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Original poster

Does anyone know how to remove John Lewis' security tags?

23 replies

OwlCat · 02/11/2013 20:13

Bought a new coat today in JL, which I need to wear on Monday. Got home and discovered that it still has a big security tag on the back. It's a 3 hour round trip for me to travel back to the store plus train fare, and I won't be able to go tomorrow :-(

OP posts:
AuntieBrenda · 02/11/2013 20:14

A stocking great magnet should do the trick- that's essentially what shops use in store isn't it?

AuntieBrenda · 02/11/2013 20:15

I meant stonking not stocking!

CajaDeLaMemoria · 02/11/2013 20:17

You'll need a big magnet - but be sure that you've got it right, because JL have good quality security tags, and it'll be full of dye. If you trigger it, dye will explode everywhere and it's almost impossible to get out.

If you know anyone who works in a shop, they may be able to help if you have a receipt? Shops are generally against doing this kind of thing for obvious reasons, but they sometimes do.

Otherwise it's a case of getting to a JL and getting them to take it off.

peasypeeler · 02/11/2013 20:17

The blighters need a strong magnet. If I were you (and had a receipt I might take it to a local clothing shop and see if they would help you out. Other than that be very careful, if it has dye in it it's going to be messy.

This happened to me with a jumper I bought in M&S, paid for it at the food hall counter as I was getting a sandwich as well and didn't even occur to me it was me when I set off the alarm. The guard waved me straight through.

Do you have a local waitrose? They might help :)

Mrspinacolada · 02/11/2013 20:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

peasypeeler · 02/11/2013 20:18

x-posted - what they all said ^

Tweet2tweet · 02/11/2013 20:20

Having worked in retail I can advise that a hard bang to the tag will make it pop off. However DO NOT DO THIS if it has ink in it. It may explode and ruin the product.

AnastasiaGrey · 02/11/2013 20:20

We had this but not JL. Took a hammer and covered the tag with a sandwich bag and luckily it worked.

Ladyface · 02/11/2013 20:21

Call the store tomorrow and see what they suggest. Are you near a Waitrose as they may be able to help?

FromthePinkGlitterySide · 02/11/2013 20:25

If its a plastic one you can hold a lighter to the round bit in the plastic that sticks out, melt it a bit then widen the hole with a screwdriver. There should be a ball bearing and a spring in there which will come out and the whole thing will fall apart.
I had a tag left on something once and googled how to get it off.
I'm not a shoplifter emoticon

Original poster
OwlCat · 02/11/2013 21:15

Thanks for the replies. Had resigned myself to having to take it back tomorrow but my kind DH has volunteered to go, as he has a train season ticket so won't at least have to pay the train fare.

OP posts:
CointreauVersial · 03/11/2013 01:35

I would phone JL first thing in the morning and explain your problem. Their customer service is excellent and they might well offer a solution.

Merel · 03/11/2013 01:44

Bolt croppers or a hacksaw

TSSDNCOP · 03/11/2013 01:52

If its not a dye filled one a smart knock with a blunt object will do the trick.

DaleyBump · 03/11/2013 01:58

I burned one off a pair of jeans. It was one of those rectangle ones with the big pin through it and the half circle on top (sorry for the awful description) so I melted the plastic on the circley bit, took out the springy thing that was holding the pin in and tada :) I would have taken it back but I was wrapping it up for DP's birthday about ten minutes before I had to give him it Blush

DaleyBump · 03/11/2013 01:59

What FromthePink said Grin

suntodayplease · 03/11/2013 05:02

Knowing JLs customer service I would have thought they will reimburse you for the expense of having to return to the store (I was given £10 for having to drive back to the one in my city) so whilst it's a pain to take it back you shouldn't be out of pocket. Hopefully you'll get a couple of the tea and cake vouchers too!

lifesgreatquestions · 03/11/2013 08:18

I'd take coat and receipt into nearest shop and ask them to remove it!

VivaLeBeaver · 03/11/2013 08:23

Next took a tag off a tesco top for me once. I set the alarms off as I went into next and when we looked in my bag found the top with tag. I had the receipt so they did it for me.

Dh has prised non dye ones off successfully.

ihatethecold · 03/11/2013 08:41

Zara took off a tag for me on some headphones. I was setting the alarm off.

Original poster
OwlCat · 03/11/2013 09:16

We live in a shop desert, so there's nowhere close open on Sunday that I can take it to. There's a smaller town about 1/2 hour away in the opposite direction without a John Lewis but would need to pay for parking there and if nobody will take it off, have then travelled for an hour and paid parking but still have the same problem. This is when I wish that I still lived in London Smile

OP posts:
BeaLola · 03/11/2013 10:13

OP - I would ring JL today to explain what has happened and the inconvenience -you are being put out a lot through no fault of your own plus they might want to look into why it didnt trigger alarms when you levt the store. Hopefully they will reimburse DH for time and effort.

Snog · 03/11/2013 13:52

This has happened to me before several times - though not JL. Shop assistants don't usually even bother to apologise for the inconvenience when I return the item for tag removal tbh.
Very annoying for you.

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