Those there "plastic portals" at the cashier, in grocery stores...

[ZEGH8578]

what exactly do they scan?
people take for granted that they scan the bar code or something, but the bar code is a pain in the ass to even scan manually, they have to press the reader against the bars and stuff, and often try several times

theres no way that "plastic gate" will scan a barcode from there, especially if hidden under clothes.

so what exactly does it scan?

i suspect: nothing.

[midlifeaspie]

No idea what you are talking about

[ZEGH8578]

No idea what you are talking about

grocery stores here are fitted with a plastic "arch/gateway/portal" at the end of every cashier,
they supposedly prevent theft.

[Osensitive1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_article_surveillance

[ZEGH8578]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_article_surveillance

i see those in clothe shops, and video/cd shops.
but none of the items in the grocery store has any such tag.

thats why the only alternative i can think of is the barcode - or its just an illusion.

[Osensitive1]

read further down the page for RFID barcodes. The ones in the first photo are found in things like over the counter meds and some cosmetic products, though haven't noticed any in food. Would bet there's at least some in a store with an exit alarm.

[ZEGH8578]

read further down the page for RFID barcodes. The ones in the first photo are found in things like over the counter meds and some cosmetic products, though haven't noticed any in food. Would bet there's at least some in a store with an exit alarm.

but those bar code alarms are still stickered on, no?
if so, i can steal the entire grocery store - with the exception of shaving equipment

[Osensitive1]

They're all stickered on.

[ZEGH8578]

They're all stickered on.

thats what i figured.
so
its an illusion

like air port security :'D
"WTF!!! A BOMB!!?"
"OH YOU GOT ME!!! "

[Osensitive1]

Not an illusion. Try to outsmart it and likely to get caught. Could be any sticker; some are built into the packaging.


This tag is about 1.5 inches (3 cm) square. On the other side is an innocuous paper label that says, "Thank you for shopping with us!"
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/anti-shoplifting-device3.htm
 

[ZEGH8578]

Not an illusion. Try to outsmart it and likely to get caught. Could be any sticker; some are built into the packaging.


This tag is about 1.5 inches (3 cm) square. On the other side is an innocuous paper label that says, "Thank you for shopping with us!"
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/anti-shoplifting-device3.htm

i am familiar w those stickers. trust me, milk carton lacks it. every pizza, fish, meat, i have never seen those stickers in a grocery shop. never. theres nothing stickered on the packaging, that isnt original, or part of the packaging itself. and why would milk have a super-subtle built-in tag, while a dvd would have one clearly visible, stickered on?

only on shaving equipment, cd's, videos, clothes, non-grocery items.
but nonetheless they have those scanners in grocery stores.

[ProfessorFarnsworth]

Not an illusion. Try to outsmart it and likely to get caught. Could be any sticker; some are built into the packaging.


This tag is about 1.5 inches (3 cm) square. On the other side is an innocuous paper label that says, "Thank you for shopping with us!"
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/anti-shoplifting-device3.htm

Ah yes, but the thickness and texture of such stickers is a dead giveaway. I've noticed bottles of coke for instance, have only a printed-on barcode with no security sticker hidden. So yeah, some items are piss easy to steal.

[Osensitive1]

Also haven't noticed them on food. Your grocery only sells grocery items? Here's an article about a grocery chain using them.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-12-18/business/9203070396_1_food-lion-theft-shoplift

The company will tag items prone to theft -- meat, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages and health and beauty care items -- with a thin, clear label.

``Nobody steals a box of Wheaties or Cheerios,`` he said. ``People don`t take dog food.``

[ZEGH8578]

Not an illusion. Try to outsmart it and likely to get caught. Could be any sticker; some are built into the packaging.


This tag is about 1.5 inches (3 cm) square. On the other side is an innocuous paper label that says, "Thank you for shopping with us!"
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/anti-shoplifting-device3.htm

Ah yes, but the thickness and texture of such stickers is a dead giveaway. I've noticed bottles of coke for instance, have only a printed-on barcode with no security sticker hidden. So yeah, some items are piss easy to steal.

thats what i mean

i dont doubt _the system itself_

but groceries do not have these stickers fitted on them. in the grocery store - per se - it is an illusion

[Osensitive1]

An illusion of what?