CD security strips

[wesbed]

I prefer the clear cases used on the RVGs. I don’t know why, I just think the clear cases are cooler than the old-fashioned black cases still used by Mosaic (not that it makes a difference regarding the music).

You know the security strip placed on inside of the CD case? I don’t know what it’s called. It looks like a mixture of black tape and aluminum. The strip is usually located on the inside of the CD case, below where the CD is stored.

Due to the see-through plastic used on the RVGs, if the security strip exists, you can see it stuck there, usually covering up part of a famous jazz player’s face or instrument. I’d rather not see the security strip smeared across the face of, say, Freddie Hubbard or Dexter Gordon. As a result, I have to pull the case apart, tear hell out of my thumbnail to remove the security strip, then snap the case back together.

Where do these strips come from? Are they inserted during the CD manufacturing/packing process? If I purchase my CDs from an internet vendor, rather than a retail store, would the security strips still be present? I’m thinking that certain production runs of CDs are done for the retail market and those are the CDs that have the security strips inserted.

It seems like I’m seeing more and more of these strips lately. Anybody else notice the same thing? Or, maybe I’m just purchasing too many CDs?

Edited March 26, 2004 by wesbed

[7/4]

I prefer the clear cases used on the RVGs. I don’t know why, I just think the clear cases are cooler than the old-fashioned black cases still used by Mosaic (not that it makes a difference regarding the music).

You know the security strip placed on inside of the CD case? I don’t know what it’s called. It looks like a mixture of black tape and aluminum. The strip is usually located on the inside of the CD case, below where the CD is stored.

Due to the see-through plastic used on the RVGs, if the security strip exists, you can see it stuck there, usually covering up part of a famous jazz player’s face or instrument. I’d rather not see the security strip smeared across the face of, say, Freddie Hubbard or Dexter Gordon. As a result, I have to pull the case apart, tear hell out of my thumbnail to remove the security strip, then snap the case back together.

Where do these strips come from? Are they inserted during the CD manufacturing/packing process? If I purchase my CDs from an internet vendor, rather than a retail store, would the security strips still be present? I’m thinking that certain production runs of CDs are done for the retail market and those are the CDs that have the security strips inserted.

It seems like I’m seeing more and more of these strips lately. Anybody else notice the same thing? Or, maybe I’m just purchasing too many CDs?

They're there to track your every movement after you leave the store!

[7/4]

No, really - store security.

[mgraham333]

If I purchase my CDs from an internet vendor, rather than a retail store, would the security strips still be present?

I've had them in cases from both internet and retail stores.

[7/4]

If I purchase my CDs from an internet vendor, rather than a retail store, would the security strips still be present?

I've had them in cases from both internet and retail stores.

Maybe they're inserted by the label and activated by the store?

Maybe the internet vendors have some kind warehouse security?

Is the answer encoded in Stonehenge as well? Roswell?

[Claude]

There's got to be a better name for those strips. What are they called in Japan?

[Jazzmoose]

They are already "activated" when they arrive in the store. They contain (and you're not gonna believe this shit, but here it is...) a low power RF transmitter that can be picked up by the equipment at the door of the store. You know, those stupid "tower" things. Drives us crazy, as they are SO easy to defeat. I'd detail a couple of ways (one extremely easy!), but Aric is on board....

[wesbed]

They are already "activated" when they arrive in the store. They contain (and you're not gonna believe this shit, but here it is...) a low power RF transmitter that can be picked up by the equipment at the door of the store.

These strips are placed in the CD case, at random, by the manufacturer? Is this done at the request of certain major retailers?

I buy most of my RVGs at Border's. Border's has the security sensors installed but only random CDs have the strips included. Not all CD retailers have the security sensors. With no security sensors, the security strips are of no value to said retailer.

[Jazzmoose]

The sensors themselves are extremely cheap, and the most cost-effective time to apply them (at least so they are difficult for a potential thief to remove) is at the time of manufacture, so they just go ahead and do it then. We used to add our own flat tag to the CDs, etc. that operated on the same system, but now with the manufacturer doing it for us, we save a lot of time.

[DTMX]

There's got to be a better name for those strips. What are they called in Japan?

Most Happy Funtime Retail Crime Device!

Not shitting: When I was in Japan I saw a toolbox and underneath the manufacturer's logo was stamped "For Your Luxurious Life" in cursive script.

[Alec]

I have to say that they piss me off because they can't be removed without damaging whatever is printed underneath. I feel that the manufacturer is selling me a marred product and they owe me at least a new insert if not more for the aggravation they cause me!

[Chuck Nessa]

I have to say that they piss me off because they can't be removed without damaging whatever is printed underneath. I feel that the manufacturer is selling me a marred product and they owe me at least a new insert if not more for the aggravation they cause me!

I've never seen one stuck on the paper, just the back of the tray insert.

Are y'all sure these aren't the new electronic "bar codes" Wal-Mart is demanding from suppliers. They want to walk past cartons of inventory an scan the results without searching for the printed codes.

[mgraham333]

Are y'all sure these aren't the new electronic "bar codes" Wal-Mart is demanding from suppliers. They want to walk past cartons of inventory an scan the results without searching for the printed codes.

Pretty sure. These things that are being described here pre-date the growing RFID craze.

[BERIGAN]

The real name for them is chiclets! At least that is what we called them at Borders! They didn't use to put them in the cases, cuz manufacturers didn't seem to care if the cd was stolen at the store level, somebody paid for the cd, so we wasted time putting cds in those hard to open cd...hell, I forget the name, just a case with a chiclet in it, to put over the cd you took home

Guess what...we used to sticker ALL hardback books at Borders, take the cover off the book, and STICK the tacky side to the spine of the book.

For the life of me, I don't know why people didn't complain, I guess not that many people took dust jackets off. Then, some bright bulb higher up got the idea of just dropping them into each and every Hardback, and trade paperback book! They didn't stay in when books were opened up, strangely enough!

I said to higher ups, that these things were a lawsuit waiting to happen...they were all over the floor, and some 2 year old is going to choke on one....several months later, we are now wasting time taking them out all of our books...guess a kid choked on one. So much cheaper to hire security in the long run one would think...

Edited March 27, 2004 by BERIGAN