ridiculous long list of collected tips.
michael’s
-no chase policy
-cameras above the doors and registers
-blind spots: knitting/embroidering, woodcrafts, paints, plants; avoid other customers
-nothing is tagged
-dress niceish
-best if you go by yourself
-go either an hour or two after opening or closing
victoria’s secret
-no lp
-bras are tagged, panties are not
-no chase policy
terrible companies
-too faced
-lush
-the body shop
-urban outfitters
-american apparel
-whole foods
-trader joe’s
starbucks
-four cameras: over the door, over the safe, over the register & over the manager’s desk in the back. manager’s don’t have access to the camera footage; they can only access it after an ‘incident’ has occurred
-no chase policy
-watch out for other customers
-bagged coffee and mugs make nice presents and are only inventoried once a month.
-nothing is tagged
-the fridge with juices and salads cannot be seen from the barista side of the counter. baristas not held liable for it
-instant coffees are pretty good and there are cute mugs around christmas
-don’t be a scumbag and steal from the tip jar jfc
general
-double-check for secutiry tags
-sensors inside cardboard tags in clothing
-just double-check everything
-if you’re lifting all day with your car, keep an empty gym bag in your backseat and dump stuff there in between stores
-if the barcode is printed on the product and it is not a sticker, it won’t go off!
-if you can, detag/conceal/etc in the men’s dressing room
-bring your signifcant other and kiss them passionately if an SA is looking at you
-grab two of everything you want - steal one and keep the other in the basket
-be confident
-don’t get cocky
-be careful
-if it feels wrong, put it back
-browse openly
-scope out the places beforehand
-the umbrella method: close the umbrella most of the way and drop small items in it (pracitce at home!)
-dress like a rich snobby white kid: skinny jeans with boots and a north face & infinity scarf
sephora
-never just go in, lift and leave
-look around and test out shades. have a question about stuff you’re looking at ready.
-test everything. look interested in makeup and new to high end stuff
-carry a bag from somewhere else that’s deep enough to shut at the top; ex. forever 21 bags
-have a smaller purse and have like a hat or a pair of gloves or something (in the winter) that you can shuffle around in the bag so if an SA spots you mid-conceal or comes around a corner, etc, you can grab your gloves/hat/etc and put them on like you’re getting ready to leave the mall
-listen to SA’s on their headsets. if you hear “so and so needs a bag”, drop and run
-never lift from a jc penney sephora
-if you lift from sephora and feel weird after, go to a place young people usually don’t go. then leave super hard.
-it helps to be carrying something expensive with you, or wearing it. look expensive. have expensive taste.
-if an SA asks you what you’re wearing for makeup now, always say something expensive. “nars sheer glow and a little bareMinerals powder” works for me. fake expensive taste.
-don’t wear headphones.
-don’t wear a beanie.
-wear lipstick in a noticeable shade. wearing a bright bold lip will make it look you know what you’re doing. if you don’t, go in on a day you won’t be lifing and ask for a tutorial on how to do a lip.
-wear heels. youll look classier.
-take pictures of things. if an SA shows you an item, take a picture; you’ll look genuinely interested.
-if you’re about to leave but feel like someone is onto you, stop and play with a foundation. ask for help finding your shade and ask for a sample. the whole process takes a really long time. act sincerely interested. talk about your current foundation (use an expensive one) and say it breaks you out a bit or dries you out. make it sound worse. have a whole conversation.
-when leaving, do not look around at other people. do not. go from looking at a product, checking your phone/the time, then leave. this works well. fake a phone call! say “yeah, i’m just in sephora, i’m leaving in two seconds. where did you want to meet? okay! see you soon.” mentioning the store is pretty helpful.
-be really nice.
ulta
-some ultas use soft RFID tags on their palettes/expensive items
-if there are no blind spots, you can make one by facing the opposite way of the camera, or standing behind a partner
-wear something fashionable. do your makeup well. break out your brand-name items… look expensive. look like you can buy that whole store if you wanted to.
-bring a big bag; one that has structure so that SAs can’t tell if it’s full or not. lots of lifters like the Michael Kors Jet Set or Selma tote.
-walk in; if you’re greeted say hello and smile back
-grab an ulta shopping bag. place it in the crook of your elbow. leave your purse up by your shoulder until you can get to a blind spot.
-test stuff!
-put some stuff in your ulta bag! try putting two of the things you want so it’s not as sus. fill it up with items so it won’t be as noticeable on camera.
-find your blind spot and move your purse to the crook of your elbow. conceal. don’t linger.
-put the stuff you don’t want back!
-if you have a bad feeling, ditch and go
-perfumes are super tagged don’t even think about it
-don’t park anywhere near it so they can’t track your plates after you leave, just in case
-best time: weekday evenings and weekend afternoons
-go to prestige and take like one minute, then pick out some random item, then get a shopping bag so it looks like you actually want things
-have a question ready, ask for a product they don’t have
-blind spots: high-end skincare aisle, low-end haircare aisle, clearance?
-do your best to look nice and cute! confidence is key
-if you’re not getting good vibes, it’s okay to leave!
old navy
-nothing is tagged and there are no cameras???
-dressing rooms aren’t monitored
groceries
-go to the biggest 24/7 grocery store and scope it out at like 3-4 am
-get a small cart with 2 layers and put two big reusable grocery bags there, open. put your groceries in there while you shop. then just walk out
-it’s important that you scope it out before actually going. make sure nobody is stationed at the doors at all times.
-if you’re nervous and there’s nobody at the door, walk out looking at an old receipt like you’re looking at how much you spent or the taxes or whatever
urban outfitters
-find a store that gives out large paper bags with those stringy handles. ask for a couple for a project on ‘branding’ or something. fill up like a quarter of the space to make it look normal.
-there are magnet sensors
-little items like books, home accessories, and jewelry can be carried in your hands; find a spot where no one can see you and just stuff what you want into your bag. corners are always good
lush
-blindspot in the back of the store with the foot scrubs
for specific things
-amiibos aren’t tagged
-lift more cotton panties because all that polyester shit ain’t good for your lil gnome garden (via liftinglily)
office depot
-nothing is tagged
-nobody cares
-cute stationary
gap
-dressing rooms aren’t monitored
-only some things are tagged
claire’s
-fake tags/no tags
sally’s beauty supply
-no cameras
-no-chase policy
-between 5 and 8pm is your best shot
-an hour or so after they open is the best time to lift something large; another person doesn’t come in until 10:30 or 11:00
lifting bag
-large structured bag so that you can’t tell when it’s full or not
hot topic
-the corners are good
-bracelets are probably tagged
pier 1
-nothing is tagged
-cameras are to monitor employee theft
-nice candles, jewelry, scarves, stationary and trinkets
barnes & noble
-cameras in toys/collectibles, the music/dvds, comics, the gift card/accessories area, and the sitting/reading area
-good blond spot: classic lit
-books are tagged sporadically
-get a cup of coffee!!
–> message me if you have any corrections or anything!