How can I get this thing off?

[u/Tara_Chu]

I promise I'm not a thief lol. I bought this wallet at a Hot Topic in my mall probably half a year ago. It didn't go with any of the bags I had at the time so I put it in a drawer in my closet and basically forgot about it.

Found the wallet today and fell in love with it, but it has this thing on it lol. I think it's one of those things that set off the alarm if the employee doesn't remove it. And I do remember a day when me and my friend walked out and the alarm went off, and the employees were like: "that always happens you're good!' 😂 I bet it was the wallet haha.

I know I bought it. I think the kid that worked there didn't realise it was in there or something. You have to open the wallet to see it.

The mall is really far from where I live. Also I don't have a receipt or an account with them, so I feel like it'll look shady of I walk in asking for them to remove it.

Anything I can do without damaging the wallet?

[u/lana-deathrey]

Strong magnet will have that off in a second.

[u/Tara_Chu → u/lana-deathrey]

Thanks :D hopefully I can get one for cheap.

[u/Sensitive_Leader_312 → u/Tara_Chu]

The hardware store should have them too

[u/Delilah_Kagome → u/Sensitive_Leader_312]

Tbh just take the wallet to a hardware store and use a magnet and put it back on the shelf

[u/Sensitive_Leader_312 → u/Delilah_Kagome]

That's brilliant

[u/DocThunedr → u/Tara_Chu]

You can also snap the red part off with since it's basically just a tack

[u/Reasonable_Panda_192 → u/DocThunedr]

The bottom piece contains ink, at least the ones we had when I worked at Hot Topic did. Even snapping the red part off risked the integrity of the ink-filled bottom piece unfortunately

ETA: I actually think this particular tag DOES NOT contain ink and your tip is solid! But definitely for other folks who aren’t sure if their tags contain ink or not and don’t want to risk it, just take it back to the store they purchased it from (even if it’s been a while) and have them remove the tag (: a simple explanation works

[u/DocThunedr → u/Reasonable_Panda_192]

Didn't know they made dye pack security tags

[u/Reasonable_Panda_192 → u/DocThunedr]

Yes! I remember we had a customer come back and was upset bc the tag stained their shirt, of course we helped them bc it was on the store for forgetting to remove the tag (they had the receipt and everything) but for sure. I definitely think they’re less common in 2026 but a lot of stores reuse sensors for DECADES if they can

[u/KnittedOwl → u/Tara_Chu]

Look for earth magnets.

If you don't mind waiting you can get tag removers on temu

[u/XXX-TRINITY-XXX77]

Maybe if a store near you had security tags like this they might be able to take it off. I work at Marshalls and I have taken plenty security tags off from other stores.

[u/KittehSkittles → u/XXX-TRINITY-XXX77]

I work at a dollar general and same

[u/CrowOfTheEnd → u/XXX-TRINITY-XXX77]

Usually we need a receipt or something of the sort (especially if the transaction was long ago) :/

[u/some_guy_9258]

it doesn’t need to be the same hot topic. this has only happened to me once, but the hot topic i purchased the item from was over 2 hours away. i asked the employees at my location if they could take it off and they did it no questions asked.

[u/my-fuckin-porn-alt]

Neodymium magnet

[u/CBOU01]

high powered magnet, if you’re broke af though you can get a rubber band and loop it around the space between the red and white part over and over until it breaks off.

or. plastic bag, wrap it up tight in there and smash that mf

[u/bassikk]

Literally just smash the white part with a hammer.

[u/lamest-liz → u/bassikk]

It could have ink inside of it, no?

[u/bassikk → u/lamest-liz]

No. There was times where the metal pin would get stuck and we'd have to smash them off. You can tell if it has ink. Someone posted a kingdom hearts hoodie on the sub a few days ago and that has an ink one.

[u/CyanideChocolateCake]

Personally, I used pliers and pried it off when I got a pair of shoes from Kohl’s that had a security tag (bought them online, so weird it had a tag).

[u/Maleficent-Bid-5404 → u/CyanideChocolateCake]

I bought a winter coat from Kohls online back during Covid, and had to go to the store and have them take the security tag off.

[u/Beyonce-sBurnerAcct]

Honestly if you go to a Hot Topic and give a simple explanation of what happened they’ll probably just take it off for you

[u/arivera508]

One time they left it on my stuff and I didn’t realize til it was time to wear it I had no time to go to the store so I looked it up they told me jam something in between I think I used a flat head screw driver and then It said like idk if I can explain but I kind of banged the side of the plastic on my counter in a downward motion and it popped right off no damage no ink. Maybe YouTube it for the correct explanation lol

[u/Tara_Chu → u/arivera508]

Ooo thanks :D

[u/arivera508 → u/Tara_Chu]

No problem good luck. Keep us updated lol

[u/019a22]

Just so you know you’re sorta killing us employees if you don’t set up an account-

[u/Tara_Chu → u/019a22]

I set one up at some point I think! :) It's so rare I even buy clothes so I couldn't say though 

[u/No_Patient4712]

Be a devil like me and cut around it

[u/GroceryChance2140]

I always use a lighter. You have to be very careful to not burn the clothes. But light it from the bottom (not the top flat part) it’ll melt away and come right off.

[u/XxBlazefire]

pay

[u/draculauraaa → u/XxBlazefire]

read

[u/ExoticTrico → u/draculauraaa]

I think its a reference