Unremoved electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags, often found on merchandise from retail establishments, can cause inconvenience and frustration for customers. This situation typically arises from human error at the point of sale. For example, a cashier might overlook the tag during checkout, resulting in the alarm sounding upon the customer’s exit or the tag later being discovered at home. This can lead to the customer needing to return to the store for removal, impacting their time and overall shopping experience.
Preventing such occurrences offers significant advantages for both retailers and customers. For retailers, minimizing tag removal failures can reduce the number of customer service inquiries and potential returns. This streamlined process enhances operational efficiency and contributes to a positive brand image. From the customer’s perspective, ensuring proper tag removal eliminates the hassle of an additional trip back to the store and fosters trust in the retailer’s service quality. Historically, EAS tags have evolved from basic magnetic strips to more sophisticated radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, reflecting the ongoing effort to balance loss prevention with customer convenience. Addressing the challenges associated with tag removal remains a key area of focus within the retail industry.
