Tuesday, 23 November 2010

Retail Big Brother

Shoplifting costs retailers an estimated £4.88bn each year, so it's wise to go to great lengths to try to address the issue and catch the culprits.  One growning approach is organised by Internet Eyes (http://www.interneteyes.co.uk/), where stores can provide anyone access to view on-line their cctv footage live.  If anyone spots an issue they can simply click their mouse & a text is sent through to the store manager to investigate!  With it being internet hosted anyone from around the world can log into your cameras and will be given cash rewards for providing good tip-offs.  Quite who wants to spend their evening looking at the CCTV cameras from CostCutter I don't know, but it seems to be working.
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7 comments:

  1. chlo091124 November 2010 at 02:46

    I can't believe this would be allowed! I don't think anyone across the world should be able to watch you shopping, especially as most of us are innocent shoppers who are not shoplifting! Do the retailers have to provide any notification to the customer that the CCTV will be available to view online?

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  2. Jeff Bray24 November 2010 at 03:20

    I would imagine that stores would have to have notification signs up, but that hasn't been mentioned in the media coverage I've seen. Will be interesting if the scheeme takes off. It is a realatively low cost system that could become the norm.

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  3. Anonymous30 November 2010 at 15:07

    It sounds absolutely fine to me... What's wrong with it?! If watching me shopping will help to slow down shoplifting rates (which is very unlikely), then it is not a problem at all. Especially, when I am being an innocent shopper...

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  4. Jeff Bray1 December 2010 at 04:50

    My experiences as a store manager are that 90% of the theft is done by a hand full of persistant offenders. Catching just one will send the word out & they will all move onto another store. So could be very effective in my view. It is really the issue of civil liberties your every move being watched...

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  5. Anonymous1 December 2010 at 10:31

    I agree with that Jeff, but when 'every move' means me picking up pack of chopped tomatoes, I wouldn't feel discriminated at all. But again, I had couple of 'arguments' on similar cases and every time I found myself in an absolute minority. For instance, scan check in the airport... everyone got soo scared and surprisingly 'innocent' that we're going to appear 'naked' on the screens- now, IT IS NOT NICE, BUT if they believe it's going to help to reduce the amounts of terrorist attacks (which I don't think it will btw)- than what is the problem?! I don't mind policeman checking my ID, if he believes I look like a suicide bomber.

    I have no reasons to say this, but don't you think people will not take this 'job' seriously enough to make a difference? And, by the way, will it be possible to watch staff shoplifting?

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  6. Jeff Bray1 December 2010 at 12:53

    I guess that the company is 'measureing' sucess somehow & frankly finding just one shoplifter could be worth 100's. If the cameras are positioned appropirately then for sure staff could be caught. With some 70% or so of store theft being by staff I have sometimes thought that cameras in the warehouse would be more effective than on the shop floor!
    You say you don't mind being watched, but surely it's a stalkers paradise if they can log in & see when your shopping, what your buying etc. Do you want everyone to know everything your buying?

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  7. Anonymous3 December 2010 at 11:37

    I'd have thought as well that having cameras in the warehouse is a good idea! But it is impossible, isn't it, due to various reasons, which I have no idea about, just assume there are some... It'd have involved managers as well... I think I'd watch that using 'internet eyes' ))

    'Do Not mind being watched' sounds very weird, but I have to agree- in above discussed cases- I don't. Last thing I'd do though is participate in Big Brother kind of thing, so sometimes I do mind it!

    However, regarding 'stalker's paradise' - I still can not understand...Saturday Night in Bournemouth sounds more like a stalker's paradise, but not Tuesday Foodshopping in Asda... Who would care what and when I buy?! I can't imagine someone going- Oh, it's Sunday afternoon, she must be shopping now- better get home and log in! ))

    Maybe, those 'eyes' could be more effective if researching Consumer Behaviour, than preventing shoplifting???!!!

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