Security tag still in item - how to wash it?

[Murtette]

This makes me sound as though I stole it and I promise I didn't! I bought DP a dressing gown for his birthday (so exciting!). I bought it a month or so before his birthday &, when he unwrapped it, noticed it still had the security tag thing still on it. I tried to find the receipt but couldn't so didn't think I could go back & ask them to take it off so DP has been wearing it with it still in. He's worn it for a couple of months now so it needed a wash anyway but DS decided it for definite by puking over it this morning. Now I've always thought that the point of these tags is that if you take them off without using the special machine, dye goes everywhere. Obviously, I don't want that all over the decent but smelly dressing gown & nor did I want it over the washing machine. Any ideas?

[Poledra]

Well, I've dug the security tag out of a jumper using pliers and a screwdriver, and It didn't release any dye (I'd bought it from an outlet store at my mum's, and wasn't travelling 300 miles to get it taken off). It was a big disc on one side and just a tag on the other. Wasn't too difficult to get out...

[Valpollicella]

I think there are videos on YouTube on how to remove them, using magnets etc? Give it a go

[Fairyloo]

Put in freezer and chop off

[elfycat]

You could call the store saying it was a gift that was just opened now and the tag found; receipt long ago chucked. Say you need to bring it in (the next day) to get the tag taken off and take the name of the person you speak with (make this the manager). This should cover you for having a tagged item in store.

[Murtette]

Lots of ideas & really quickly too. Thank you! Freezer one won't work as there's definitely not room in the freezer for a dressing gown. I will have a look on you tube for magnet ideas or just attack it!

[PigletJohn]

if you paid for it on a credit card, that might be sufficient for proof of purchase

I reckon you stole it

[nancy75]

Not all of them have ink, it usually says if it does. You can usually get them off with pliers

[chickydoo]

A similar thing happened to me.
Bought a lovely scarf in a town a long way from home ( was on holiday) the scarf was really expensive.
A few days after getting home, took scarf out of bag & saw security tag on it. Thought I would try & get it off, & then after a pit of poking & chopping around, masses of dye emptied out all over scarf. It
Was totally ruined. I wish now I had phoned up shop & perhaps sent it back to them ...... Hindsight is a wonderful thing

[Murtette]

I hadn't thought of going back with a bank statement (paid by debit card rather than credit card but still has the name of the store on it).

[armedtotheteeth]

Definitely take it to the shop. I know from experience that you can make a hole in your clothes by taking the tag off yourself.

[SoulTrain]

There is a shop near us that's renowned for leaving them on, big department store. I have had to go back so many times with the tag still attached. I have rarely had the receipt. Once, some mardy arse tried to insinuate I'd stolen it so I said the date is bought it on and asked her to phone security and check their CCTV for that day. Surprisingly she couldn't be arsed.

Love that your husband has just been wearing it!

[MalcolminaTucker]

Is it a towelling dressing gown? If so I would just snip the fabric for a few mm either side of the tag to make a hole big enough to remove it, then mend the hole. The pile of the towelling would hide the mend. Even if it's not towelling I might do it this way anyway depending on the position of the tag, it's not like he'll be wearing it in public so a visible mend won't matter.

We once had a bottle of vodka delivered via an at-home-grocery-delivery-service which still had the anti-theft tag on it. For months after, visitors could have thought we were alcohol theives when they saw it.

[Strawhatpirate]

Is it one of the tags with dye or the one with just the pin? Also I recomend ringing the shop in advance and asking to speak to a manager and explain the situation and see what they say. Most of the time they will try and help you as much possible but if they are unresponsive imply that you will right a letter to head office, letters to head office are a shops greatest fear! I work in retail so I know how they think :)