There are generally two types of tags and labels in use in the United States. RF 8.2MHz and AM 58KHz. Some tag types are only available in one of the frequencies such as the "Supertag  II" which is exclusively an AM 58KHz tag but the problem is other tags such as "pencil" tags and "tamper resistant" tags look the same in both frequencies. The best way to tell what frequency your system and tags are is AM  58KHz tags are predominantly used with a "Sensormatic" branded or styled antenna system at your front door. If you see a Sensormatic label on anything then you are quite assured your tags are AM 58KHz. If you don't see Sensormatic then there is a good chance your tags and system are RF 8.2MHz. If you have any Remaining doubt at all give us a call or send us a picture of your system and tags and we will let you know before you buy!

If you have RF 8.2MHz tags virtually all of them will be removed by our Super Designer Detacher. It has one of the highest magnet ratings in its class and removes all RF 8.2MHZ tags except for specialty eyeglass tags. If you have AM 58KHz tags you need to choose the detacher that fits your tags. Some AM tags are removed with the Super Designer Detacher while Supertags need a Supertag Detacher and Ultratags need an Ultratag Detacher. 
Call or email us if you have any questions. 

Bigger is always better. In all seriousness the larger labels have more surface area and thus a bigger circuit printed in them. The larger circuit makes them resonate stronger and the antenna can pick them up easier. If your items have room for a 1.5' x 1.5' label we recommend you use a 1.5"x1.5" label. If not the 1.18"x1.18" label is still a good choice. Labels smaller than this become problematic and don't protect your inventory to the same degree. The exception to the small label rule is the Sensormatic style label for AM 58KHz system which functions very well even with its diminutive size.

There are two ways you will be losing your tag inventory. The most probable way you are losing your tags is your staff is not being careful and the tags are going in the garbage instead of an inventory bin to be reused. It is good practice to keep garbage cans away from the area from where you detag your products. The second way you may be losing tags is via theft. Items being stolen with tags on them means one thing - your system is not functioning properly to tell you something is being stolen. Check to make sure your system is on and it is covering the entrance of your store properly. If not get it serviced or replace it.

Depending where you live you will either get your order delivered by USPS or Canada Post.

If you are finding that your security antennas are not working to your satisfaction, or are causing false alarms, please check the following:

•             Are there tags within 4 feet of the antennas?

•             Are there any new metal displays nearby?

•             Is there anything nearby that may be carrying a tag? For example: tagged window displays.

•             Are there any tags near the power supply box?

•             Are there any big metal objects nearby? For example: strollers, umbrella holders, wastebaskets, etc.

•             Has a vertical (running floor to ceiling) power line been installed nearby? For example: extension cord or Christmas lights. Vertical AC power lines cause strong interference and will almost 100% of the time cause noise in the antennas and excessive false alarming.

•             Are there LED lights within 8 feet of the antenna? Some LED lights emit a frequency in a range close to some tags.

•             Are there aluminum doors close by and have they been recently damaged? If so, loose metal contact may be acting as a tag and setting off the system when the doors move or vibrate.

•             Do the doors have electric motors?

•             Are the door handles secured tightly?

•             Has the store next to you recently installed a new Electronic Article Surveillance system within 25 feet of your system?

•             For mall locations, are the sliding, metal security curtains pushed full back into the wall? Securing them tightly with a bungee cord will help prevent false alarms.

•             Are there any displays being held by aircraft cable (steel rope) making contact with metal?

•             Are the antennas securely bolted to the floor?

If you have checked all of the above and still cannot find the origin of the problem, you should contact you your local service technician to come service your system.

Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS for short is a cost-effective anti-shoplifting system that permits staff to focus on customers and not worry about theft. Often called shrinkage in the retail industry, preventing shoplifting can be one of the biggest drivers for increasing profits by a retailer.

EAS systems work by attaching an electronic device, called a “tag” or “label”, to the displayed merchandise. If merchandise bearing the electronic device passes by an antenna installed at the store entrance/exit, an alarm sounds alerting your staff that unpaid merchandise is leaving the store.

