Lowe’s is introducing a new anti-theft measure that requires tools to be “unlocked” at the time of purchase.
If stolen, the tools will remain disabled.
Lowe’s says that “Project Unlock,” which is being worked on at their “Innovation Labs,” uses low-cost RFID chips and “a novel use of blockchain” to “address power tool theft in customer-friendly ways.”
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They say that this is an “early stage” project, and that the anti-theft measure will be “virtually invisible to retail customers.”
Additionally, Lowe’s says that “at the heart of Project Unlock is the ability to activate a powered product after it has been legitimately purchased.”
They elaborate:
At the store, a customer takes the product to the register, gets the barcode scanned, and pays – just like they always do. A point-of-sale RFID scanner reads all tags in range, finds the tool with the correct serial number, and writes a unique secret key value that activates the tool for use.
As for the “blockchain” aspect:
Project Unlock also uses blockchain to create a secure, publicly accessible, anonymized record of authentic product purchases. Once a customer buys a product, that transaction is recorded to the blockchain.
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They say that these publicly-accessible records “can be used by retailers, manufacturers, and law enforcement to validate authentic purchases.”
Finally, Lowe’s says:
We see a future in which capabilities like Project Unlock can help the entire retail ecosystem create a great environment for our customers.
Discussion
The idea of point-of-sale power tool activation isn’t unique to Lowe’s. Home Depot announced plans for a similar system back in 2019, and again in mid-2021. At the time of this posting – January 2023 – there’s no indication that Home Depot has actually implemented anything yet.
See Also: New Home Depot Power Tool Activation Tech to Help Prevent Shoplifting
Lowe’s specifies that this is a “proof-of-concept system,” which means that it’s just an idea right now.
Lowe’s has also been trying to jump onto modern tech trends, as evidenced by their 2022 announcement about plans to enter the metaverse and issue virtual NFT wearables.
Now, with this Project Unlock concept, they’re talking about RFID activation and blockchain tech for anonymized purchase authentication.
How do you feel about this?
Curtis Hibbs
Its easy to look at the “happy path” and see how it is intended to work seamlessly. My question would be — what can go wrong?
Alex S
I’m concerned this could lead down a slippery slope with subscription based tools.
You have a handful of screws left on your deck before it’s all done and you hear…
“Please enter payment method into the chip reader to continue”
Bill
Amen
Trevor
Granted, it’s a step closer – but in the same breath, conventional deterrents to theft seem to be less than productive.
I suppose the next question is – can a tool be re-locked once unlocked? If the verification system fails, or glitches, will a tool need to be serviced to be reactivated?
Benjamin Bivens
I’m sure if you was to open it up you could surely find a way to bypass the RFID chip it’s just something else to go wrong after extended use
bj
No joke right there.
Jeremiah D
Exactly
Bill D
Or sell the tool to a friend and he gets a paywall
Joe Mendoza
I’ve bought plumbing items from Lowes. Kept all items in same bag with receipts from cashier. Returned to same original Lowes with unsed items. Two items were not accepted because the customer service said “Theses items were not bought here according to the barcode.” I replied with its on the receipt. No the employee was not going to accepted the items. Took me calling for a manager to get my monies back. When the barcode failed no recourse to resolve. Not even commonsense.
Fitz
Buying tools will be like buying a car before long u have to have title to it.Just saying
Lol
Brian
Yes this is my experience also. I only use a Lowe’s card and after a big project I bring stuff back. For whatever reason
Items don’t scan back to my card.
I get the bullshit cash cards. No accounting
For my project. The cash cards are bullshit.
My spouse partner is not able to use these. Total waste of time for Lowe’s cashier the and the customer .
Bill
So you’re buying tools for a job then using them on the job then taking them back? What a ***.
Stuart
Please keep it PG.
I agree – tool “renting” is not a practice to be proud of.
I got the feeling that Brian is talking about things like building materials. A lot of times over-buying is easier than trying to get materials right and having to visit the store multiple times mid-project. If someone has say 4 extra deck boards or bags of cement, it’s usually an easy return.
When we had our siding replaced, the supplier dropped off everything and then came back and picked up the extras, crediting the contractor for the returned materials. It’s a very common practice.
I have stacks of bathroom tile that will never be needed, but they don’t take up a lot of space. The same can’t be said about extra lumber, deck, siding, piping, or drainage materials.
John
That’s not what he said! Don’t be a “‘$%. I always overbuy because I live 65 miles out in the country. I ta k e back what I end up not needing.
Bob Hunnicutt
..so you also are a huge part of the theft problem..
Ricky
But not for Lowe’s. I have been given store credit for a vehicle jump/boost that was a gift & I returned because it was meant for a V6 and I had a V8. I showed my ID and was given store credit, which I was fine with. I guess till I went to use it a month later and was told it didn’t match my ID. The ID number was not scanned but put in by hand (unlike Home Depot). So I have a store credit of approx. $100 that I can’t use. I swear it’s a scam they make millions on a year. I’ve heard the same complaint from other Lowe’s customers. It’s quicker to scan barcode on ID then manually enter it like Home Depot does, but doesn’t make them the millions in yearly revenue (nationwide).
Thomas
Yeah, 6 months,2 years plus as your using the tool it locks up on you, then you have to bring it back to lows, Home Depot where ever, and have I’D that it yours to have them unlock it again, and you would never be able to buy or sell your power tools second hand again!, and if you do the seller would have to go to the store with the new buyer, and exchange i’d’s with stores to have it switched over. WOW, that’s a lot of S*@;# I would not want to get involved with.
Justin
Sounds like Elon Musk came up with this plan
Greg
Sounds like Justin needs to get phuqued.
Stuart
He’s mocking a public figure. You’re attacking another reader.
Please treat each other with respect.
Shane
Lol. Don’t rankle his fan boy apostles…
blocky
Lol Jesus H. Letting that sink in.
Alexis
That’s how Hilti is already, my jackhammer (TE-3000) locked automatically at 500 hours of use and required a dealer unlock (preventative maintenance as they say). Minimum 400$. Apparently at 400 hours a « service soon » light starts blinking and at 500 it’s disabled until brought into store
John
Why does a jackhammer need anything electronic installed in it?!! It’s a freaking big piece of metal with a bit and a pneumatic motor.
Mark Condrey
Those electric motors need carbon brushes on the commuter replaced at certain intervals. The transmission is also packed in grease with starts to harden and dry out as it undergoes heating and cooling. I am not justifying what was done by any means, just pointing out what I know about jackhammers.
John
I’ve never used an electric one, but only the pneumatic ones. Don’t mention the rock drill that spun me around!
Collin
Probably so Hilti can honor their 20 year warranty.
I’d say that warning light at 400 hours and a service lockout at 500 hours is a fair tradeoff in exchange for the 20 year 1 day turnaround warranty.
They probably don’t want someone using it for 1000 hours straight with 0 maintenance and then trying to repeatedly claim the warranty.
