Help me un-secure my dress.
April 9, 2011 4:22 PM Subscribe
Stupid Retail Mistakes Filter: Is there a way to safely remove a security tag that was accidentally left on a garment?
I just bought a beautiful floor-length formal dress. When I got home, I discovered that the security device was still *on* the dress. This, of course, is not the look I was going for - much as security devices are the hip accessory this season. (And yet, it didn't trigger the alarm when I left the store. Some "security.")
I can, of course, take the dress with receipt back to the store and get it removed - but doing so also involves my baby and a stroller and is kind of a bulky process, to say the least. It would be so much easier for me if there was a way to do this at home.
(This isn't a question about how to remove a tag to steal the dress, it's how to remove it once it's home after having been purchased legitimately. I have any number of tools available.)
I just bought a beautiful floor-length formal dress. When I got home, I discovered that the security device was still *on* the dress. This, of course, is not the look I was going for - much as security devices are the hip accessory this season. (And yet, it didn't trigger the alarm when I left the store. Some "security.")
I can, of course, take the dress with receipt back to the store and get it removed - but doing so also involves my baby and a stroller and is kind of a bulky process, to say the least. It would be so much easier for me if there was a way to do this at home.
(This isn't a question about how to remove a tag to steal the dress, it's how to remove it once it's home after having been purchased legitimately. I have any number of tools available.)
You can do it with patience and a hacksaw--I did it on a bra recently. Unless it's an ink exploding thing -- then I think I'd go back to the store. I held it in place with something - I can't remember what, but something to afix it nicely to our butcher block so I didn't scar the butcher block or cut of a finger.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:25 PM on April 9, 2011
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:25 PM on April 9, 2011
YMMV on this one, but I once ordered a pair of shoes and they arrived with the security tag on, so I called the store and they sent someone to my office (within an hour!) to remove it.
posted by kate blank at 4:26 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by kate blank at 4:26 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'd send my SO back to the store with it.
posted by chiababe at 4:26 PM on April 9, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by chiababe at 4:26 PM on April 9, 2011 [5 favorites]
What k b says. Brilliant. It's their fault, let them fix it.
posted by Namlit at 4:27 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Namlit at 4:27 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
For something pricey like a floor-length formal gown, any potential damage you could do to the fabric in the process of trying to remove the tag (even if it's not going to spray ink everywhere) is not going to be worth it.
posted by you're a kitty! at 4:29 PM on April 9, 2011 [12 favorites]
posted by you're a kitty! at 4:29 PM on April 9, 2011 [12 favorites]
Some "security."
The point isn't necessarily to trigger an alarm. The point is that if you bother to steal the dress, you go home with a dress that's unwearable, either because it still has a giant chunk of plastic hanging off it or because you shredded the fabric while trying to remove the darn thing. If the store won't send someone to get it off for you, can you send someone else back with the dress and the receipt?
posted by vytae at 4:38 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
The point isn't necessarily to trigger an alarm. The point is that if you bother to steal the dress, you go home with a dress that's unwearable, either because it still has a giant chunk of plastic hanging off it or because you shredded the fabric while trying to remove the darn thing. If the store won't send someone to get it off for you, can you send someone else back with the dress and the receipt?
posted by vytae at 4:38 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
I got one off with a dremel once. It was a huge pain in the ass though, and the fabric around the device got a little bit stretched I think. It sorted itself out after a while, but on a nice dress I'd be more concerned. I was pleased to have gotten the thing off, but now that I have done it once, I'd probably just take the item back to the store.
posted by ZeroDivides at 4:48 PM on April 9, 2011
posted by ZeroDivides at 4:48 PM on April 9, 2011
Had this happen to one of my daughter's friends. Wasn't an ink tag one, but did ruin the material around it. I would definitely have your SO take it back with the receipt to get removed.
posted by garnetgirl at 5:00 PM on April 9, 2011
posted by garnetgirl at 5:00 PM on April 9, 2011
This has come up a couple of times before, might find something in there? Getting the store to come to you seems like a popular option and is definitely wroth trying the baby and stuffs.
posted by shelleycat at 5:02 PM on April 9, 2011
posted by shelleycat at 5:02 PM on April 9, 2011
Best answer: You have to be careful removing those things in the store, with the proper tool - and there were times when I worked retail where someone had inserted the thing wrong, the garment was damaged, and we had to get a different product for the customer. You won't have recourse if you mess your dress up due to bizarre efforts at getting the thing off, I bet. Just get your SO to take it back to the store, if at all possible.
posted by SMPA at 5:04 PM on April 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by SMPA at 5:04 PM on April 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
It is possible, but it can be a huge pain. I have done it a few times with a very fine saw, but it takes quite a while. I'd take it back for removal, or call and see if they can send someone.
posted by procrastination at 5:05 PM on April 9, 2011
posted by procrastination at 5:05 PM on April 9, 2011
Best answer: If it is an ink security tag (and it can be hard to tell), please just bring it back to the store. I worked in retail, and the people who tried to remove the ink tags after legitimately buying something just ended up with ruined clothes (the point of the ink tags).