EAS systems work well as a visual deterrent to the casual shoplifter, letting them know they will be caught if they try to steal an item. For the more hardened criminal, the systems will notify the store staff when something is being stolen. Typically these systems will reduce a stores shrink by at least 50%, adding a strong lift to the bottom line.

For paying customers, when the customer brings his or her selection to the cash counter to pay for the item to be purchased, the sales clerk removes the tag from the item or deactivates the label on the item so that the alarm will not sound when the customer leaves the store with the purchased merchandise.

Security Tag Wholesale offers all three types of EAS security systems from various manufacturers, in different price ranges, and with many different feature sets. We would be pleased to review your merchandising approach and your store layout with you and give our recommendation of which system will work best for your store.

Radio Frequency (RF) Systems

RF systems work by installing an antenna at the store entrance/exit which creates a narrow, low-frequency, electro-magnetic field around itself. When a tag or label enters this field, it causes the antenna to alarm. The systems are offered in a variety of frequencies in the RF spectrum with 8.2MHz being the most popular. Other frequencies are 1.81, 1.95, 2.0, 3.25 and 4.8.

RF EAS Systems are most commonly used by retailers and tend to be the least expensive. Works well for apparel, shoes, sporting goods, liquor and housewares.

Acoustic Magnetic (AM) Systems

AM EAS works similar to the RF EAS System, but when the tag or label enters the field, it vibrates. It is this vibration which generates a signal that is picked up by the antenna. AM systems use a 58KHz frequency and are a nice option in environments that have a lot of radio noise from other sources.

AM EAS Systems work well for consumer electronics, home improvement, grocery and pharmaceuticals.

Electro Magnetic (EM) Systems

EM EAS System also works in a manner similar to the RF EAS System but uses a different part of the electro-magnetic spectrum to communicate. The transmitting antenna sends a signal at a specific frequency and the receiving antenna waits and listens for a tag of a specific frequency to enter the range of detection. If an active tag comes into the range of detection, it sends a signal to the receiving antenna which identifies a different frequency and sounds the alarm.

EM EAS Systems are the preferred choice of vendors of books and art supplies as the EM labels long and narrow - they are slightly larger than the width of a human hair and attach inconspicuously to the merchandised item. They can be deactivated and reactivated again which works well for checking out the book and then checking them back in again.

Types of EAS Antennas

Transceiver EAS Antennas

Transceiver EAS Antennas are single antennas which act both as a creator of a magnetic field and a receiver of input from that field. EAS Systems using transceiver antennas are the least expensive systems. They typically broadcast up to a metre (39 inches effectively, and one unit can cover a typical door. Two units can easily protect a double door and if spaced properly two units can also cover a 4 metre opening into a mall environment. Since the units broadcast and receive they typically do so in all directions thus tagged or labeled merchandise can not be placed too close to the installed antenna. Transceiver antennas are available for both RF and AM EAS Systems. These units are the most popular on the market today and come in a variety of form factors including the wildly popular clear acrylic which looks very modern and elegant.

Multiple Antennas EAS Systems

The most common form of Multiple Antenna EAS Systems is the Single Aisle Dual Antenna EAS System in which more than one antennae are used to form an aisle to the store entrance. One of these antennas is a transmitter and the other is a receiver. The antennas create a low frequency electromagnetic field between them so that if tagged merchandise passes through this field, the tag or label on the merchandise is sensed by the antennas and causes an alarm.

The Single-Aisle Dual Antenna System is used where the door opening into your store is more than one meter (36″) and is therefore too wide to employ an EAS Transceiver System. Because the focus of the electro-magnetic field is between the antennas, this type of EAS System permits tagged or labeled merchandise to be placed within 2 meters (72″) of the EAS System.

When a door opening exceeds 2 meters (72″), additional EAS System antennas are installed to create additional aisles to the width of the door opening.

Installation

Security Tag Wholesale provides three types of EAS antenna installations: transceiver, single-aisle, and multi-aisle. The type of installation that works best for a store will depend upon the size of the entrance door opening, whether the door opens inwards or out, and the merchandising plan.