> > That's a valid case, and yes, in that scenario you get a 
> free memory 
> > stick, or more likely a free broken memory stick.
> 
> Why a broken memory stick?  I mean the person deliberately 
> destroys the RF tag and carefully puts the item in the middle 
> of the cart.
> 
> > Solutions to this already exist.  You can strengthen the 
> packaging to 
> > prevent damage to the tag, place the tag inside the 
> product, or make 
> > the package heavier.
> 
> Strengthening the package increases the cost of every item 
> sold, possibly more than the cost of losing a few to 
> shoplifters, and increases the environmental damage leading 
> to bad publicity for the system.  Besides which, I would 
> guess that there are many people on this list who could build 
> a pocket sized tag zapper that will destroy any tag exposed 
> enough to be read through the package.
> 
> If you embed the tag inside the product, you have the problem 
> of everyone within 10 feet knowing what expensive electronics 
> you're carrying.  Do you really want that mugger to know 
> you've got a brand new iPod video and expensive PDA Cellphone 
> in your pocket as you walk past while he's picking a target?  
> Even more benignly, when you walk into a store, do you want 
> them to know what you're carrying so they can target sales 
> drones on you based on that?
> 
> > The eventual solution will be the same as it is now; small, 
> expensive, 
> > fragile or otherwise special products are simply handled 
> differently.  
> > In Australia, you can't throw a carton of cigarettes in 
> your cart and 
> > have them crushed simply because they are only available behind the 
> > counter.  You can only buy them after you've purchased everything 
> > else.  Other items are in locked cases.  Special areas exist for 
> > certain products (store within a
> > store) and are paid for there.
> 
> These special areas cost the store more and take more time 
> from the consumer.  The only advantages anyone has cited for 
> this system are faster for the consumer and cheaper for the 
> store.  Needing more special areas makes it self-defeating.
> 
> > Holes exist in all systems, but a single edge case failing isn't 
> > enough reason to abandon it.  Bar codes are easily damaged, 
> scribbling 
> > on them with lead pencil causes the scan to fail (carbon + 
> IR light), 
> > people stick fake ones over the top, and aluminium cans are hard to 
> > scan.  The advantages still outweigh the hassles.
> 
> A damaged bar code will be noticed by the cashier scanning 
> every single item.  Even sticking fake ones on top have a 
> good chance of being caught by an alert cashier, and this 
> chance increases the risk to the shoplifter. 


None of those flaws are really specific to RFID, and all systems have trade
offs.  Small items are already encased in tough plastic clamshells to
provide bulk and to stop people removing items.  These measures already
increase costs.  Adding a slab of lead to the pack to increase weight won't
be a problem.

You are always going to have theft, from jackets with foil lined pockets to
hollow false legs to fake pregnancy bumps.  If the rate goes up in a certain
store or area of the store, then you re-think your procedures.

The 'special areas' already exist, and are often aimed at providing an
'experience' for the customer, with increased security a bonus.  Gaming is
typical.  Sales in these areas are low volume compared to the rest of the
shop, but higher profit margins.  Given two stores, and one has a 'gaming
lounge' up the back, which one do you visit?  You may not buy an X-Box, but
you'll pick up the bread on the way out.

Same as book stores, the one with the coffee shop & comfy chairs gets more
customers.  Sure, half of them are freeloaders who never buy, but people
attract people (positive feedback).  Sales & marketing trumps technical
every time.  Want your trade show booth to get more publicity?  Hire booth
babes with bigger tits than your competitors.  Some brands even budget for a
certain percentage to be stolen, it gives them free publicity and street
cred.  Look at the X-Box, PS3 and Wii stories of late.

Cigarettes in Australia is more a legal matter than anything else, with
sales restricted to those 18 and over.  The irony of having a 16-year old
sell you a pack of coffin nails is another matter.

You're also giving too much credit to the alert cashier.  The fake bar code
scam has been running for a long time, even before bar codes.  Ever noticed
that when you peel off a price tag, it splits into pieces?  That's to stop
you swapping price tags on products, or peeling off the tags in one shop,
sticking them onto the same product in a different shop, and walking out the
door.  "But I brought these over the road, see the stickers...".

The usual trick is to put the cheap code on the expensive item, ie a 20gig
iPod tag on a 60gig one.  Having an iPod come up as a box of cornflake just
may get noticed.  Or you place the cheap product on top of a pile of
expensive ones.  Stores train cashiers to scan each product, not scan the
top one and hit x10 (as you mentioned).  Falls over when the cashier is in
on the scam.

In a hardware store once the cashier scanned a length of aluminium angle,
not realising there were 4 of them.  I wasn't paying attention either, and
only noticed a week later when I wanted to know their price.  (The 'I always
check my receipt and so do all my friends' crowd take note  :) )

Interestingly, the customers will notice a fake bar code stuck over the real
one more than the cashier.  A while back two cereal boxes had their codes
mixed up at the printers, so the correct bar codes were printed and stuck
over the wrong ones.  Sales went down.  Why?  Customers thought 'what are
they hiding?' and refused to buy them.  (also adds to the theory that you
buy the package, not the product).

Tony

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