Yesterday, following Home Depot’s 2019 “Investor and Analyst Conference,” it was reported that shrink, or product theft and losses, is a bigger issue, potentially worsened by the opioid crisis and the ease at which stolen products can be quickly resold online.
Several news outlets, such as the LA Times, also reported that:
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[Home Depot is] installing technology so that power tools won’t work unless they go through the retailer’s point-of-sale system.
Technology that prevents power tools from working unless they go through the point of sale system? How’s that going to work with cordless power tools, which are arguably the largest segment of power tools purchased today?
I listened to a transcript of the presentation and Q&A session, and Home Depot did indeed say that they are accelerating plans around technology that can help bring shrink down, including point of sale activation where you buy a power tool, and the only time that power tool can work is if it goes through a point of sale.
In other words, it seems that Home Depot is experimenting with technology that prevents power tools from working unless you buy them at a register.
This is one of several pilots to better secure higher-valued products.
Interesting.
What kinds of power tools? Which brands? I suppose this is related to which power tools are most commonly stolen from stores. “Power tools” can also mean different things.
HOW will this be done?
Some cordless power tool brands have specific models and connected technologies that allow tools to be locked-out via an app, but you need an app to do it. I don’t think I have ever seen these tools, such as Milwaukee One-Key, sold at Home Depot stores.
This will be an interesting development to follow.
Josh says
I’m quite sympathetic to Home Depot’s issues with theft, but I really don’t want to deal with deliberately technologically crippled power tools that stop working if they’re not reauthorized periodically, or when their auth chip shorts out from normal heavy duty use.
Mahalo says
I doubt the tech would be setup to require periodic reauthorization or a chip that would short out. My guess is a one-time, irreversible authorization where the fail-safe is to “authorized” rather than to “unauthorized”.
aerodawg says
If it fails safe to authorize then it’s probably easily bypassed. Just fry the chip that controls authorization…..
Ken says
Until they figure out how to sell smart drills as a subscription service.
Ken says
Haha! Free tools that only work poorly until you buy their proper function through a connect app maybe… just like every piece of crappy software available for my phone on the app store…
and they get rights to your tool usage history…
Tom D says
I could ALMOST see it working … IF brushless motors are actually cheaper to make than brushed – sell a normal tool that has a “Fuel” upgrade for $30 in the app or something.
(Then again the real advantage of brushless is the longer lasting vs more power in my opinion.)
Raycr says
As a retired LE I would hire off duty police officers in uniform if possible who have powers of arrest not private security in each store. Your theft insurance would go down, and it would discourage Wal-Mart style shootings in house.
Go back to the normal compliment of cashiers who work as your eyes and ears. As suggested earlier go back to the old tool corral with dedicated register.
Any Radio frequency generator or even magnet to turn on the switch would be for sale at Ebay the following week. Look how they worked on handguns -NOT!
I would buy my tools on the internet but make sure I got a vender who didn’t pass off returned or used tools as new.
Robert says
I don’t see why they don’t just set up a separate storage space that’s a “tool warehouse”. Leave out displays and when someone wants something they pull a tag and take it up to the register. The dedicated tool guy goes and grabs it and voila, zero theft, more store space, better stock management, etc.
Stuart says
Stores with closed-off tool corrals are a hassle. They have that in higher-risk areas.
One Sears near me had nearly all of their mechanics tools in lock cabinets, so I shopped at a different store. If you know what you want, that’s okay I guess. If you’re looking or want to compare, it’s terrible.
EC says
Theft is a major problem at HD. It’s blatant, easy, and well known. In almost any HD you can walk right out the door with a full cart and no one will say anything to you. Recently in Phoenix an off duty police officer tried to stop 2 men that walked out of a HD with carts filled with power tools. A truck was waiting for them in the parking lot and they just tossed in as much as they could and drove off at high speed. No one from HD offered to help and the criminals just ignored the cop trying to stop them. Had they ran over someone in the parking lot or something the cop would have probably lost his job.