Guests
More a reply to Collin: I get the light but the lock is odd. It’s as if your car dealer trying to maintain the say 5 year warranty and service locked your car at 7500 mile intervals because preventive service needed or else. It’s kind of insane since a) servicing is optional, a person can choose to never change anything and go about their ways and b) the maker can just let it go and deny warranty service.
As in this case, I think the light should go on but each buyer should have a way to manually override that voids warranty automatically. A simple sequence of buttons or whatever. State it clearly in the manual and box and all paperwork. Go through a dealer service and it’s still warranted afterwards. I question the point of these long conditional warranties though, it’d make a lot more sense to offer extensions per service appointment given how they lock tools to prevent further damage or misuse. You’re basically renting then so the idea of a long warranty is useless.
It’s all about optics and implementation. The reasoning is fair for why, so how do you present it to people who bought this and now have a locked heavy thing that needs $400 to unlock?
Bill D
Or what if I open the tool to replace a part or just to look inside ? Does that lock the tool ?
Also if theft is such a big problem why not shift to online sales with no stock in store. Or have a sample tool but place the order in store
What’s next with chip tracking and control??
Craig
I would just like to point out that the thefts being discussed here are thefts of tools FROM USERS. They aren’t talking about people stealing these things from the stores.
Switching to online stock only turns Lowe’s into Amazon. It would do nothing to prevent other people from stealing your tools, other than guarantee that all tools sold from Lowe’s were activated with this system first…
Stuart
No, that is incorrect. Lowe’s plan is to help curb shoplifting.
TMQ
You could sell the tool with no issues.
Robert
I’m pretty sure this is a one time activation. To think that the tool is going to know that you sold or have it to another person would make me worry about the amount of common sense you and many others that have commented on this article have or don’t have. Use your brain. These stores are losing millions of $$$ due to theft. Oh and by the way these companies have to make that money back by charging more for the tools that are actually bought.
mp
As the old copypasta goes:
-2018
-wake up feeling sick after a late night of playing video games
-excited to play some halo 2k19
-“xbox on”
-…
-“XBOX ON”
-“Please verify that you are “annon332” by saying “Doritos™ Dew™ it right!”
-“Doritos™ Dew™ it right”
-“ERROR! Please drink a verification can”
-reach into my Doritos™ Mountain Dew™ Halo 2k19™ War Chest
-only a few cans left, needed to verify 14 times last night
-still feeling sick from the 14
-force it down and grumble out “mmmm that really hit the spot”
-xbox does nothing
-i attempt to smile
-“Connecting to verification server”
-…
-“Verification complete!”
-finally
-boot up halo 2k19
-finding multiplayer match…
-“ERROR! User attempting to steal online gameplay!”
-my mother just walked in the room
-“Adding another user to your pass, this will be charged to your credit card. Do you accept?”
-“NO!”
-“Console entering lock state!”
-“to unlock drink verification can”
-last can
-“WARNING, OUT OF VERIFICATION CANS, an order has been shipped and charged to your credit card”
-drink half the can, oh god im going to be sick
-pour the last half out the window
-“PIRACY DETECTED! PLEASE COMPLETE THIS ADVERTISEMENT TO CONTINUE”
-the mountain dew ad plays
-i have to dance for it
-feeling so sick
-makes me sing along
-dancing and singing
-“mountain dew is for me and you”
-throw up on my self
-throw up on my tv and entertainment system
-router shorts
-“ERROR NO CONNECTION! XBOX SHUTTING OFF”
-“PLEASE DRINK VERIFICATION CAN TO CONTINUE”
Bill
If a thief goes to the self checkout register (or even a regular register) scans and unlocks the tool and then doesn’t pay/runs for the door, what about that scenario?
MM
The obvious solution is that the unlocking doesn’t happen until after the transaction is completed. The same time the checkout prints out the receipt is when it would unlock the tool.
Ricky
Really? Lol
Richard
> a novel use of blockchain
These few words have me extremely skeptical of the competency of those putting together this program.
RICH
Blockchain indeed. I don’t see it being the be all,end all that some think it is. It fails continuously in real life.
I work for a DoD contractor in our warehouse which is set up for world wide distribution. USG and 5 of our suppliers set up a blockchain agreement and implemented it before including us in the loop. It failed at and point so badly we had USG auditors and federal cops going through our inventory to find the problematic items.
The second failure happened with Ford trying to blockchain repair parts for my Fusion PHEV and the dealership telling them to go pound sand. Took me a month to get my car fixed.
If they’re just trying prevent retail theft, just lock everything up behind cages and plexiglass like WalMart or European retailers such as Obi do. Adding RFID locks that have to be deactivated at point of sale is patently idiotic.
Too, these retailers have been discarding counter staff like worn out socks. So, now they’re going to add back employees just to run an activation scanner??
Yeah, honest, I don’t see this being implemented and the retailers keeping their customer base.
Josh R
Oh good, a deliberately introduced point of failure on my expensive tools. Even better, a remote-accessible point of failure that (presumably) leaves no trace! There’s surely no way that could cause a problem.
I’m sympathetic to retailers, who see huge losses from theft. From that standpoint this sounds extremely appealing, and if implementing something like this actually resulted in cost savings that got passed on to consumers it might even be a worthwhile trade off. But it seems more likely that this will just result in power tool brands getting a reputation for DOA tools and tools that fail without warning. Probably an increase in the number of problems with internet-purchased tools as well.
Josh R
To make matters worse, they said “Blockchain” AND it’s being implemented by Lowes. Either would be sufficient to convince me it’s probably not going to end well; the pairing is a guaranteed kiss of death.
Jp
I second, third, and fourth that. Lowes is a disaster
Munklepunk
Since it’s Lowe’s they won’t be able to find anyone to fix whatever problems arise anyway
TMQ
What’s your issue with Blockchain?
Mikedt
I can’t walk out of Walmart with a bottle of soda without being asked for a sales receipt yet somehow HomeDepot and Lowes won’t do the same for somebody walking out the door with a grand in power tools. I know 2 people who work at different HDs and they literally won’t do a damn thing if you filled up a cart and just walked out the door. The most they might do is photograph your vehicle as you drive away but nowadays most of these “professional” shoplifters obscure their license plates. I don’t get it. I kind of understand not wanting your employees assaulted because of a stop, but a trained/bonded security guard at the door would more than pay for himself with stopped shoplifters.
Bonnie
According to the HD employee subreddit they do have guards at some stores, but it seems it’s not worth it at most of them.
Theft vs deterrence is a pretty simple economic equation for them, and I expect they’ve run their numbers and it’s just not enough of an issue in the grand scheme (over $150 billion annually for the depot) to warrant addressing beyond some PR statements.
