Metal Detectors at Walmart Entrance?

[Harriw]

Hey folks,

I try to avoid it if possible, but I had to take a quick trip to Walmart this afternoon. I happened to be carrying, and set off what I *think* was a metal detector at the entrance. Nobody batted an eye... There weren't any employees around that looked like they were "manning" the detector. Frankly on the way in I didn't think anything of the beeping - I thought somebody else had gone through the exit without having an RFID chip de-activated on one of their items. but when I left I walked through the same "gates," and heard the same beep again... Once again, there was zero response from anybody - employee or customer.

Does anybody else know if Walmart has indeed installed metal detectors at the entrance to some of their stores? If so, is there a point I'm missing to installing them, then not responding to them AT ALL when they go off? Even if they did have store security there to respond when they go off, what do you suppose the response would be for somebody legally carrying concealed?

I get how they could quickly become de-sensitized to metal detectors - I'm pretty sure I'd have set the thing off even if I wasn't carrying. If my keys, belt buckle (normal, not rodeo-style), and pocket knife combined didn't set the thing off, I wouldn't have much confidence it it detecting a compact, polymer-framed handgun. But again... why bother if you aren't going to respond to it at all?

Has anybody else seen this, or have any insight?

 

[George P]

I know the stores in the "bad areas" have those anti-theft detectors and sometimes a guard to deter shrinkage

 

[theotherwaldo]

Probably an RFID tag on something that you're wearing or carrying.
Happens all the time.

 

[Middraw]

I think a shopping cart would be quicker to set off a metal detector than anything you are carrying.

 

[Terry G]

Anti-theft devices, don't steal and your gun is cool.

 

[entropy]

All Walmarts have the anti-theft 'pylons' in the entrances. A gun should not set them off. It is not a metal detector. (My neck would set it off every day, if that were the case.) More likely an RFID tag, as theotherwaldo says. Could have been someone walking out with one still on or not deactivated at the same time. Associates with store keys going outside will set them off also.

When we still had 'greeters' they were supposed to tend to the alarms, they had a special handheld device to check which item set it off, then check if you had a receipt. They did away with greeters several years ago, though we had 'counters' at the front door earlier in the covid crisis. You stood there with an iPad, and tapped + for people coming in, and - for those going out. Each store has a max capacity at which we were supposed to set up ingress control, but our store never came near it, I doubt others did either, so they dropped it about a month ago.

 

[DocRock]

Dude, the government is tracking you. You need to find the chip and get it out.

 

[entropy]

It's behind his left ear, that's where the aliens usually plant them.

 

[jmorris]

My steel toe boots/shoes, leatherman, keys, cell phone, belt all will trigger a metal detector. Going into the store, I imagine the shopping cart I would be pushing would do it as well.

Maybe it was your foil hat.

A joke of course, but a metal detector would be all but useless in that situation, even more so untended.

 

[.38 Special]

My wife once ended up with an anti-theft tag in the bottom of her purse, through some mechanism which I don't begin to understand. Regardless, she spent several months setting off alarms both going in to stores and coming out. This went from curious to annoying to amusing. Near the end of it I would stop, look around, and give the best impression of "Come do something about it, yo" that an old fat white guy is capable of managing.

Nobody ever did. I don't think anyone cares at all.

 

[Englishmn]

Could even be a security tag in your holster or some other item you carry many items have the tags put in at the factory and if you don't buy it at a retail shop the tag won't get turned off.

 

[Whizzbang]

Maybe it was a paranoia detector.

 

[DustyGmt]

Dude, the government is tracking you. You need to find the chip and get it out.

Yep, Darpa chip. I have one too.

 

[DustyGmt]

I always get irritated in wal mart, so much I avoid shopping there pretty much altogether.

I hate how if you need service it's always a big to do attitude from the employees and then anytime close to the holidays, it seems I am always stopped at the door getting my receipt checked. Almost never fails. And I'm not talking about a receipt check prompted by setting off any alarm, I'm saying I'm walking out with my stuff and the door man or woman always manages to pick me for a random check. I dont get it. I am usually reasonably groomed, pants fit and worn up and well above my waist, no face/neck tats. I always leave wondering if I look like a shady dirtbag. My wife says no.

 

[Ernie Bass]

I was in the Electronic Alarm Industry for decades .We installed CCTV in may large box stores. We use to study the video and it is amazing how much is stolen daily. I mean there are people that will walk out with huge items. Funny thing is most stores will not intervene and just accept the loss. And for small business's Pilferage is the number one cause of business bankruptcy. My guess is that a random check to you is the fact that you look honest and the person doing the checking is not as concerned about a confrontation like they would some scum bag. It is all show. Supposedly the bad guys see receipt checking going on and thinks they will check him. However, I doubt the clerk actually looked into your bags.

 

[bikerdoc]

I got a card to use at a parking garage. After much alarm tripping In stores we found out it was the strip on the card.
Left the card in the console and it stopped.

 

[Robert]

None of this is really on topic. Asked, answered, done.