The owner of The Granite House gift shop and general store in Fort William was apprehensive about the potential theft of merchandise as they had a faulty Checkpoint RF security tagging system. The dual pedestals protected the exit doorway and had stopped working. Looking at an option to upgrade to a new Checkpoint system, he needed a reliable solution to deter shoplifting.
To ensure CSS could meet our client’s requirements, we provided a prompt detailed quote from our initial request for information below. This is a good guideline to use, especially for clients in rural locations, and we can help quote prior to a site visit where applicable:
> What are the widths of the doorways at the point the pedestals will stand?
> Is there a local spur or will you be able to arrange this internally.
> If there is a current system we are replacing, can we use conduit cable runs. If not, can you prepare these prior to installation if accepted?
> Do you have Sensormatic tags and labels currently? Are there working Sensormatic detachers and de-activators? The number of these usually relates to the number of point of sale desks in the shop.
> Could you send some photos with your reply and show doorways from within the shop looking out and showing the likely point that the spur will run from for power?
> What type of floor do you have if a conduit is needing cut by ourselves?
The rural location posed some initial barriers to assessing the owner’s needs quickly and accurately to quote a replacement system. Shipping equipment to any remote shop in the Highlands can also be a logistical factor for some, but with offices in Stirling, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Whitburn, CSS have over 75 engineers and electricians throughout Scotland.
As an established shop with existing wiring, the site’s unique layout and infrastructure limitations also demanded a tailored approach.
CSS, as the main authorised agents for Sensormatic Retail Tagging Systems in Scotland, offered advice on replacing the faulty Checkpoint RF system with a high performing Sensormatic AM system. This would also mean replacing the old RF tags with more robust and efficient AM tags. This was a more expensive option, but we offered to reduce some costs for the replacement of the tags. The main benefit of AM is a far higher pick-up rate of high 90% versus mid 70% for RF systems. Sensormatic is the global market leading supplier of retail tagging solutions and is used by many leading retailers including Asda, Marks & Spencer and Zara. We would expect the quality, robustness and reliability of the Sensormatic system would deliver the best long-term solution and would be better supported locally by the CSS Group, a local Scottish Family Business since 1986.
A decision was made to instruct the installation of a new Ultra 1.8m Sensormatic dual AM tagging system with a replacement supply of genuine Sensormatic high quality hard tags. This comes with a 1 year warranty on parts and labour plus the optional service contract from year 2 onwards. This contract includes free replacement of parts with a set call-out fee. Once the order was completed, we were able to offer an installation date 14 days ahead. We also supplied some additional samples of delicate and accessory tags which were added on, as they were more suitable for some specific merchandise.
The Sensormatic anti-theft system has operated smoothly since its installation in February 2024, and was timely with the approaching Easter holidays. No false alarms have occurred after making suggested tweaks upon initial activation, confirming our attentive configuration was highly effective. The prompt rollout also minimised the shop’s window of vulnerability to theft during the upgrade. The owner Mr. Ness reports much greater peace of mind now and expects to see savings on any possible inventory loss with CSS’s tailored solution.