Nonameneeded
The employees can’t do anything because if they do try stop someone from leaving the store who is shoplifting they could also get into trouble. It’s the insurance companies that are making the rules not to stop shoplifters from leaving the store because if shoplifter did hurt someone in the store from someone trying to stop them. Well then now you have a chance of a lawsuit happening and insurance companies/ home Depot obviously wants to avoid those
Randy
Home Depot won’t allow you to handle any item over $150 until you’ve paid for it. They take expensive tools to the register and you pick them up there. I guess you could walk out with a bunch of tools that cost less than $150 each. The Home Depot’s around here typically have people at the door keeping an eye out. There was an older employee that was knocked down by a shoplifter last year and he subsequently died as a result of his injuries.
TMQ
Confrontation can have some serious unintended results. No tool is worth an employees life. If you want to hire security guards go for it but expecting employees to stop shop lifters is ridiculous and not worth the risk.
Jeremiah
Except it has already been in a majority of HD tools and not one person out of those owners has said anything. Hmm, looks like it’s been working quite well for them.
Bonnie
What are you talking about? Home Depot hasn’t actually launched this supposed remote theft deterrent.
Hunt
Read the article not just the headline. Home Depot still hasn’t implemented this even after three years of the announcement.
Chris
Go back and read the article, as you currently have an “F” for comprehension.
John
Heaven forbid we just prosecute thieves. Instead create a convoluted workaround so we don’t hurt peoples’ sensibilities.
Jim Cullen
Self check outs
No security
No consequences for stealing
Cut down work force.
Starting to really think all this theft talk is b.s. I really feel it’s the easy way for them to have write offs. Otherwise they would really do something about. Tool cage with a cashier built at the front of the store with a delivery window. No tools at all accessed to exit thru the store. If anyone did walk out the doors with any type of tool you’d know it was stolen.
I think these stores have the materials to do this. Just very dumb at the top.
Mike (the other one)
Might be cheaper to just lock the tools up and have someone working the tool department unlock them when needed.
While they are at it, they can make sure the prices are correct and stuff it stocked where it is supposed to be instead of piled up at the base of the rack.
Maybe they can clean the dust off of the Craftsman tools.
MM
Lowes is especially puzzling to me in this regard. My local lowes quite often seems to have more contractors from “MSI” re-arranging store isles, updating prices, and displays than they do actual Lowe’s employees in the store. I don’t understand the point of this. Surely the normal store employees could be tasked with doing that work, and that would have the side-effect of teaching said employees exactly where all the merchandise is located, what it costs, etc.
Thinking back to my first teenage job at a hardware store, I knew darn well where the various products were….because I was the one who unpacked them, applied the price stickers, and put them on the shelf. How can lowes, etc, expect their employees to be knowledgeable about their merchandise if they aren’t the ones handling and organizing it?
Dave
Modern logistics is too complicated for that, especially with high turnover rates. A lot of that space is leased and there are penalties for setting a planogram(the design) incorrectly. The people doing this are more specialized and have a higher level of pay and training, which is expensive. Target tried something almost identical to what you are describing a few years ago, and just recently ended the program because it was a fairly sizable disaster. Covid did play a role in that for a number of reasons, but it was never a tenable plan to begin with.
Mike
I live in a small town (12,000 population) in a rural area. We have both HD and Lowes in town. In the last 6 months, the HD has locked up the cordless power tools with non-functioning models for display. Lowes has not locked up their power tools.
Jeremiah
HD already has you request to open the cage and then that associate walks up to the counter with you and assists with the checkout, or hands it to a cashier to assist.
But HD has also been rolling this new technology out for a while now, and it seems to be working just fine.
Stacey Jones
Anonymized record? With enough data points you can identify someone and violate their privacy… Good thing I won’t be shopping at Lowes.
TMQ
How could it violate your privacy? If you’re truly that paranoid I assume you don’t use a credit card or carry a smart phone?
Daniel Reyna
Here’s the thing, if man can make it, man can break it. I’m sure someone will find a very simple way to bypass any lockout that exists and post it to YouTube in short time. This is only a temporary deterrent.
Nonameneeded
Could also go the other way around too. Someone figuring out how to lock them again and going around locking random tools
TMQ
Who would go around locking people’s tools?
MM
The same people who hack into people’s baby monitors for fun, trick people into bricking their phone or video game console online for fun, or do stupid things to get attention for social media views. Electric cars have been hacked before by pranksters or people trying to get attention, or who simply see it as a challenge.
Bonnie
This feels like an announcement to impress shareholders and nothing else. For any of it to matter they’d need the tool manufacturers on-board, and something tells me if SDB is going to add a killswitch it wouldn’t be Lowes’ proprietary tech.
At most we might see some kind of fancy dye-pack equivalent, but I doubt even that makes economic sense for Lowes.
Jared
As I’ve pondered it, I’m starting to think much the same – e.g. that this announcement was made to make it seem like Lowes had a plan, one that would solve theft and make the company more profitable in the future and therefore more attractive to shareholders.
First, the project seems too ambitious. Lowes is going to force it’s power tool manufacturers to insert this tech into the tools? Not impossible, but more complicated than the tags they currently hide in the boxes to ring the door beepers.
Second, think of the advantages. If it worked, they’d reduce theft, reduce the number of employees necessary to man the store (not only to stop thieves and man the doors, but just to unlock power tool corrals and assist customers), reduce liability from asking employees to confront thieves, etc. While those could all be reasons to actually implement the idea, they also make good marketing material.
Third, it seems like anyone who buys tools universally hates this plan. That’s a problem if Lowes goes ahead and implements it, but it amounts to nothing at all if they just plan to use it for promotional purposes and it never actually appears in the store.
Ricky
So u did or didn’t read the article and not just the headline?
Mike+McFalls
I don’t know if Home Depot ever implemented this, but I can say with certainty that over the past few years more and more products have been locked up behind cages in the tool aisles at my local Home Depot’s.
At first, they were rarely associates nearby to unlock tools for purchase; but I have seen in the past few months more associates nearby when I do want to purchase something.
Robert
Stuart, your lead in makes it sound like Home Depot is already doing this abomination. When did HD start? I bought a Dewalt trim router at HD in late November and didn’t have to do any of this. I just told an employee and they retrieved the box out of a looked cage.
This is bad in so many ways. I work security as a collateral duty, and one determinant of our life is once you are hooked up to the internet you have walked into the jungle and it’s just a question of how long until you get bit. Though the predators in this jungle are smart enough to bite such that you may not notice. I don’t want to do what Larry Ellison so blithely said about losing your privacy, “Just get over it.” Big box store employees don’t have the skill set to deal with blockchains, cyber security per NIST recommendations, and maintaining secure RFID. Lowes and HD are not going to get qualified employees for that at what they pay store employees. So where they say “virtually invisible to retail customers” that means they ARE imposing a burden onto their customers, loss of identity data. It will take more planning, but I will buy my tools through on line using my low limit, highly watched internet only credit card.
Stuart
This is what THD said in 2021:
Our point-of-sale security program is currently being tested in stores around the country, and customers have experienced smooth integration during transactions. Moving forward, The Home Depot plans to extend the POSA program to more stores and potentially more product categories.