It may be a hassle, but going to the store is a better hassle than a ruined dress that cost a lot of money.
I really think just going back to the store is the safest option for the dress.
posted by zizzle at 5:14 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
It may be a hassle, but going to the store is a better hassle than a ruined dress that cost a lot of money.
I really think just going back to the store is the safest option for the dress.
posted by zizzle at 5:14 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
You go back to the store.
You ask to see the General Manager.
You explain that you've worried that your choice to patronize his store was a mistake.
...As the failure on the part of his employees, whom he is responsible for training and managing (and surely that training includes removing security tags so as not to inconvenience customers with multiple trips to the store), has caused you to make an unnecessary second trip, along with baby and stroller.
And you'd like to give him this opportunity to assuage your doubts about continuing to repose your trust in his store and his management abiklities...
(At this point, you should be offered a comp of at least $50; if not:)
... before you discuss your doubts with his management.
posted by orthogonality at 5:40 PM on April 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
You ask to see the General Manager.
You explain that you've worried that your choice to patronize his store was a mistake.
...As the failure on the part of his employees, whom he is responsible for training and managing (and surely that training includes removing security tags so as not to inconvenience customers with multiple trips to the store), has caused you to make an unnecessary second trip, along with baby and stroller.
And you'd like to give him this opportunity to assuage your doubts about continuing to repose your trust in his store and his management abiklities...
(At this point, you should be offered a comp of at least $50; if not:)
... before you discuss your doubts with his management.
posted by orthogonality at 5:40 PM on April 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
You've heard it before but yeah - definitely call the store and ask them to send someone to your house. I just walked into a friend's home last week and she was waiting for a salesperson to arrive to take the tag off her new sweater.
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:48 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:48 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Can you FedEx it back to be removed or do you need to wear it right away? Include a copy of the receipt and they should pay for the shipping both ways. They will probably be very apologetic. (When I worked in retail this was an easy mistake to make -- the sensor pads at the register sometimes don't work, or someone puts a tag on an item that was NOT supposed to have one -- and we always made a huge deal about how sorry we were and how we knew it was an inconvenience to have to come back to the store. There's no need to go to DefCon-3 right off the bat.)
If you explain that getting back to the store will be a hardship (pinch the baby and make him cry in the background!) and that you have the receipt (read them the transaction number, the date, the clerk's name if it's on there) they will most likely be willing to work with you. Unless they are idiots, they don't want you to have a bad story to tell.
It's possible to remove the two-part "hard tags" with a rubber band and some patience, but if they have ink inside (as above) you don't even want to mess with home removal.
If I were the store manager and you called up I would pay for the shipping. Give them your card number and they can put money back onto it under their shipping code. Depends on the store, though. You can print FedEx labels from home and schedule a pick up, if I remember correctly.
posted by polly_dactyl at 5:59 PM on April 9, 2011
If you explain that getting back to the store will be a hardship (pinch the baby and make him cry in the background!) and that you have the receipt (read them the transaction number, the date, the clerk's name if it's on there) they will most likely be willing to work with you. Unless they are idiots, they don't want you to have a bad story to tell.
It's possible to remove the two-part "hard tags" with a rubber band and some patience, but if they have ink inside (as above) you don't even want to mess with home removal.
If I were the store manager and you called up I would pay for the shipping. Give them your card number and they can put money back onto it under their shipping code. Depends on the store, though. You can print FedEx labels from home and schedule a pick up, if I remember correctly.
posted by polly_dactyl at 5:59 PM on April 9, 2011
Response by poster: Yes, I'll definitely have my husband take the dress back tomorrow. (He even offered to do it as soon as I explained the situation - before I even asked.) I mostly asked here because sometimes there is a quick and easy way to do the seemingly impossible and usually, someone on Ask knows about it. In this case, I defer to your wisdom and won't try this at home.
(Store is within walking distance of my house in this case, making it kind of silly to ask someone to come or to ship the dress - the only issue with me doing it is, well, the stroller and the savage infant. Anyone who has spent time with a stroller will understand that it's not an item that mixes well with a floor length formal dress.)
posted by sonika at 6:31 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
(Store is within walking distance of my house in this case, making it kind of silly to ask someone to come or to ship the dress - the only issue with me doing it is, well, the stroller and the savage infant. Anyone who has spent time with a stroller will understand that it's not an item that mixes well with a floor length formal dress.)
posted by sonika at 6:31 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
I called the store when this happened to me, and in Pasadena, CA, they sent over a guy with the little machine, removed it, and apologized--this happened in the last 4 months.
posted by Ideefixe at 7:16 PM on April 9, 2011
posted by Ideefixe at 7:16 PM on April 9, 2011
Store is within walking distance of my house in this case, making it kind of silly to ask someone to come
I'd say it being that close makes it MORE likely that they'd do it, not less.
posted by toomuchpete at 8:08 PM on April 9, 2011 [4 favorites]
I'd say it being that close makes it MORE likely that they'd do it, not less.
posted by toomuchpete at 8:08 PM on April 9, 2011 [4 favorites]
I bought something at Disney World and didn't realize till I got home that the ink tag was on it-and of course the Disney stores at the mall have a different system, so they were no help. Here's what I did and it actually worked perfectly-if yours is the same type of tag (long rectangular plastic piece that pierces the fabric and a cone shaped cover on the other side of the garment).