The same thing happens in all big stores, Walmart, Lowes, Meynards… They don’t want theft obviously, but they also don’t want the liability that comes along with physically preventing it. Its takes a lot of loss from stolen tools to rise above the mountains of legal bills they would have (from customers, employees, and the criminals) if they tried to physically stop the theft. Some sort of tool activation is probably the only way to put a dent in it. That or maybe go the small electronics route and have a display item in store and you take a card to the register and the item is brought out after you pay.
Brandon says
Power tool DRM? I’m sure it’ll be flawless like all the other forms of DRM, right? Right? Right. This is not cool.
Jp says
Ill stop buying from Hime Depot. What ever happened to frying crooks?
MSTRKRFTR says
Right? Forget Home Depot and this Draconian solution. 🤨
Brian A says
My concern about this is for the big brands HD sells (Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita, Bosch), there’s no difference between the tool bought there versus anywhere else. E-retailers could care less about this, so are the manufacturers working with HD on this? Is it going to increase the cost of the tools? I really don’t see how this is reasonable or feasible.
Yes tool theft at HD is a huge problem, one they really haven’t cared about forever. Public knowledge that employees can’t stop you from walking out with a carriage full of stuff is the problem, only the dedicated security personnel can stop you.
Chris says
If the upfront cost is less than the cost of the theft as a total, maybe Home Depot would cover that cost so the consumer never sees a price increase in the first place.
This may ultimately halt eBay sales of stolen items when the consumer buys a non-functional tool and gets a (eBay absolutely sides with the buyer on everything) refund.
People buying on craigslist (or others) will have to be less trusting and double check everything from then on (I’ve met way to many people that totally trust me when I say that something works and I have to make them test stuff out, those are the people that get screwed on things like this “DRM” type system).
tall_will says
HD employee here. It’s a huge problem. We can’t stop anyone, and the security detectors at the entrances aren’t enabled, so all of those spider wraps you see on more expensive items are only meant to deter casual shoplifters. There is usually only one asset protection associate per district in the smaller districts, who must monitor every store, and police must be on-site before they can detain anyone.
It’s also the real reason why we’re encouraged to be so friendly and engaging; to constantly bombard potential shoplifters with an employee presence. People who really need help will seek us out.
I think if HD really cared about shrink they would keep all the high price items behind a cage where you pay as you’re leaving, like they do with Ring and Nest and digital thermostats, and pay to keep AP associates in the stores. They also would end the ridiculous policy of returning opened merchandise. No one will buy opened products and they get moved around the shelf until they are RTVd (return to vendor).
There’s so much they could do that would help. I don’t think customers will like having tools that are subject to an activation system that could potentially fail.
Koko The Talking Ape says
One evening I went to the HD closest to me. I needed some lumber cut to length, and I had to hunt down the bathroom and appliances guy to page the lumber guy. Waited 20 minutes, turns out there was no lumber guy. I didn’t get bombarded. No bombardment.
There were also half-unloaded pallets of stuff in the aisles, along with packing material lying around, creating a slip and trip hazard.
No wonder they have a shoplifting problem.
Fm2176 says
I believe you about the sensors not being on. Even when one goes off I’m usually waved along. Sure I bought that $100 tool, but who’s to say I don’t have $500 worth in my pockets or that storage tote?
I went into a local HD last year and found an empty M12 tool bag that someone had emptied and discard in a corner. I also have an M12 Gen 2 Packout tool kit with a sensor on it. I bought it a couple of months ago, the alarm didn’t go off, and I noticed the sensor a few days later. Unless I find the receipt I’m not taking it back to have the sensor removed, so in effect it looks stolen. I think I’ll keep it on the Packout handle as a reminder of how lackluster security is.
Adam says
If this is truly about shrinkage, and not a money grab to force customers into stores, then this isn’t about walk-in shoplifters – it’s about shrinkage from employees.
Traditionally that’s the most difficult type of shrinkage to combat: they have the means and the opportunity, all it takes is a motive, and even good people can succumb to poor decisions.
Mahalo says
Based on the “brand new in box” power tools that I see all the time on supposed second-hand seller apps like Offer Up and Let Go, I would have to agree with you. The tools I see most frequently are DeWalt and Milwaukee, both carried at HD.