OhioHead
Late circa 2001 DW started shipping to HD (most likely Lowe’s as well) the new cordless 3 speed drills w/ magnetic bar in the base of tools that were supposed to an anti theft deterrent (the drill had to be de magnetized at the point of checkout to turn off the alarm sensors at the door).
I am not sure this worked (at all), why Big Box retailers have not locked up tools in cages for years and is only a recent trend at HD makes no sense to me.
Yes locked up tools prevent “grab and go sales,” I “think” law abiding citizens won’t mind the extra wait for unlocking process and the tool given to a checkout person.
TMQ
You would be surprised, there is a good number of people who refuse to buy products that way. There usual ridiculous complaint is they don’t like being treated like a criminal.
MM
I don’t like it at all. Like others have already said this is just asking for trouble, both with malfunctions and with potential privacy concerns.
I understand that theft is a concern for retailers but I think that is easily addressed by simply having employees monitor the power tools. My local HD has told me multiple times they have a theft problem with power tools, yet every time I visit I see a remarkable number of employees just standing around near the main entrance apparently doing nothing while it is hard to find one in the tool section.
If a store has a serious theft issue then trained security guards are in order.
Robert
Stuart, I had another thought. I think you had a thread where the readers gave their favorite retailers. As a public service in light of this Lowes and HD move, can you set that up as a constant link at the top of your home page please? Or ask for readers to give the names of their favorite on-line retailers and do the constant link.
TMQ
What’s the point of your suggestion?
Stuart
Because I’ve done this before, and it creates a snapshot of reader sentiment towards different tool retailers.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/tool-guide-where-to-buy-tools/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Revisiting the topic regularly can bring changing sales or customer service experiences to light.
Robert
TMQ, if you are asking me, Robert, then my point is as follows. For those that hate all the potential drawbacks of this technological solution to theft, sharing on-line retailers helps give alternatives to HD and Lowes.
fred
I can see the dilemma. HD and Lowes want to make their stores a friendly and easy place to shop for their honest customers. They want their employees (although I can never seem to find one at my local Lowes) to help customers with their purchases not police their merchandise. They want to avoid confrontations and possible harm to their employees or upset to other customers. Cameras in the tool aisles don’t seem to work. Locking tools up makes the store look like a fortress not an inviting place to put hands-on tools and then purchase what you want. Cables and security tags don’t stop the thieves. Dye packs when deployed would cause other problems and litigation. Armed guards at every entrance would also have issues. Catching the thieves in the act would be OK – but revolving door courts and slaps on the hand justice probably won’t stop them. So, trying something new has appeal.
Jared
That’s what I was thinking too. They’re trying to solve a problem. Like many anti-theft endeavors, it will probably inconvenience many to solve a problem caused by a few.
Is this the best solution? Sure seems complicated and likely to cause problems to me.
What else is in their arsenal?
– They can lock things in tool corrals, making it hard to look at them and requiring an associate to assist for any purchase. I’m not sure how well it works either – maybe some just grab and walk away after a tool is retrieved, forcing a confrontation.
– They can put security tags of various designs in or around the box. That makes it more noticeable when someone leaves with a tool (and it my experience, it doesn’t much matter if they paid or not), but that also requires confrontation.
– They can adopt a Costco-like process where display boxes don’t hold products and you don’t get the tool until after you pay and someone retrieves it from storage. It’s slow and annoying, but probably the safest process.
This “block chain” activation process probably has some appeal when compared to the alternatives. If it works smoothly (which I admit is doubtful) and without failure (also dubious), then there’s no need for confrontations, extra staff or delays at checkout.
John
This is a stupid tech solution for a problem that can be solved much more cheaply. I’m saying this as someone who has worked in tech for decades and young people with eyes glowing from the thought of making this new cool thing are the problem. Why don’t they go back to the way Sears had a cashier in the department and keep the damn tools locked up. I’ve never been to either a HD or a Lowe’s where the tool section was packed with people.
Tim D.
Exactly this.
Lowe’s has already implemented a complicated locker system for online pickup. Why not take the same system and have someone load power tools into said lockers when you purchase them at the register.
I personally feel like leaving well enough alone and prosecuting thieves is the obvious answer, but corporations are really big on not hurting “feelings” at the moment.
John
I agree with you on why not just catch and jail them, because that’s the only deterrent that breaking the law is available. They could also secure the tools in a cage with a counter staffed by someone who can answer questions by having a knowledge of the products, but I’m just thinking crazy thoughts here.
TMQ
Catching them is not as easy as you make it out to be. For starters you can’t really do anything until they leave the store with the item. Second security guards are expensive and still won’t catch everyone. Third more product is stolen by employees then shoplifters.
Jared
I think there’s two reasons they’re “looking past” the obvious solutions:
1) employees are expensive. Salaries are one thing, but benefits, sick days, scheduling, workplace injuries, etc. all add expense on top. If you had a working anti-theft system that is replicable for every store, it doesn’t need to be recruited, hired, taught, retained, accommodated…
2) liability. It is really tricky to navigate lawful use of force and it puts your employees at risk. Injury lawsuit damages can be wildly unpredictable depending on the nature and duration of the injury.
Your employee doesn’t need to be entirely wrong to engage your vicarious liability as an employer either. What if your employee stops a shoplifter by tackling them to the ground as the person tries to flea and the thief sustains head trauma. Even if the stop was lawful, a court might find the force was excessive and Lowes should be liable for not properly training its employees.
None of that is a defense of this blockchain RFID tech as the solution, but I think it must be appealing to large retailers.
L
I think I’ll just take care of the tools I have and if they break my money will go to whoever isn’t pushing this useless garbage, lock up the tools and hire security if you want to keep the stuff from getting stolen.
Morons out here trying to re-invent the wheel when really they need to go back to cutting off thieves hands and you’d see the crime rate plummet, you can thank your modern “soft on crime” politicians for creating this environment.
TMQ
You realize if this was implemented you would never even know. Right?
Tom M.
So what happens for tools sold on secondary marketplaces after the initial purchase? A lot of folks sell tools on eBay, Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, etc. if they are only needed for a few jobs or when selling an older model if they feel it is more beneficial to upgrade to the latest generation when it becomes available. If the expectation is that this blockchain technology will be used to record proof of ownership, will it be easy to transfer this proof of legitimate ownership downstream?
I hope Lowe’s is thinking about how solving one problem today might create more problems downstream.
John
I’m sure that the 250 page terms of service for the tool will explain the resell clause.
Nathan
Yeah short of them getting in bed with both SBD and TTI I don’t seem them using either companies tool connect/one key for this.
what I see is them taking a block putting it on the battery terminal of the tool such that it won’t unlock without the RFID code string passed at the cashier stand. BUT golly gee how is that getting in the box with the tool. and how much more will this cost me. Today there is already a divide in the cost at lowes vs say Ohio Tool or Acme, CPO etc. so now there is another 10 dollar widget in the box?
