Apple Loss Prevention

[MacBytes]

Category: Apple Hardware
Link: Apple Loss Prevention (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20041221010950)
Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)

Approved by Mudbug

[combatcolin]

Why would anyone risk the chance of being fired from what is seen by the Apple community and by a fiar % of the home computing community as
"a Dream Job"

Not surprised by the instructions not to pursue shoplifters, you lose insurance cover as soon as you leave the store.

[slipper]

so was this supposed to be a 'how to' guide to defraud Apple? i dont think they are to thrilled themselves about this article.

[mac-er]

Not surprised by the instructions not to pursue shoplifters, you lose insurance cover as soon as you leave the store.

Not necessarily, there are several companies in the US that will pursue you right into the parking lot...sometimes even to the point of following you in their car to see if you go to another store.

[Sun Baked]

Not necessarily, there are several companies in the US that will pursue you right into the parking lot...sometimes even to the point of following you in their car to see if you go to another store.Stop comparing Apple to Wally World.

Of course their policy has gotten several employees maimed and killed.

[Peterkro]

I can't believe Apple loses much from its Regent street store security is tighter than any shop I've been to in London(posh stores that don't let you in until they vet you the exception).

[mkrishnan]

Not necessarily, there are several companies in the US that will pursue you right into the parking lot...sometimes even to the point of following you in their car to see if you go to another store.

Does part of this depend on the environment? If you go to a store that is separated out, and has its own parking lot (Best Buy, Target, Walmart, etc), then they probably are more likely to have coverage on their entire property, whereas in an indoor mall, perhaps there is only coverage for the rented floor space (inside the store)?

Anyway, I guess I sympathize with this article -- fraud is bad for all of us because it raises the cost of legitimately bought product. But without knowing whether Apple's target shrink rate is comparable to rates in other stores in the sector, and to what extent they meet their target, how can you really judge?

For example, this quote:

...one retail employee, for example, expressed surprise that not a single iPod walked away on Black Friday, despite the crowds and ready availability of the iPod on the flo

Well, if not one iPod was stolen, then what is the issue?

[LethalWolfe]

So the news is that Apple Stores operate like typical retail stores. Gee, that was informative. :rolleyes:

An employee following a shoplifter out of the store (let alone following said person) is just stupid. There is no point in taking the risk. Plus, if the employee tails the person the store is down a person until he/she gets back.

All the retails stores I've worked in, or that friends have worked in, have seemingly lax stances toward shoplifting. Mainly because the cost/benefit is just not there. Hypothetically, if theft costs you $100/wk but stopping the theft costs you $150/wk which one makes more financial sense?

You also have to think about your customers. No one wants to walk around in a store where they feel they get harassed. Over zealous anti-theft employees can drive customers away. And there is also the frivolous lawsuit angle. Accuse the wrong jack-@ss of theft and your company could end up in court 'cause you caused him "undo emotion distress." And even though it will get tossed out of court the company still had to spend time and money on the situation.

Generally speaking internal theft is more of a problem so that's where company's tend to focus their resources anyway.


Lethal

[DEXTERITY]

I know in Jersey legally once a shoplifter leaves the store you cant persue them onto the sidewalk or parking lot. I hear it everyday from different retailers ranging from Gamestop, Target, Bestbuy, Circuit City, etc.

The law favors the shoplifter so much it is ridicilous. Most know once they get out those doors they are free. Some stores cameras do cover the parking lot such as Target. Targets security is actually the most impressive I have seen. The cameras and technology are nothing to joke with.. Without giving away the details, if you steal something from one store, they will know when you enter another one of their stores.

[Uma888]

the place i work at, has a "naming and shaming scheme". if a member of staff is caught stealing, they are prosicuted to the full extent of the law, AND thier photo is published in thier local newspaper.

[Sun Baked]

the place i work at, has a "naming and shaming scheme". if a member of staff is caught stealing, they are prosicuted to the full extent of the law, AND thier photo is published in thier local newspaper.Typically in the US, the employee are just fired if they are caught.

A few of those are require to pay some nominal amount with few asked for all the money back.

Very few are prosecuted to the limit.

Because the rest of the employees see little downside to internal theft, it continues -- in the businesses where the employer does their best to put somebody behind bars, the internal theft rate drops.

All types of theft are so widespread, it's just line itemed in the accounting books as shrinkage and considered a cost of business like spoilage.