Fred says
Why not register in the shop with the tool serial no and model… on an special app. Then when tool gets privately sold the seller and the new owner do a ownership transfer. It works with cars. Then when a tool needs a repair. The store can check on the app who is the owner. If all is ok repair if not call the cops.
tall_will says
Going to respectfully disagree with you. I’ve worked at two HD stores and no one has been fired or arrested for stealing except for company time (hiding in the break room). Walk-in shoplifters are a HUGE problem: on Tuesday we had a walk-out with a cart full of Milwaukee 12hr batteries and Fuel power tools. On Wednesday a guy walked out with two buckets full of DeWalt merch. They come with decoy shoplifters; they wait until nightfall to toss items over the outside garden walls to waiting cars; they brazenly grab things and just run out the doors. All we can do is document it and hope to recognize them the next time they come in and hope the police get there in time.
Andy says
I don’t know about HD, but industry wide, internal theft is estimated to acct for 2/3-3/4 of all theft. Clearly ORC is driving that to the lower number, but if you are seeing employees being fired, you’re LP sucks.
dave9 says
Hardly is that all HD could do. What they can do is install cameras better than what was found in circa 2008 cell phones, so that these people can be identified.
I often see HD et al thefts posted on my local police Facebook page but they are just too blurry to make a positive ID unless the thief was dumb enough to wear one of their favorite outfits so people recognize that rather than their blurry face shot.
Boggsy says
From multiple heights and angles at each exit… Only issue is that people don’t like to basically broadcast themselves at every waking moment.
If Some dude is in a sealed room getting off to me in 4k hdr, I should at least get 20% off.
I think they should at least be able to fire a crazy GPS tracker at the getaway car… Or a teaser that doesn’t shock too crazy, but pinches a tracker into your scumbag skin. Or better yet, employees should be legally allowed to beat you up.
Net guns.
Something.
Adabhael says
Secondary benefit, maybe the online inventory will be more accurate?
Dave K says
This is the same company that is moving towards making their stores entirely self-checkout (my local store has already done so.) So not only are they going to break, er I mean, secure the power tools, they are going to make the customers do the work to “activate” them.
Mike says
Wouldn’t it be easier/cheaper to put a corral around the tool section along with a register. You want to leave with a tool, you buy it then and there. Lots of stores have done this kind of thing with other products.
Andy says
That is the easy way, but typically store see a double digit loss in sales when they do this.
KMR says
Home Depot stores used to have a checkout right at the tool corral entrance. I specifically remember this at at least one Philadelphia area HD at least 15-20 years ago.
Mahalo says
They had one at my local HD, too. That went away, though, and I would have to agree with Andy that the tool corral would hurt sales. One theory I had about it is that you get reduced foot traffic through the tool aisles if you make a corral with only one entry point. So many purchases are impulse buys, so you really need to encourage someone that is meandering through the store to make his/her way through the tool aisle and hope you snag them on something.
evadman says
The challenge is that a thief is usually always a thief; making it harder to steal won’t stop the problem only make it harder for regular consumers. Same thign happened with music. What was the ultimate solution there? It was to make buying music easier.
Today, when I buy stuff in stores, they forget to deactivate the security tags quite often. This is going to be similar, where the customer is going to be associated with theft immediately instead of a employee mistake.
What about playstation, xbox, and other consoles being locked on runing 3rd party software (or copied disks)? throw in a ASIC mod chip. What about remote software activation? just repoint the IP address in the code to localhost. What about USB dongles? Make your own with a ASIC or image. These are all uge pain in the butts to consumers and don’t stop any theft besides opportunity theft.
These plans need to be well thought out so that consumers are not impacted, and I haven’t seen a solution yet that is engineered that way.
Mahalo says
Unfortunately for HD, they don’t have total control over tool pricing. So they can’t make it “easier” to buy tools the way the music industry has made buying music easier. Without power to grease the skids and make the tools they sell more accessible price-wise, they’re left to figure out how to increase friction for thieves. This, as you mentioned, does the same for consumers.
