AIBU to be miffed at alarm bells/beeps?

[Hushabyelullaby]

I am not sure if I have lost all perspective and ABU or if i'm justified in feeling this way. A grip bit of advice would be appreciated please.

A lot of shops that I go in to have the electronic alarm sensors by the door that sound a beep/alarm if you walk out of the shop with a security tag still attached to something. I totally understand that they are to prevent theft, and I DO think they are a good thing.

Here's the BUT...... I am a wheelchair user, and I find that in many shops that my wheelchair sets off the alarms. Now, it's not as though I can go in without my chair. Some places will do it on the way in but NOT on the way out (??), some places do it every time, some do it on some days and not others, there doesn't seem to be a reason/pattern to it.

I have tested it, returned to my car and sat in it before and my friend has gone back into the shop, stood back, and pushed my empty wheelchair through the alarms which have then gone crazy.

It's embarrassing every time you go into (and especially leave), a shop when the alarms go off. Even if staff know that it's my chair they obviously still have to check my bags because I COULD be stealing.

If I don't have much time, I can't just nip in and be quick as I never know if the alarms will go off. Everyone turns and looks when it happens and it makes me self conscious. Surely I shouldn't have to speak to the manager of every store I go in and explain my issue?

AIBU to expect to be able to go shopping like anyone else and not have the alarms go mad every time I approach them?

[wasonthelist]

Yanbu. I am not a wheelchair user but I occasionally set off the alarm. Anyone who wants to follow me out (no-one ever does) is welcome to tell me what evidence they have (aside from their faulty alarm) that I have been stealing - they won't have any because I don't shoplift - I never have.

[ThinkAboutItTomorrow]

Yanbu at all.

I wonder if you could figure out what bit is setting it off?

It's totally different as I can sort of do something about it but my work's entry card / security pass thingy sets the alarms off so I know how you feel. I find if I wave at the security guard when it goes off on the way in they then understand that it's me again on the way out so don't check my bags.

Actually no one has ever asked to see my bags so it doesn't slow me down but it's embarrassing

[Witchend]

I had a bag that did that. I agree about it being irritating and I could choose to leave the bag behind.

[LurkingHusband]

Curious to read this, as in 20 years with MrsLH, and a fleet of chairs, scooters and buggies I have never seen a security alarm set off.

I wonder if somehow you have picked up a tag somewhere which isn't immediately visible ?

[Hushabyelullaby]

LH nope definitely not picked up a tag somehow. However, I do have a lightweight chair which is classed as non-standard. It never happens if I'm on my mobility scooter.