velour blouse for the holidays and the store sales clerk removed one store tag and forgot to take the other one off of the blouse set with the jacket , when I went threw the security the light and beeper went off and we went back for the sales clerk to remove it.

My security tage sure did not deactivate when I went threw the door . We learn something new everyday . Chatty , I have to agree on the lawsuits .

[ January 25, 2006, 10:26 PM: Message edited by: Renee ]

Never having worked in any store it totally surprised me when I took two Vanity Fair bras back to the store. This is what took place.

My daughter didn't like the fit on either of them even though she does wear this brand. I told her to try them on first but leave all the tags on just in case.

When I returned them the sales clerk thanked me for leaving on all the tags. She said that if I had taken the tags off the store is required by law, to throw them out even though they are brand new and were not worn. I did learn many years ago to never take tags off of anything before I am sure I want to keep the item. It makes it a lot easier if I do have to return something.

did you know you can set off the alarm with a dvd? i took my granddaughter to the mall and had her "elmo" dvd in the diaper bag. i couldn't figure out why i kept setting off alarms when i hadn't even bought anything. finally, a clerk asked me if i had a dvd with me and sure enough, that was what was setting off alarms. she ran it over her pad that neutralizes it and we were off and running.

I set the alarm off at a Wal Mart once walking through the door with my cell phone in my pocket and the greeter said, "oh, that happens all the time."