Andy says
The only way to reduce theft without losing sales is to increase staff levels, or at least give the impression of an increase. Unfortunately, this costs more than it typically saves. Most retailers are insured for non paperwork generated theft. Sure, a lot of shrink can raise premiums, but it’s rarely as bad as the companies make it out to be. I have over 30 years or retail operational experience, primarily as a consultant. When you really dig in, the shrink impact is usually exaggerated to mask other issues
Mahalo says
It’s funny you say that. The other thing they do sometimes to give a perception of “being watched” is have a security camera that beeps when you walk by it to alert you that you are “under surveillance”. My local HD used to have that setup, but it honestly felt kinda creepy to me and I noticed they took it down about a year ago.
Fm2176 says
I first noticed this in the Brunswick, GA store in 2014 or so. The volume was cranked up, so as I paced up and down the aisles looking for deals I kept getting the obnoxious reminder that I was on camera.
Benjamen says
Interesting I posted a few stories on Instagram about anti-theft devices at Home Depot.
Basically I was buying a two pack of Milwaukee penlights and it had a big visible anti-theft device on it. So rather than going through the self checkout, I asked a cashier to ring it up. She said, “no need, we don’t have the ability to read these tags anyway, so you can clip it off at home.”
When I got home I discovered the big red anti-theft tag just had one of those small metal strips that gets magnetized when you purchase it. Which is funny, because the package already had one embedded in it.
Now that I think about it HD used to have those annoying pedestals at the door that would randomly go off, but they got rid of them the same time they put in the self checkouts. I guess you can’t have people checking out themselves and trust them to deactivate the tags.
This makes me wonder, how would this technology work? The employees can’t even reliably deactivate those anti-theft tags. How it is going to work with self checkout? If employees can barely check people out properly, how are customers who have no training going to activate tools?
I know I’d be pissed if I got a tool home and it wasn’t activated properly.
What’s next, companies selling identical tools, but how much you pay for them activates how much torque they have?
Tim D. says
I don’t see how you can implement self checkout and not have planned for increase shrinkage. They go hand in hand.
The people that “monitor” the self checkout at the HDs near me are not paying attention at all. A less honest individual could rob them blind.
Mahalo says
Out of all the fears you listed, that last one is the real one. Kind of like when you download a so-called “trial version” of software, which is really the fully-featured software with disabled features until you enter an activation key (or connect online to a verification service).
Would it cut costs for manufacturers, who could mass produce one full-featured impact driver (for example) and sell access to different levels of features using software only?
badbot says
This is what high end test equipment such as some Tektronix oscilloscopes are already doing. You pay for the features and then they send you a code and so on.
Evadman says
See my previous comment on dongles:
https://hackaday.com/2014/07/28/cloning-tektronix-application-modules/ The un-redacted instructions are available online too, but I didn’t want to link to them. I have no idea what that unlocks (my oscilloscope was a $10 kit that I soldered toegther) but it proves the point that dongles or similar won’t solve the underlying issue.
Tom D says
The “free or cheap hardware, expensive license key” works GREAT for companies who want/need support; the threat that it won’t be supported if they download a crack from the internet is often enough to keep the big customers in line. The small guys they usually don’t worry about.
Example: FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8
Adam says
Could that potentially drive down the costs of tools overall? That is, if they made 1 model, but enabled features based on paid price. If you don’t think you need the hammer function, you wouldn’t buy it until you need it. Seems volume production of one unit could cuts costs. Make them all brushless tools, but if you only pay entry level price, you get brushed level performance.
Why is Milwaukee’s Fuel Hammer drill not more than the non-fuel? I can only imagine because of volume.
I’m sure if this happened, then all that would be focused on is hacking the software to enable everything for free.
Kevin says
This is how flir cameras work. The underlying hardware is identical. The difference between models is a configuration file on the device that turns up the resolution, and the sticker on the outside.
Stuart says
Somewhat. There’s likely sensor binning and added calibrations done to the higher-end models.