OR will lowes only do this with their brand favorites – IE kobalt and Flex, and maybe EGO and a nod to Skil. IE the chevon brand items that they are joined at the hip with.
Meanwhile it’s funny. Sams, Best buy, and other stores they do this card pull system if you want a high dollar item. Lowes used to do that, like 15 years ago.
MM
Anybody else remember “Service Merchandise” or BEST?
MotorCityCraftsman
Yes. Have a manager retrieve the small expensive merchandise for a cage after the sale is complete. Costco does this with certain expensive products. Store layout would have to change.
Ricky
Lol, BEST. I love it. I remember the conveyor belt as a kid waiting for what my parents purchased to come down it. Damn I’m getting old.
Steve
If they implement at Lowes and HD successfully, thieves will target contractors/pros even more as they will have already unlocked tools.
As a side note: Good job Lowes! NFT wearables for The Metaverse? That’s exactly what your customers are clamoring for especially the pros. 😒
Jeremiah
Why are your tools unsecured?
Steve
“Unlocked” as in “activated” not unsecured. “Unlocked” is the language of this proposed system.
Les
Sounds great… until there’s a failure and all of a sudden your legally purchased tool just stops working. I have no issue with anti theft efforts, but when it’s something that can cause the product to become non functional in the case of a failure it is, itself, a fail!
Jeremiah
It has been in TTI tools for a few years now. Have you been hearing anyone complain about this failing part? No.
Jorn
This was probably already mentioned in a comment but I don’t think this approach actually solves a problem.
Here’s the key:
“activate a powered product after it has been legitimately purchased.”
Thieves are mostly stealing these tools and selling them on Facebook/Craigslist etc as unopened gifts etc.
It’s just going to screw over whoever is purchasing these stolen tools, not the thieves.
Bonnie
Lowes certainly wouldn’t be shedding tears if this harmed the secondary market.
Jorn
Great point.
Jeremiah
Do you ever buy a tool from someone and just walk away? You never test the tool before you pay?
Jorn
I don’t test the tool if it’s unopened in the original packaging.
Preston Snyder
Not to defeat the reason, cuz I think something needs to be done with theft, but I could easily take it apart and remove whatever device they use to interrupt the power. I think it should be moulded in the plastic or inside the motor itself with the production of the tool to effectively work.
PETE
Personally….. i wouldn’t mind if they had something like a gun counter. All the expensive power tools are behind a counter, you have to ask to see one of them.
My biggest be gripe is needing a tool, that’s locked up, and you have to go on a quest to find an employee to unlock it… then they have to hold it while you check out.
Jeremiah
To an extent I get a little frustrated, but I’m typically able to find someone in a reasonable amount of time. I just remind myself that this keeps theft down, which also helps keep cost down.
Chris
Jeremiah, are you a bot or just a keyboard warrior?
You seem to have the answer for almost every comment on this post.
Also, the way you respond to everyone from so high up on that horse to all these lowly peasant idiots…
Brian
I will *NEVER* purchase anything like this. If it can be unlocked, that means it can be locked in the future, either through malfunction, malfeasance or maliciousness.
There is no way in hell that I will give a manufacturer or retailer that level of control over my purchases.
Jeremiah
If you’ve bought any power tools from HD in the past 2 years, you already have. It isn’t some sort of conspiracy to take over your tools. Once it has been activated, it is permanent. You aren’t seeing thousands or even 1 person reporting that their tools no longer work due to this small device.
Brian
Absolute bullocks.
It has not been widely deployed, if at all.
The reason you’re not seeing reports is because this system is *NOT* in place as of yet.
And there’s no permanence with any electronic switch. If something ships disabled and is enabled at point of sale, it most certainly can be disabled again.
Jeremiah
Heck, it’s in all TTI tools anyway, so no Metter where you buy the tools, it is in there already.
Stuart
Do you have proof of this?
Brian
No, they don’t, because they’re spouting nonsense.
It has *NOT* been rolled out universally anywhere yet.
TMQ
He didn’t say universally
JR Ramos
I’ll echo the comments about about simply securing the product and staffing the store. Done that way for years and it’s quite effective as long as a company takes the time to train/monitor their managers and those employees. Not only does it work, it benefits the community and our country because it provides actual human jobs – which so many stores have rather ruthlessly eliminated in recent years in favor of robotic checkout kiosks. And what happened? Theft increased greatly…look at Walmart’s recent claims and news articles about that.
The R&D and implementation costs of an RFID system like this probably dwarf the costs of wages and benefits for human employees, at least for a couple years.
Just give people jobs and train them. I’d much rather see young adults working these sorts of jobs that do provide some education and useful experience for their lives ahead rather than so many dubious e-jobs these days. You pick up all kinds of knowledge working in stores like this, even the big box deserts. Not to mention the human interaction experiences.
Back in the day it was simple and it worked – keep the tools near the cash registers (assuming you have humans there that can lend an eye), make customers interact with an employee to get their hands on the items worthy of being locked up while keeping display units available to touch, and walk that product to the next secure location (without making someone feel like an escorted prisoner). Then you just need to keep the same attention to your contractor desk and the receiving dock employees.
Jeremiah
Wages and taxes on those wages and insurances on employees are the highest cost to all businesses.
However, the reason these stores are moving towards self checkout is not to necessarily save a dollar. It is because less and less people are applying for and showing up to do these jobs. In the last 3 years alone it has been increasingly harder to find workers.
But in the end i do agree that having the cage and an employee man, then escort the tools to the checkout and make sure that they actually pay for the tools is the better way to go.
Bonnie
It’s easy to find workers. It’s hard to find workers will to work for how little most retail pays and how poorly they treat their staff.
Jeremiah
Is this really a deterrent? Dumbasses will still steal them. Then once they get them home, they’ll sell them and that last guy will be stuck.
Craigslist and FB Marketplace et al are flooded with stolen tools.
While I am all for stopping theft and keeping tool proces down, they need to just continue locking these tools in cages, making the associate unlock and then escort the tools to the register.
Benjamen
As a consumer this will be a pain. I haven’t heard anything about actually verifying the tool works after they activate it.
So here’s the process:
I buy a tool at the checkout and some authorized person waves a wand over my bare tool to activate it. There’s NO FREAKING WAY I’m leaving that store without unboxing the tool and verifying that it works. Are they going to accommodate that? Are they going to have charged batteries available for me to test the tool I’m buying? Or are they just expecting that I’m going going to take on the additional risk of the tool not working when I need it.
This seems like more of a hassle than actually implementing other anti-theft deterrents.
Jason McDaniels
My wife did some winter shopping about an hour from our house. Got home and one of the boots she bought had a security tag poked through it. I want about to make her do another 2 hour round trip back to the store so I had to monkey around with it for about 30 minutes to get it cut off without damaging the shoe.
Now imagine this except you are on a Jobsite about to start ripping the plywood you just unloaded.
Or if I buy my dad a Christmas present so I don’t want to open everything and verify it works but he lives 3 hours from a Lowe’s.