I took one of those electric candle/grill lighter things and used it to CAREFULLY melt the plastic at the tip of the cone, it doesn't take long and the flame isn't long enough to catch the fabric on fire. Just melt the tip, not the entire thing-you just want a hole big enough to remove the contents. Inside the cone is a spring, 3 ball bearings and the ink container. When you have a hole just big enough to remove the spring, remove that and then tip the tag over to drop the ball bearings out. Then the cone shaped part just slides off the needle that pierces the fabric.
Disclosure: These were just cute yoga pants, so it wasn't a gown or anything expensive. I'm not a shoplifter, I had the receipt but Disney World wouldn't even let me ship the pants back to them with the receipt-they told me I'd have to go back to the original store in Epcot to have it taken care of.
posted by hollygoheavy at 4:52 AM on April 10, 2011
I took one of those electric candle/grill lighter things and used it to CAREFULLY melt the plastic at the tip of the cone, it doesn't take long and the flame isn't long enough to catch the fabric on fire. Just melt the tip, not the entire thing-you just want a hole big enough to remove the contents. Inside the cone is a spring, 3 ball bearings and the ink container. When you have a hole just big enough to remove the spring, remove that and then tip the tag over to drop the ball bearings out. Then the cone shaped part just slides off the needle that pierces the fabric.
Disclosure: These were just cute yoga pants, so it wasn't a gown or anything expensive. I'm not a shoplifter, I had the receipt but Disney World wouldn't even let me ship the pants back to them with the receipt-they told me I'd have to go back to the original store in Epcot to have it taken care of.
posted by hollygoheavy at 4:52 AM on April 10, 2011
You ask to see the General Manager...You explain that you've worried that your choice to patronize his store was a mistake....As the failure on the part of his employees, whom he is responsible for training and managing (and surely that training includes removing security tags so as not to inconvenience customers with multiple trips to the store), has caused you to make an unnecessary second trip, along with baby and stroller. And you'd like to give him this opportunity to assuage your doubts about continuing to repose your trust in his store and his management abiklities...(At this point, you should be offered a comp of at least $50; if not:)... before you discuss your doubts with his management.
Please do not do this. This is a completely insane level of escalation in response to a simple mistake. People who think this is an acceptable way to react to that kind of situation make the world a worse place. Don't make the world a worse place.
posted by dersins at 10:12 AM on April 10, 2011 [16 favorites]
Please do not do this. This is a completely insane level of escalation in response to a simple mistake. People who think this is an acceptable way to react to that kind of situation make the world a worse place. Don't make the world a worse place.
posted by dersins at 10:12 AM on April 10, 2011 [16 favorites]
Agreed with dersins. The OP asked for tips on removing the tag, not for tips on how to be a total asshole.
posted by maqsarian at 10:50 AM on April 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by maqsarian at 10:50 AM on April 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Please do not do this. This is a completely insane level of escalation in response to a simple mistake
I have absolutely no intention whatsoever in doing this as the saleswoman who sold me the dress already went out of her way to give me a discount. Money is in no way the issue and I'm not complaining about the customer service - it was an incredibly busy day in the mall during prom season and I'm not faulting a busy employee for making a simple mistake - Lord knows I've made silly mistakes in my own jobs in the past.
posted by sonika at 3:28 PM on April 10, 2011 [3 favorites]
I have absolutely no intention whatsoever in doing this as the saleswoman who sold me the dress already went out of her way to give me a discount. Money is in no way the issue and I'm not complaining about the customer service - it was an incredibly busy day in the mall during prom season and I'm not faulting a busy employee for making a simple mistake - Lord knows I've made silly mistakes in my own jobs in the past.
posted by sonika at 3:28 PM on April 10, 2011 [3 favorites]
I agree with Dersins - I do so hate people who act the arse with customer service workers. If I were accused of shoplifting or similar I'd be doing this - not because someone made an easy mistake.
When I've been in this situation I went back with the receipt - though they were still pretty suspicious.
posted by mippy at 8:43 AM on April 11, 2011
When I've been in this situation I went back with the receipt - though they were still pretty suspicious.
posted by mippy at 8:43 AM on April 11, 2011
Response by poster: Went back in to the store with the dress and no one even asked for a receipt. (Probably because I had the dress in the bag it came in.) Totally apologetic and taken care of in less than a minute. And no, I didn't register any complaints - it was no big deal, circumstances had it that I had to go back to the mall today anyway.
posted by sonika at 5:49 PM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by sonika at 5:49 PM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Mr. Vitabellosi just took one of these off with a vice grip.
posted by vitabellosi at 4:30 PM on February 18, 2012
posted by vitabellosi at 4:30 PM on February 18, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by TheBones at 4:25 PM on April 9, 2011 [1 favorite]