Rx9 says
So, in effect, shrink is going up because of the self checkout program and its incompatibility with the rfid tag system. That these greedy sobs would rather impose a complicated tool activation system on vendors rather than admit they screwed up is all I need to see upper management is full of hubris.
Tim D. says
So now instead of Home Depot budgeting in shrinkage, the cost of the shrink prevention will be built into the tool, and be directly (instead of indirectly) paid for by the consumer? great idea!
This is just another failure point that will ultimately increase cost and potentially decrease lifespan of the tool.
Next: Milwaukee OneKey to require you to “activate & register” your tool with bluetooth to your phone and scan your receipt to make it work.
How about an annual fee to keep the drill running, just for the hell of it?
No Thanks! I don’t want to have to jailbreak my tools like my phone just to get proper control over it.
Eric says
Amen!
Tom D says
“It looks like you’re trying to remove a stuck lugnut – would you like to upgrade to 400 ft-lbs more torque? Only $5.99!”
Wayne R. says
It’s $6 if you’re planning to do it someday, but $26 if you’re on the side of the road.
Mahalo says
Haha, exactly! The tool will activate features through your phone, but only if you enable GPS location sharing so that they can figure out if you’re in a bind.
PAntonvich says
there will be youtube video on now to activate that tool in about 10 seconds after its released.
Vic says
Also another new power tools unlock service on eBay. Haha
Jay says
Being in law enforcement it’s sickening the number of tools that walk, usually briskly, out of THD and Lowe’s. Employees are instructed to not pursue once it’s out the door due to assaults on employees and the potential responsibility of the principal in the agency relationship. Lowe’s is usually out ahead on its defensive measures against theft…I’m all for enhanced measures so long as it doesn’t overly inconvenience the paying customer.
Jay says
I should say Lowe’s is usually out ahead of Home Depot…not out ahead of the actual thievery.
James C says
I think a lot of people are reading too much into this shareholder report and overreacting here. HD doesn’t want accidentally “bricked” power tools any more than we do because that’s an easy way to steer people to Lowes and others (assuming they won’t also have some kind of new anti theft thing) . They can’t possibly be so shortsighted to not see the potential for this to backfire… right?
Tom D says
They’re trying to satisfy shareholders that they’re “doing” something to control the losses, even if the “suggested solution” is as idiotic as blockchain tools or something.
In reality it’ll be more of the same and maybe a Ryobi that won’t work without an internet connection, quickly clearanced.
Jason says
This is simple to drastically reduce shrink. Hire more people, not less. Then put processes and procedures in place to make it more focused on reducing shrink, even if that mean having one employee solely dedicated to tools and helping people buy them. Maybe have them in secure area and once ready to buy, get the item for the customer, with demo tools out on the floor.
Cody Benjamin says
Exactly this. Just like the computers at Wal-Mart. Play with the displays all you want, when you actually want to buy one go up to the tool guy counter and pay for it and he hands you one from behind his counter in a locked case. Simple.
Tom D says
It cuts down on impulse purchases – people pick up a box, carry it around, leave it randomly somewhere, and sometimes decide to buy it.
The number of people who want to buy something without human interaction is surprisingly large.
Eric says
Personally I am not a fan of human interaction if it can be avoided.
Tom D says
Mostly I agree – HD could be replaced with a large Milwaukee tool vending machine and I’d not really notice the difference.
Oh wait, it basically is, and they deliver to my door for free somehow.
Chris says
As Jay stated, HD’s “do not pursue” policy has certainly made them a target. Thieves know that if they can get out the door, its unlikely there will be any consequences. A few years back I had just left a HD and was getting into my vehicle when 2 guys ran out the doors, arms loaded with as many dewalt boxes as they could carry. 2 other customers (one ex-military) chased the guys down in the parking lot and tackled them, holding them till the police arrive. No one from HD would even come out the door till police arrived. I understand the stores policy from a liability standpoint, but with self checkout, no real security, and lack-luster employees trained to stand down, what do they expect?
Jim Felt says
Just the other day some one told me this is the exact policy at Victoria’s Secret. Though I’m guessing future chip activation isn’t likely.
