The regular customer may see tamper proof labels in retail establishments on clothing labels and CD or DVD cases which ensure security and help to deter theft. Some other uses for tamper proof labels include sealing food packaging.
Tamper proof labels are manufactured with a combination of easy-tear materials, such as vinyl and strong adhesives. This means that when an attempt is made to remove them, they will disintegrate and tear into tiny pieces. By making an attempt to interfere with the label more time consuming or showing evidence of tampering, it becomes less likely for that attempt to happen thus making the delivery of product much safer.
The survey, commissioned by label company Data Label asked 529 people over the age of 18 based in the UK: “Do you find tamper proof labels to be a nuisance or necessity?” Almost half of the respondents, 49% answered that they found tamper proof labels to be a nuisance and, despite them being a crucial part of security in many industries, would prefer to live without them.
The occasion in which the public comes face to face with tamper proof labels most often is in the retail environment, in the form of price labelling or on packaging to prevent tampering or security issues. This is evident in the reasons given for people finding tamper proof labels to be a nuisance which include:
Difficult to remove.
Leaving marks on purchases.
Difficulty to get into packaging.
Philip Carlyn, Managing Director of Data Label, commented on the results, stating:
“We were surprised to see that so many people are averse to tamper evident labels. Over the past few years, retailers have reported a massive increase in price label swapping – from small boutiques to larger high street stores.”
He continued:
“Retailers using them are looking out for their customers’ best interests to prove that their product has not been tampered with, damaged or otherwise compromised. Bringing awareness to this can help customers understand that, even though they can be annoying to remove, tamper evident labels are an absolute necessity.”