Turning tools off and on (one-key etc) for security is cool, but there’s gotta be a better way for retailers.
Chris
Not only that, but when you walk back in the other entrance after discovering it doesn’t work, some misinformed customer service rep is bound to accuse you of theft or ask accusatory questions.
Bill
During the holidays, two times after making Lowes purchases at the self check out (as most places seem to be pushing now), I had workers come up to me, go through my stuff, and manually deactivate security tags on things that I had purchased. What happens when someone is not “johnny on the spot” with their duties? You get home and your brand new tool won’t work. This is a nightmare in the making.
MtnRanch
Two points:
1. I’ve spent my entire life in Information Technology and have found that “copy protection schemes” bring more grief to the legitimate user than they ever do to the criminal. Harbor Freight tools may become more popular since they aren’t worth stealing and therefore won’t be victims of this scheme.
2. People in jails don’t shoplift. Stop letting these people get off scot-free. Shop lifting wasn’t near as popular before California made it legal and other states’ DAs quit prosecuting it.
Jason McDaniels
Have any source that shoplifting is legal in California? Because, no it’s not. Most states it was a felony over $500 and with inflation some states have moved that number up.
Trust me I hate thieves but it also comes down to the time and money associated with prosecuting small dollar value crimes via court fees, lawyer fees the judges times, calling witnesses, etc.
And put them all in jail? 3 hot and a cot is a heck of a lot more expensive too.
Don’t get me wrong it’s certainly an issue, and this is one possible solution, but the reason it’s possible is because now we have Home Depot and Walmart instead of mom and pop stores. I worked at a small hardware store and theft didn’t exist past maybe some bulk chain or screws that got counted wrong.
MtnRanch
The effect of raising the misdemeanor threshold to $1,000 per incident and then not stopping or prosecuting thieves has effectively made shoplifting legal in CA.
The number of people doing this is actually very small. You wouldn’t have to lock up very many to put a serious dent in the problem. We saw this when the “three strikes” law was first implemented – crime dropped precipitously but rose again when the bleeding hearts started redefining what a “strike” was to release the criminal back to the streets.
We either have to put these people out of business or get used to subsidizing their activity through high prices.
Unfortunately technical solutions have a long history of failing.
DRT42
Well, basically yes. Stealing is basically legal in Cali. I recently ordered some automotive parts from a California vendor. The theft level is so high in Cali, that the vendor insisted that I : 1. take a picture of myself and e-mail it to them. 2. Take a picture of my driver’s license and e-mail it to them, and 3. have the item delivered to the address on my driver’s license, instead of my billing address (I use a PO box for billing). All of this was because of the massive theft problem in the great state of California, because of decriminalization of theft. Call me a liar, except items 1, 2, and 3 happened to me. That’s a fact, Jack. Have you ever had to send a picture of yourself to a vendor because the locals steal so much ? How would you like that ?
John
I ordered something once from a TikTok ad and it had a fake Chinese shipping track service and went first to a Chinese person in California, then I cancelled the charge on my credit card without issue. Eventually I received a set of wooden chopsticks and a wooden spoon from China. California is turning into another Chinese scam site.
Mark Carter
If this is implemented on a January 1st. The thieves will figure out a way to override the chip inside on January 14th and it will spread among their Network like wildfire. The only one inconvenienced by this will be the honest consumer.
Joe
Just build cages for all the power tools and hire a guy at the exits.
Justin
This won’t stop theft. The companies will outsource anything with the technology and those people will leak out a jailbreak just like every other device currently made. So people will still jack the tools and then jailbreak it before it hits Marketplace/Craigslist.
Steven+B
As a cybersecurity expert, my concern is potential vulnerabilities. If a tool can be remotely locked for legitimate purposes, how long before an attacker figures out how to lock it for malicious reasons? If you follow the news, attacks and break-ins happen all the time and I know firsthand that neither Lowes nor any major tool vendor are top-notch software shops. Securing accounts is tough to do. Ransomware impacts many shops with more experience and resources.
However, my biggest concern is that there are more effective ways to solve this problem. You’re introducing a potential vulnerability and complexity and probability for remote attackers or general malfunction when tools can just be locked behind cabinets.
You’re adding risk and cost to my tool…and not giving me anything in return. I’d be happy to pay a few dollars more for something simpler and more reliable.
Bob+Hinden
Last year I purchased a pin nailer at HD. I had to wait a long time to get someone to unlock the place where it was stored and bring it to the cashier.
I do hope they do something better than locking up all of the power tools. Like others here I am skeptical of anything that mentions blockchain. I also note, that doing something as described in the article will require a computer in each power tool.
Rico
Does this mean the tools are now automatically registered for warranty purposes? Because sounds like BS if I still need to go online and register after blockchain has been used to authenticate my purchase.
Jeff R
If only they could do the same to Romex maybe our local Lowe’s and Home Depot will no longer have to keep it all on top shelves. Speaking with an associate they said people were pulling up in cars running in, filling a cart and running out. No one, of course, would stop them.
Welcome to 2023. And now you might also get a clue as to why so many people are now selling Romex on Facebook Craigslist etc. People complain all they want about Lowe’s doing this but there is much of a victim of our laws and our society as anyone else.
Aaron SD
An alternate title is Lowes will enable purchased tools. I’m also concerned how this works as I’m sure there will be people trying ransoms ware, locking them later.
The Costco approach of picking up a cardboard picture and getting the tool only after paying will help – keep the tools locked until paid.
HD has some Klein stuff locked but I don’t see anything preventing someone asking for one or two then walking out with it.
It does stink we are where we are with this. Also wondering how much lower prices could be without all the stealing.
Daniel L
Looks like a busywork project intended to mollify share-holder’s hand-wringing over shrinkage.
Cush job if you can get it. Slap some buzz words together, write up a SOO that sounds plausible but add in technobabble magic that requires too much infrastructure for too few products. Imply some benefit for the customer, *as if* we would actually be able to use the system in case of personal thefts…or even lower pricing (hah!) from the retailer. No one ever actually expects you to build it.
Color me skeptical. I’m sure they’ll keep working on something like this, but the downside risk they’d be taking on if the system worked anything less than perfectly and seamlessly is just…yeah. Not good. Brands that didn’t buy into the software bricking would have an advertising *field day* at the first sign of trouble.
But if you’re heavily invested in HD or Lowes…and you want to know that they are maximizing their profits because capitalism, and the CEO can distract you by jangling keys over here…
*jingle jangle*
SamR
Thank you in advance for creating tools jailbreak business.
JR Ramos
An aside comment on theft and locking up the products. A couple months ago I went to a Home Depot to pick up the perennial “holiday special” twin pack of Milwaukee vac filters. I looked everywhere I couldn’t find them, just the single boxed version, and they weren’t in the location the site said they should be in. So an employee looked for a few minutes and then discovered that they were locked in the cage along with so many power tools.
