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[–]AnarchySpeach 7 insightful - 2 fun7 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 2 fun -  (9 children)

power tools that won't work unless they're properly scanned and activated at the register via Bluetooth technology. If a thief managed to smuggle a power drill out of the store without paying, the drill simply wouldn't turn on.

Effort and Cost.

While this will stop most shop lifters it won't stop them from selling them online at a discount to people smart enough to bypass the on/off switch.

I do find it a little funny how they say this is their best solution that avoids hurting their brand.

Defects will happen. A tired a employee won't scan it right. Now there's a person on the job trying to use a tool that won't turn on. He makes a post online about it. Other people chime in with similar experiences. Other brands are recommended. Then somebody will post a youtube tutorial about which wire to disconnect to bypass the bluetooth. That video gets removed for "piracy" or some made up reason.

Sounds more and more like John Dear hell every day.

Can't wait for the anti-right-to-repair people to start screaming when customers start taking their broken power tools to someone like Louis Rossmann who can "fix" their tools for $5, instead of going back to the store to have it be turned on.

I'd rather pay $5 to have the bluetooth safeguard removed at a small tech shop than disabled at the store who couldn't do it right the first time.

And all of this because the store doesn't want to hurt their brand image by tying things down ffs.

[–]yetanotherone_sigh 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (8 children)

This would be relatively easy to bypass, except that the BT authorization might be located on a board along with the battery management and other "smart" (integrated) technologies. If the BT device was separate and inline, you just clip a couple of wires and put in a wire nut to hotwire it.

Much simpler just to lock the tools up in the store. If you want one, they take it to the register and you buy it.

[–]JasonCarswellMental Orgy 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Much simpler just to lock the tools up in the store.

[–]thefirststone[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

They already do usher tools from locked cages to the register in some locations, I've read. That requires employees, which are expensive and scarce when construction is booming from low interest rates.

Basically, this is automation of their manual security systems. I don't blame them for replacing those tattooed idiots with robots.

[–]skeeter 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

when shoplifting becomes more profitable than being a carpenter or plumber.

when a basic hammer or screwdriver costs more than a used car.

when the economy breaks.

when nobody can afford to sit around and spend time in a forum.

[–]AnarchySpeach 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

It will be interesting to see how one of the fattest counties on earth, that slowly eats itself to death as a competitive pastime, reacts to a food shortage.

Game wardens are going to live like kings when the farms slow down.

[–]skeeter 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Cannibalism will become popular again.

[–]yetanotherone_sigh 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

It is said (by stores) that a lot of the problem is employee theft. I don't know if I believe that or not.

[–]thefirststone[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I do, and this activation scheme can track that, which supports that idea.

Sad as it is, I bet they'll notice an improvement on their bottom line. Yet it will likely inconvenience customers as much as their employees.

[–]yetanotherone_sigh 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Could be. If they do that, I'll opt out of buying them and shop somewhere else. Better yet, get a 25 year old drill instead of a new one. I have one that is as old as I am (50) and it runs great. They'll fight over it when I die. The old machines are much better quality and longer lasting than the new ones. They are designed to wear out and break, with no spare parts available.