Home Depot installing 40,000 high-tech cameras

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 09/16/03 | TONY WILBERT

[Kennesaw]

Home Depot installing 40,000 high-tech cameras

Smile, you're on Home Depot camera, high-tech style.

The Atlanta-based retailer said Tuesday it has begun installing real-time, digital surveillance camera systems in all of its 1,600 stores in North America. The system will use 40,000 video cameras to allow Home Depot to better monitor its stores and cut down on shoplifting, the company said.

While Home Depot acknowledged that several other retailers currently use digital video surveillance, the company said it is one of the first to use a standardized digital system throughout all store operations.

"For the first time, Home Depot will have significantly increased real-time video coverage of its stores," said Troy Rice, senior vice president of operations. "The new system will help continue our trend of lowering losses due to theft, provide a powerful new deterrent and enable faster, more conclusive investigations by law enforcement."

Home Depot said the new digital technology will outperform the analog technology it currently uses because images from dozens of cameras can be stored nearly indefinitely. Also, Home Depot stores where crimes may have occurred can e-mail images to police departments investigating the reports.

The new system also will help Home Depot fight identity fraud, the company said.

Home Depot expects to complete installation of the new monitoring system by the end of January.

[blam]

My younger brother worked at the Home Depot in the Dallas area. They told him to quit catching so many people stealing. No kidding. (BTW, he quit about 6 months later)

[Atlas Sneezed]

Just buy a Sears Craftsman, any tool. If it breaks take it back, they replace it for free.

---

Gunsmiths know this. They bust that small pin driver all the time, and Sears keeps replacing it. (Of course, they tend to buy $150 of stuff every time they get their "free" tool!)

[Atlas Sneezed]

Just buy a Sears Craftsman, any tool. If it breaks take it back, they replace it for free.

---

Gunsmiths know this. They bust that small pin driver all the time, and Sears keeps replacing it. (Of course, they tend to buy $150 of stuff every time they get their "free" tool!)

[LuLuLuLu]

This is good news. Now when the orange-vested clueless shake their heads at me, it will be on tape.

I don't doubt that they have a growing problem with theft; there are so few "associates" wandering the aisles anymore.

[Mr Ducklips]

Sic 'em, tiamat! I think the Depot is fine. I'm just sorry I didn't sell 'em the cameras.

[dead]

I'm sure your husband is knowledgable. I'm also sure he doesn't work in my Home Depot, because your post leads me to believe he speaks English.

[LibWhacker]

. . . has begun installing real-time, digital surveillance camera . . .

Oh, goodie! . . . Something new to steal.

[TheMole]

Two words ... employee theft. Surprises me nobody else mentioned it.

[dennisw]

No more stainless steel machine screw samples.

[Peace will be here soon]

Agreed! I avoid Home Depot , Lowes etc.. every chance I can. There are still a few mom and pop hardware stores around and they will do everything they can to keep you coming back. Prices are "slightly" higher, but the service is fantastic. And no long lines and walking around in circles looking for stuff ! If you appreciate courtesy and service, you are more than happy to pay a little more for certain items.

[Still Thinking]

If the people running the cameras are as knowledgeable about their job as the people working the floor, they'll show nothing but blurs.

And rude too. I was in a HD store this morning, couldn't find something I knew they carried, and called out to a guy walking down the main central aisle. I gave him a couple choruses of "Hello! Excuse me!", but he just kept walking, even though I know he heard me. Also, I know they mention theft numerous times in the article, but my first thought was shrinkage, which I didn't see mentioned once.

[tiamat]

No kidding! that camera contract would have been nice! LOL!

Thanks!

Tia

[_Jim]

Hmmm ...self-scanning has it's own 'breed' of scams:

from: http://www.rlpx.com/newsuse.htm

- - - - - -

Posted: 06/16/99

"This was posted anonymously... Pretty interesting scam... are you vulnerable?"

I work at a primarily mid-western retailer. I recently recovered some merchandise which an individual had price switched using a method which I had never seen. The subject/group had apparently scanned various UPCs on a home computer scanner, and printed them on address labels. They then placed the new UPCs over the existing ones on more expensive merchandise. A $300 vacuum cleaner rang up as a $19.99 hand vac, and a $200 allergen filtering system rang up as a $9.99 (replacement) filter. We also have utilized a "tear and scan" tag system for large, bulky items for some time now. These are easily switched, or torn from less expensive merchandise and handed directly to the cashier. A subject may take the tag from a $59.99 television and place it on a $499.99 television. He/she then tears the less expensive tag from the more expensive item and hands it to the cashier. Most cashiers don't notice since the item rings up as "filter", "hand vac" or "television". The monotony or repetitive nature of their jobs leave cashiers particularly susceptible to these scams as they won't always match prices with items, especially if the items show up as something similar (i.e. "hand vac"---"vacuum cleaner").

"Just as proof the every cloud has an even darker lining, consider this;

- "What happens when the bogus UPC is removed, and the merchanise is returned for a refund?"
- If your policy is lenient for cash refunds, are you kicking out $300 cash for a $20 purchase?
- Even if you have a stricter policy, odds are the refunder can get an exchange. If it were me, I would make sure that I exchanged the merchandise for a slightly different model, thereby getting a new valid receipt at the full retail.
- Consider the duplicate receipt refund fraud taking place throughout the country, and imagine the amount of stolen merchandise that can now be refunded without the annoyance of having to pay the full amount even once."

- Danno

[randog]

I don't know about these other stores you people are talkiing about, but my husband's store is well run...

The HD near me is the same way--most of the employees are well trained. I was in there last week to pick up a doo-hickey and when one employee couldn't find it he went and asked another, who ended up finding it for me. It's nice to not hear, "If you don't see it then we don't have it".

[cowtowney]

"No more free hammers."

"Hypothetically speaking, where do you 'slip' those things for their trip out the building?"

Is that a hammer in your pocket? or are you just glad to see me?

[tiamat]

Oh yeah, College grad and everything. He got into this sort of thing in the 80s, has a taste for it, and even though he could make better money elsewhere, has stuck with what he's good at.

Tia

[Cobra64]

...so now I get to stand behind clueless customers.

Probably democrat voters from FL who voted for Gore in 2000. Most call themselves, "Hanging Chads;" the fat ones proclaim they are, "The Dimpled Chads."

[Still Thinking]

Not exactly. I was in Sears the other day, because the plastic carrier for the sockets melted to hell when it fell on the hot manifold. I was told the carrier is not part of the tool, and was not under warranty. The warranty also doesn't apply to power tools.

[Cobra64]

I shop at Lowes. They are very accomodating and polite.

[Petronski]

No more 4'x8'x1" oriented strandboard free samples.