Long story short, he said that while it did seem ridiculous to lock up $20 filters, it was almost certain for them that “anything Red walks…”, as in out the door. But he walked me to the front. Actually the first time in HD that has ever happened to me but I was fine with it.
Frank D
I can understand it, but I don’t like it. And what’s to say people won’t find a way to bypass it?
How much time is this going to waste buying tools? Oh need your driver’s license, upc code, serial number, … I am not going to be surprised when you cannot check out with your purchases, because the line is jacked since Joe can’t finish his purchase, because the activation computer is down, or the internet isn’t working, … Please come back tomorrow.
And next up the tools will need to check in every few months??
Our rural HD & L’s now have the cages around most of the tools. I can’t imagine why, as I have never seen any anomalies ( unlike at Walmart ), so I guess it has been a top down decision that all stores must have them. There’s another five to ten minutes or more of their life that no purchaser ever gets back … because the person with the cage keys is not around.
For starters, if they want to reduce theft, instead of this crypto block thing; put more staff around! Instead of now one manned register at the checkouts and one at the pro desk. Plus stores should activate the anti-theft thingies inside the box. Countless times I buy tools and the anti theft is not even activated?! Unlike the $50 faucet I bought recently. Or the water filter cartridges.
Hon Cho
Frank said: “Our rural HD & L’s now have the cages around most of the tools. I can’t imagine why, as I have never seen any anomalies ( unlike at Walmart ), so I guess it has been a top down decision that all stores must have them. There’s another five to ten minutes or more of their life that no purchaser ever gets back … because the person with the cage keys is not around. ”
The HD closest to me doesn’t have tools locked up but they have locked up Romex and other wiring in a cage. I think the deterrents are being put in place first where problems are greatest. Our area has a high median household income and property crime, while certainly not absent, is a lot lower than in more rural areas in Alabama , Mississippi along with Memphis, TN where I have family members. As for Wal-Mart, down South I’ve been in stores where things like car light bulbs are locked up whereas they’re out in the open at Wal-Marts near me.
Micheal
Here is an easier way to deal with the problem. Pay your Staff more money, hire staff they do not suck. Secure your facility and stock. We should not all have to pay for the lawless states of the Pacific Coastline. If they do this, I will never buy one.
eddie sky
Sue em.
This is not going to end well. You think HD and Lowes (both have had online accounts breaches), are going to secure your tool information?
And you think it will have some easy number to call, when your are using a tool and it locks? Because some $12/hr employee sausage thumbed the code?
Brian
Face it. This isn’t about theft control.
This is phase 1 of subscription-based tools.
Low entry cost, recurring yearly (or monthly) activation/maintenance fees, for a continuous revenue stream.
Literally any other (or EVERY other) theft mitigation strategy is cheaper and more effective.
This won’t stop tools from being stolen from retail establishments.
Mike
Exactly. They are trying to do it with cars
Jeff R
Except it’s a lot more difficult to start a new car company than it is to start a new tool company. Don’t worry, they’re not coming for our tools.
Mike
Go to ebay or net 6 months from now and there will be a hack to make the tool work.
KokoTheTalkingApe
I share the concerns others have mentioned, but further, this system means that the only “legitimate” owners will be ones who bought tools specifically from Lowe’s. If you buy a tool used, or from some other vendor than Lowe’s (as I understand it), that purchase won’t be recorded in that blockchain, and your right to own that tool might be threatened.
If the goal is reduced theft, I don’t know why they can’t do what other retailers have done, which is install more cameras, hire more security, and use anti-theft tags which are deactivated when purchased. Lowe’s has a valid interest in what tools leave their own stores, and whether the tools are stolen or paid for. They DON’T have a valid interest in what happens after that, or where else tools may be sold.
Ct451
It solves nothing. It adds to the cost of doing business and Lowes will continue to lose to theft the same amount per store. Piss off a thief with their heart set on a tool, they will be back to break them up in the store or get a job there to activate them or some other work around. Maybe steal two of them and sell just the batteries. The opportunities are endless.
Plus some customer eventually gets a “dead” tool and the cost to make it right will cost more. I got deliveries with the stupid magnetic protection still on the bottles 3-4 times. You add a layer of human in your security idea and it’s not so secure anymore.
Ryan+H
You know what would work way better?
– Put all the tools behind a locked cage.
– You walk up, punch in what tools you want into a kiosk, and verify ID (or use the applicable Lowes app)
– An automated robot grabs the tools, puts them in a bag, and you walk to the cashier to pay…OR you just pay right there and the robot tapes the box shut and puts “paid” on the outside.
Expensive for the robot, but once you have one its the perfect employee that doesn’t take smoke breaks, snort cocaine, show up late, or even yell at Karen when she demands a manager. Probably far cheaper than some blockchain craziness.
Why can’t we do that instead of tagging people’s devices?
MM
You don’t even need a robot. Have it work like an “automat” or those high-end vending machines you see in airports for expensive gifts. It is basically a wall of lockers with clear doors so you can see the merchandise inside. You pay, the door unlocks, you retrieve your merchandise.
xu lu
Just say no to any product that requires internet activation that dorsnt need it. Smart electric, gas and water meters, tool activations, autos etc etc. If it can be provisioned on line or with bluetooth, it can be shut off on line without consent. And used tools and returns, God help the buyer of those. Blockchain, yeah i want my PII in the cloud for some retailer who will always find a way to do whatever they more cheaply and likely less securely.
No one
Anyone have tips on building a home addition? I need more space to store my smart guns and blockchain-activated tools.
gene
So when you dont bow the knee to your dear leader, they will not only turn off your CBDG, your tool gets locked up. I love it
Lol
More like it will be dont buy it, hack it.
Mark M.
I would opt for another brand/store before I participated in something like this. What was locked and unlocked could be locked again, whether it’s nefarious or accidental, I don’t care.
Some of these retailers…they struggle with the basics but then want to have Blockchain! and Tech Buzzword Bingo! Wears me out.
Jack-of-all-Trades
Just Say No – unless you want a future where you pay upfront for the hardware and then must pay monthly for the “software” that will let your tool continue to operate.
Imagine a future where your circular saw stops working after 4 years because it is “out of support”, or your drill stops working in the middle of a big job because you did not purchase the unlimited use plan.
I agree with Alex who said that he was “concerned this could lead down a slippery slope with subscription-based tools.”
Kevin P.
I think it’s a positive idea. Imagine a thief breaks into a work truck and steals the tools. You make a police report and that enters the block chain and disables the tools. You would still have to go thru insurance for reimbursement but eventually thieves will realize these are items that have no value. Hopefully it lowers the crime rate.
Collin
I have a better idea.
I know Amazon and other retailers have been experimenting with getting rid of checkouts completely. Simply put the items in your cart and walk out the store. No need to scan items. The cart knows what’s in it and charges you accordingly when you exit the store.
Flip this idea around. You have to present a credit card to enter Home Depot. No card, no admittance.
Then, whatever tools you fill your cart up with, and walk out with, will be charged to your card.
