Okay so I bought a shirt at Hollister, and now am here in school, but just realized the ink security tag?

Question

it is still on it, and I dont have a receipt with it to bring in for proof. What should I do?

Answer 1

here what you do, it's a little bit long but the only way:
- go to the store, buy the same shirt and make sure they forget remove the thing,
-keep the receipt and then take the old shirt with the receipt for them to remove the sensor
-and then go back again and return one of the shirts with the same receipt
-this way you end up with one shirt and no sensor

Answer 2

I worked in retail previously and this happens QUITE often. You should not be made to feel like a criminal, especially if you return to the store where it was purchased. Perhaps a friend or family member could do it for you. You will absolutely require the receipt or proof of purchase. (**see below) A good way to gain cooperation ahead of time is to call and ask to speak to the store manager or department manager. Identify yourself by name (Hello, my name is _____) and tell them exactly what happened.

"I purchased a _______ at your store on ________. The clerk did not remove the security tag. I did not realize it until I returned home to my school in ____town. I have my receipt and ..... (1) will be in town on ____ OR )(2) ... can send it by mail to my _______ (best friend/mom/sister). I would like to bring it in and have the tag properly removed. Where should I go and who should I ask to see when I come in?"

The manager should designate that you proceed DIRECTLY to the returns/customer service area (NO SHOPPING FIRST) and ask for themselves or a supervisor. If they are not cooperative, ask for THEIR manager's name and number, and don't stop compaining until you get results.

It is an easy thing to remove the tag for THEM, but if you remove it yourself you risk a large permanent (and I do mean permanent) ink splotch ruining the garment.

By the way, only amateurs shoplift garments and leave the tags attached. Most likely the store tag also (or a 2nd tag) activates an alarm at the door. Professional shoplifters remove/deactivate security tags while still IN the store. And no, I won't discuss how they manage to do that.

But this tidbit of knowledge helps you see why being straightforward about it works so well. If you had stolen it, you wouldn't want the store personnel to be able to identify you in future or recognize you as the person they had been looking for.

** You state that you do not have the receipt. However, if you purchased it with anything besides cold hard cash, you should have a credit card or bank statement which shows the total of your purchase at that establishment. You should get that in advance of your phone call, then tell the manager straight up that it is all you have. Please note that the date will be a couple days AFTER your actual store visit, so check a calendar and figure out the day of your purchase. If you don't even have that, perhaps the clerk will remember you.

If they say it isn't enough, ask them if they can please verify their inventory or purchases from that date and the time at which you were shopping (mind you, some won't bother and some can't). Perhaps they will do so and allow you to come in.

P.S. Do not underestimate the power of courtesy and being professional on top of being a bulldog about this. Let them know that you will not tolerate wasting your money on a garment that you cannot use. And that you DEMAND the services you paid for, namely a wearable garment.

Threaten to write, and be prepared to do so, a letter to a regional manager and/or the Better Business Bureau etc concerning your plight.

PPS. And don't let some fool roommate tell you that they can remove it safely. If the garment gets ruined (ink or hole), I guarantee they won't buy you another one.

My best wishes on your success.
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Tip: Saving receipts is easy. Just put a fat envelope or a shoe box near the door, and empty your pockets when you walk in. They don't have to be filed, and they don't have to be in order. But if you replace the envelope/box each year, six months or even every month, you will have SOMEWHERE to start looking.

Answer 3

How the heck did you get out of the store?!? When a stupid saleswoman left that tag on my shirt the alarms started blaring! I'd say find the receipt and if you can't, well then try to hide the tag.

Answer 4

well, take it to hollister, and tell them, somehow it got into your bag without having the ink security tag taken off. They just might ask you to pay for it again. Oh well! At least you were honest.

Answer 5

this happens all the time with hollister- you should def. take the shirt back in to the store to have them take it off. most likely you bought it with a credit card or something- so first print out your credit card record at home to show that you did in fact buy the shirt :]

Answer 6

This happened once to me on a leather jacket. i had to take it back to the store to get it off. I hope you have some record of the sale at home....

Answer 7

that happened to me once, i just took like wire cutters and cut it, idk why the ink thing didnt blow up r w/e it does

or you could just go to hollister
like if someone did steal a shirt i dont think they'd go back to get the tag removed, maybe some one will remember you buying that shirt

Answer 8

that happened to me with a pair of american eagle jeans. i just ripped it off.. it left a little hole.. but not noticeable.

Answer 9

Erm..............they would have removed it, but in any case, we cant change what is lol, so uh remove as best you can.

Answer 10

that happened to my friend. do you have the reciept?