Pablo says
I would guess most Home Depot “shrink” is due to employee theft. Home Depot should look at what Costco does to control theft. Hire and compensate good employees, and maybe have someone checking receipts. I don’t think Costco receipt checkers catch a lot, but I do think they are enough of of deterrent that thieves choose to steal elsewhere.
John says
There is zero chance I stop at a Home Depot for someone to check my receipt.
Frank D says
Lots of ways for HD to reduce theft.
But going the technology route, with mandated POS activation seems like it would increase tool complexity and manufacturing cost, thus more money for the power tools. And inconvenience at checkout as in the past there have been enough issues at any store deactivating and removing whatever is in place.
Now, pretty much every powertool and some handtools I bought in many years had a small security device in the packaging / on the box behind the barcode or even on the power cord of the tools, setting off the buzzer, if it was not deactivated at the register.
The previous self checkouts had a deactivate area, but the new big flat screen ones do not???
I bought an 18v stapler the other day, self checkout, nothing to deactivate, mmm, so I handed it to a staff member with my receipt, explaining I don’t want to trigger the alarm, … no, I was good, it doesn’t need anything???
Does that mean the entire system is down at my HD and anybody can just walk out with stuff, no buzzer???
One can bet that if that is the case, that such a thing would spread like wildfire with individuals who are going to take advantage of that. Only one staff member at the register area … distracted with one person, just roll on through with whatever they want … undetected?????
Tom D says
Yeah, other replies mention that the entire system is for show – it’s turned off and does nothing.
Wayne R. says
Whenever those doorway alarms do go off, I never see anyone react, anyway. Like car alarms…
Rx9 says
Yes- way too many false positives. In executives zeal to stop shrink, they put rfids on way too many items, including things worth little or way too big to be smuggled out. The more items chipped, the higher chance a cashier will miss a paid for item and the alarm is tripped for nothing. Enough false alarms, and now nobody cares…just like car alarms.
John says
Pay for security, prosecute thieves to the fullest. For heaven’s sake stop pussy-footing around the issue. The issue is human scum who will not change. Changing the tools will do nothing. We continue to coddle people who are societal cancer.
Andy says
I’m not saying you’re wrong, but if a retailer has policy allowing employees to aprehend thieves, even security guards, their workers comp rates would go through the roof. No way decreaesed theft would offset the cost.
Steve says
That’s why you hire security guards that work for firm, contract that out.
OhioHead says
In the early 2000’s when DW started shipping 3 speed hammers/drills, they included in the housing an anti theft device……..still was useless…….against folks walking out the the door or throwing over the garden fence……..
Andrew says
HD would be wrong in the approach of trying to force activation of power tools. It will ultimately impact the sales, with whatever intrusive approach they take (Activation, tool corral, etc…).
They would however, be smart to spend their money on high resolution cameras, more loss prevention (LP) , and the back end AI infrastructure needed to support that. If an LP officer could tag a face of a shoplifter caught on video, then upload that to a central database, anytime that shoplifter entered another home depot, that store’s LP officer, or shift manager could get a message on their mobile device alerting them of the thief’s presence in the store. It wouldn’t be cheap, and it would be a huge lift for their IT department, but it would be unobtrusive & way more effective than what they’re currently doing.
Kilroy says
I’m sure cities like London with many surveillance cameras have spent a ton of effort trying to add AI and other aids to help with people tracking and intelligence gathering, and I’d imagine that some of that tech has spilled over into casinos.
Probably just a matter of time until some of that tech and systems gets cheap enough that big chain retailers can justify trying it in their locations with the highest shrink.
That said, until you actually have employees (or contracted security guards) who are empowered to stop and detain suspected thieves, that type of tech won’t be super useful, but at least when the police get there in time they will be able to connect the perps with more thefts, potentially charging them with bigger charges and keeping them in jail for longer.
Tom D says
I suspect this is something like “One Key for Ryobi” or similar; something that disables the tool until it is “activated”.
But if TTI develops that why not just give the tools away and you activate them online for $?
Eric says
More bull crap!