John
Then we’re back to a cashless society.
gene
That’s the plan.
fred
Credit/Debit Card only sales will have an impact on overall sales. In my neck of the woods – the “cash only contractors” probably make up a good percentage of the work force. These are also the “contractors” who frequent the daily worker shape-ups in the HD parking lots. The cash economy persists among low-wage-earners and the “off-the-books” (aka pay less tax) part of our economy.
Mark
This is an insane solution to their shrinkage problems. When I buy a tool, it’s mine. I don’t want it unlocked, nor do I want to worry about it locking up when I need it.
Figure out a better product placement strategy. Restrict access to the tools area if need be but don’t put your retail burden on me after I’ve bought a tool!
Robert
Kind of cool but power tools aren’t that technologically complex. They’re mostly just a motor and a battery. Couldn’t someone just open it up and remove the electronics?
Stuart
Modern power tools are far more than just a motor and a battery. Especially with brushless motors, there’s a lot going on inside. And if the activation sensor or circuitry is embedded within the electronics assembly, removal could range from extremely difficult to impossible.
James Daniel
This would appear to be a high tech solution in search of an application. Companies regularly attempt to sell the newest high tech gadgets as the solution to a problem such as thefts, for instance. In spite of the massive numbers of cameras in every store, they are still experiencing increasing thefts because thieves figure out how to defeat the system.
Walmart discovered (then forgot) years ago that the key to stopping thefts was to have associates on the floor in all departments and to have them personally greet all customers within 6 feet of you. This not only deters thefts by letting the thieves know that you are watching them, it gives associates a good look at customers to identify them if they do get caught stealing and it helps out business by giving assistance to legitimate customers.
The real problem is that America needs to stop fostering an entitlement mentality and start teaching children to respect other people’s property. Stealing is just another consequence of teaching socialism because it spreads the cost of your theft across all of the customers who shop at that store.
Bob Hunnicutt
.. require a membership to enter, along with a credit application and you eliminate most of the thieves….tracking the high dollar and unpaid for items becomes much easier..
Landon
My issue with using RFID chips to activate a tool is how simple it would be to work around.. Most of the tools be it a saw or a drill are basically a motor with power. It would be super easy to remove whatever activation chip they put in it… Sounds to me like an excuse to not lock the tools up at the stores..
Franco
I didn’t read through all of the posts, too many, but what I did read, most are concerned about all the issues that can come up from the consumer side.
I look at it from the side of the thieves. Having worked in computer and software sales for years, every system they come up with to stop software copies/theft is always overcome by those that want to find a way.
Same goes with this, even if it is perfected in future and consumers never have issues once they have made their purchase…from the thieves side, they will find a hack to disable the system, or input something to enable the tool like it had been purchased.
Like NFL fans know, an new offence rules, then the defense finds a way to overcome it, till the next new offence, till the next defense and so on.
The crooks always find a way to overcome whatever, especially electronic anti-theft measure is put in place.
Pawnbroker
I have to say that I can understand exactly why they want to put this stuff in place. As a pawnbroker I can assure you that people are robbing Lowes blind. I see so much stuff that comes in brand new, that I know is from
Lowes, people are trying to sell. Lowes has a terrible problem with theft and they need to do something about it. Just the amount that I’ve seen has to be in the hundreds of thousands. It’s unfortunate for honest consumers but just like everything else low life thieves who would rather steal than work ruin it for everyone else.
Kevin
I think people are blowing this out of proportion. An RFID key used for initial unlock isn’t really a big deal. As far as tech goes it’s straight out of the Stone Age; it’s not quite as high tech as Lowe’s wants it to sound. The reason it’s still relevant is because in terms of function, it’s a pretty bulletproof technology. An RFID based one time unlock isn’t what I’d consider a slippery slope at all. Only time will tell if it’s an effective deterrent, because as with most anti-theft measures, it only stops your honest criminals. RFID is good because it’s simple, it can also be defeated relatively easily to someone who knows what they’re doing. It’s safe to assume they won’t be using security level RFID protocols so I’m guessing defeating it won’t be rocket science.
The blockchain part I could do without. Like most blockchain based concepts, I’m sure it’ll be all show, no go. Blockchain concept capabilities are always hyped but very very seldom deliver in real world use case. Conceptually there’s so interesting ideas but it just not as exciting as they’d like us to think it is.
bob urz
do you really think lock is going to prevent a high value tool sitting out in the open from being stolen?
Eric
Desoutter currently uses this methodology for their automated torque drivers. You can’t unlock the tool without the unique key. If you lose the key, then good luck. The device would have to be reflashed by a Desoutter tech and a new key issued. This would also wipe all configurations on the device. These tools are meant for mass manufacturing, not your average Joe.
bob urz
wow3! high tech theft prevention is here! just put the high value tools in a locked cage. And there already doing this. How hard can it be?
Buzz
No thanks. I’ll just buy tools online if retailers are going to boobytrap tools they sell.
Matt
“A novel use of blockchain”
Didn’t I read about that in Revelation 13?
Alex
Despite some irrational fearmongering that some mentally unstable people posted here – this is not a bad idea in theory, just about every modern smartphone already operates in similar way (you can remotely lock your stolen phone, plus a cellphone provider can prevent stolen phone from accessing their network, and companies like Apple will not repair the phone if it is reported as stolen) without any major issues. Same goes for many large industrial tools that already have such protection built into them.
The only issue is that handheld power tools are very simple devices in terms of electronics, so bypassing such protection will not be complicated.
Franco
Yup, people sure go crazy. Both this thread and the HD putting tools behind cages, people react like someone is infringing on their constitutional rights.
I like to think that we are advancing in technology, but it looks like many are still dragging their knuckles on the ground when they walk.
JR Ramos
In this case we are advancing in technology because “we” are regressing in civility and respect. I guess? Sad, really.
JR Ramos
Some companion reading for anyone interested…Vice did an article about Walgreens’ shrinkage and their response, and California’s subsequent response. A few of the linked articles within are worth a read.
At the bottom of the page is a PDF link for a snapshot report from the National Retail Federation that is interesting to browse. Only 63 retailers, polled in early summer 2022. Of note is that about 37% of them plan to or already have implemented RFID security measures.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5ve49/we-cried-too-much-walgreens-cfo-admits-retail-theft-isnt-the-crisis-it-portrayed
Loren
If every naysayer were to offer a solution along with their criticism, we would either have a bulletproof, viable solution to the rampant theft situation, or a very short comment list.
At least Lowe’s and Home Depot are addressing the problem, rather than whining about how hard of a problem it is to solve.
Boyd
“conventional deterrents to theft…” are, much like Western Civilization, something we should try one day.
We know that prosecuting crime leads to a lowering of crime. Most of the areas with high theft are urban left leaning areas where prosecutors are seeking headlines with murder trials for the move up the political ladder. We need prosecutors who will go after the small time theives. Law enforcement is ready and hoping it happens.