store alarms

I set off the store alarm system when I walked in this nice gift store yesterday. As I was trying to leave it of course went off again. The cashier had me come back in to the front of the store (with everyone watching by this point) as I tried to explain to her that I just got a pacemaker last week. She did not believe me at first and one customer actually said "you look to young to have a pacemaker". Luckily they did believe my 12 year old daughter. I had stood directly in front of the device trying to figure out why it was going off not thinking about the fact that my doctor had told me this would happen and that I should walked "briskly" through. Can anyone tell me how often this will happen? What types of stores to be prepared for? Any suggestions on how to keep it to a minimum and what should I do when it does go off? I've been thinking about medical ID jewelry. I'm pretty short so most of these alarm/security checks are going to be at my range. Any suggestions?

4 Comments

DAFT

by pete - 2009-03-09 03:03:12

I dont think much of these store security devices. I took a book with me on the coach to London and went into a store. When I left it set the alarm off and I got black looks from shoppers and store staff, I did not stop but shouted back at the store what I thought of their crude security system. I was not stopped or searched. This is the only problem I have had. You should go back to that store and complain to the management as their is no excuse for the detection equipment going off because you have a pacemaker. I would not have allowed them to search me. I would have told them to arrest me if they wanted to but if they did then I would then sue them for wrongful arrest and the acute embarrassment they would be causing me by making me look like a criminal. In fact wrongful detection should be a sueable offence as its not very nice having other people look at you as if you are a criminal. I can say though that I have passed through 100s of detectors with my pacemaker without problems but I do not go through the airport detectors fotr my own safety . I would if I were you go back to that store and go through the barrier again and see if it happens again. If you are in the USA this could make you a great deal of money as they are turning you uneccessarily into a suspected criminal. Didnt someone in the US get zillions of dollars because their coffee was too hot? I would also go through a few other detectors at other stores to see what happens. Let us know. I suspect nothing will happen and that the most likely cause is that the stores system is incorrectly set up or completely out of date. Whatever the case I think you should not put up with it. Cheers Peter

detectors

by Tracey_E - 2009-03-09 06:03:20

I've never set one off in the 15 yrs I've had a pm so I'm surprised you managed to do it the first week! Did you get an id card yet? Sometimes it takes a few weeks to get them. Just keep it in your wallet all the time, you shouldn't need to do more than that.

NEVER stand in it demonstrating how you set it off! It can put your pm in test mode and make you feel yucky. Always walk through as quickly as you can. They are generally considered safe, but why take chances.

You won't get rich if store alarm goes off

by ted - 2009-03-09 08:03:39

I have my pacer set off store alarms every so often. I don't agree with Pete that you can get rich suing a store when this happens. I've been a trial lawyer in the U.S. for fifty years and while a search would probably not be justified, the store security could be allowed to inquire as to why you set the alarm off. Then you can say that you have a pacer and go on your way. No need to fight or argue with anyone. Spilled hot coffee doesn't get you rich either despite what happened in one crazy case some years ago. I doubt that the spilled coffee lady ever collected more than a few dollars.

store alarm going off

by jljmom - 2009-03-12 09:03:24

I think I was so shocked when I sat off the alarm that I probably stood in the entry too long. I have not received my ID card yet (they said it would take at least a month) and have looked at medical alert ID bracelets but haven't picked one out yet. I'll make sure that I do carry my card when I get it.
I totally understood why the store clerk called me back and after it was over my 12 year old daughter and I were able to laugh about it. I will say though that I enjoyed reading your comment Peter and when I was having to explain myself in front of other customers I wasn't very happy about it.

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I have a well tuned pacer. I hardly know I have it. I am 76 year old, hike and camp alone in the desert. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. The only problem is my wife wants to have a knob installed so she can turn the pacer down.