Mike (the other one) says
Punish the paying customers instead of going after the crooks. Brilliant!
krashtd says
Makes more sense to separate the high theft items into a store-within-a-store area, like the liquor stores inside some supermarkets. Very limited access and exposure
Robert says
This is a hot topic.
My homedepot just put a lock cage on all of the lower shelf tools or placed them up high. Everything requires a clerk to get to. Lowe’s doesn’t really do that.
Brian M says
This will not work, it just won’t. What we need to do is start prosecuting shoplifters much harsher. There’s someone about an hour from me that sells stolen Milwaukee batteries. There’s a guy that posts on all her ads a link to an article about her arrest when she was caught…she’s still selling the batteries. She has no reason to stop because it’s just a slap on the wrist if she gets caught.
dave9 says
I don’t see how they’re going to effectively do this because *most* of what HD sells, they do not sell exclusively, so the entire merchant industry would have to get on board or at least the distributors would have to pre-activate any tools not shipping to HD. I mean that seems more feasible than a special HD version of the tool which is the only one that has the additional anti-theft tech.
TheToolMat says
Just put the tools in an area that requires you to check-in and checkout, and the rest of the store like Frys electronic stores more secure exiting, don’t like it, then tool bad. See what I did there…end the madness,
HD has to shoulder a bit if the blame, they are fostering these losses, take action, and even install highdef cameras in the parking areas. Catch them and lock them up.
MT_Noob says
On a side note, I hate when stores try to prevent theft of some items by putting a little lock on the end of the peg that the item is hanging from that prevents you from removing it. That forces you to either try to twist the package around and contort yourself so you can see the specs on the back, or waste time trying to hunt down the person with the key to unlock it. Super annoying.
Rx9 says
This is go as well as the printer cartridge lockout chips idea is going.
There are hundreds of small Chinese firms willing to cheaply sell the brushless motor controllers needed to make these tools run again. Open the case, swap out the controller, put it back together, done.
Rx9 says
Also, why all the security cameras if nobody is going to use them?
There is really no good reason for this problem to exist other than a poorly thought through attempt to reduce labor costs.
RCWARD says
Sounds like a terrible idea to me. They would screw that up for sure and make your tool not work somehow someway.
RCWARD says
How about a strip search at the door. They wonder why brick and mortar stores are going under
Mike says
Just like most laws trying to keep honest people honest. Bad people will find a way around it, all of us will just be inconvenienced by it when you buy something and the fancy tech didn’t work out. Just dumb garage that we will have to pay for, cause they sure aren’t paying for the extra costs!
Adrian says
This is going down a very dark road. The next thing we are going to have to deal with is power tools as a service. Just like all software now is a monthly/yearly subscription we are going to have to license our tools on a yearly basis. F that.
rob says
Many interesting comments here and I am guessing it’s also a regional thing. Here on the West Coast it’s not just HD that often gets hit, Apple Stores, LuLu Lemon, Sears, Nordstorm are all hit on a regular basis. The thieves usually enter the store in a group and grab very specific items; they know 1) most retailers won’t stop them due to the insurance risk of an injury 2)if they are in a group with large handfuls of items it’s harder to stop them. Apple has hired off-duty PD officers to stand in front of stores and park vehicles in front of stores, it does help but not always. These groups may travel hundreds of miles to hit specific stores at specific times, it’s often much more than a crime of opportunity.
Much of these stolen items as Stu noted are people looking to sell it quick for a few bucks (no real idea what the retail cost is) but also there’s a large export market to Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa….much of these groups are basically organized crime with what they steal already sold in the black market. If there was a way to make the tools unusable until an activation it’d be good. Just like a gift card needs to be activated. I’d hope if it works stores like Apple would look at a way to activate items once purchased/at the register.
carl says
Why not put the power tools behind locked cages. A demo tool out with a security cable so customers can play with it. A customer wants to buy a power tool or battery, then a clerk gets it from the cage. Put a manned cash register in the tool section. All tools need to be purchased there.
Ray CR says
The Harbor Freight store in a high risk area of my state has all ratchets locked up in cages. The Harbor freight 20 minutes away in a low risk area has them breathing freely.
Oleg K. says
What they should be working on is improving the ir corporate culture, the appauling quality of the job training for their employees, as well as the working environment their employees are forced to exist in day in and day out… If they can make the jobs more enjoyable then maybe they won’t need to go through the trouble of creating tools that need to be activated and so on.
Mike says
I’ve seen the problem first hand at an ABQ HD last year, I was waiting in the check out line and a guy goes running past me with a Makita kit in his hand and 2 LP guys in tow. He dropped the gear in a turn and ran off into the parking lot. The LP guys considered the mission a success as they recovered the property.
I asked the cashier how often that happens and she said ‘all the time’.
Theron Krusling says
Earlier someone had mentioned if XYZ brand puts that in their tools I’m no longer buying them. I can absolutely assure you that the “black and yellow brand” and the “red brand” manufacture two different tools under the same model numbers. One for the big box stores and one for the local tool only distribution and repair shops. I have seen the cutaways of the same drill and recip saw. Big box store had plastic gears and transmission parts, cheap triggers. My tool rep had much higher quality internals. The tools had the exact same model numbers! So, if you’re a professional, you probably already buy your tools from a reputable source instead of the big box. So this is not likely to affect you.
I rarely go to the big box stores at all and I am a licensed tradesman. I deal with the same customer service folks at my tool distributors and supply houses for the last 15 years. When you shop those big box stores, you might get a lower price, but you get what you pay for. When I have a problem with a tool, I can look the person in the eye that sold it to me and they hand me a new one. No receipt needed, no hassle. Try that at a big box place!
Professionals – quit shopping at these low end places and support your local businesses.
Tim D. says
I simply don’t buy this. Specifically, the same part number part of it.
I have no issues believing that manufacturers make different quality parts for different stores to sell. This is common place among electronics and plumbing parts, so why not tools?
Same model number and different build quality though? no way. Imagine the nightmare of Dewalt or Milwaukee trying to warranty this, or keep up with what was bought where.
That being said, I still have never seen any of these pictures/cutaways as proof.
My local plumbing supply places can show me all brass component faucets, and box stores clearly have plastic parts in them. Shouldn’t this be easy to find proof or pictures of if true?
Theron Krusling says
Cutaways was several years ago and I didn’t take any pictures, as camera phones were not that common at the time.
I was told recently by the “Red Brand” representative that the batteries can vary slightly between the box store and pro counters. Larger sizes available in the kits from the pro counters for the same price. Same kit numbers.
Faucets have become quite a joke lately. But to meet the new lead laws, they either have to use higher grade brass or switch to plastic. You know they’re not going to charge any less for the plastic faucet. Most of what we’re putting in is spec’d on the prints and a lot of it is junk nowadays.
American Standard Colony Faucet is a perfect example of store product switching. If I buy it from the large “orange place” it has chrome plated plastic handles, and plastic stemmed cartridges, pop-up style drain and cost around $45. If I buy it from my usual supply house it has chrome plated pot metal handles, brass stemmed cartridges and grid strainer or pop-up my choice. It cost the same.
Amp says
That will be the last time i buy from Home Depot. Next thing you know tools wont work without wifi and will require software updates. Theft is part of any big box store overhead. Dont play the game if you cant afford it.
SteveP says
If my experience working in retail and as a (somewhat reluctant) HD customer is anything to go by, the biggest part of their problem will be their own staff (who seem to have dropped back into “Don’t care” mode) and of course ex-employees who know the system and its weak points.
POS activation might be appropriate for some very high-end items, but it would have to be transparent to the customer or – as others have pointed out (like all the good ratchets behind glass, etc.) the hassle factor will drive business elsewhere. In the lab, there is always a salesperson to assist – in reality, that’s rare and while you can see what you want, you can’t actually have one.
Better CCTV would help as in some WallyMarts (where the in-aisle camera notifies you on a screen) with some AI applied (any floorwalker knows the “tells” and AI can be trained). But don’t forget to watch the employees as well