My 4th day in Boquete turned out to be a nightmare, I'll try not to sound to dramatic but folks need to be aware.
For those that don't follow the forum, I posted "my first day....." a few days ago. My wife and I recently purchased a home in Alto Boquete, took possession 4 days ago and we are in the process of furnishing. I had requested the readers of recommendation on where to shop... this post is to make the newbies aware of what can happen to you in David at the Do-it Center, proclaimed to be the "worlds largest hardware store"...
My morning started off as it has the last few days, awesome. Today we decided we would drive to David, obtain our Price Smart membership card and continue with our purchase of thousand of dollars worth of furnishings. Just before leaving the house, my wife pointed to a latch on a clothing cabinet... the latch had fallen off. Being somewhat a handy man, I'll picked it up and inspected... I can fix this. Decided I needed to drill a larger hole and put a nut on the end of the shaft end. I rummaged around the box of fasteners the seller had left behind... only thing I came up with was a lock nut (nylo braid insert). That won't work, I need a regular nut and a washer.
I put the latch with the nylobraid inserted nut attached in my pocket for later.
Fast forward to my shopping in the Do-it Center. My wife was loading the shopping cart with all kinds of stuff... I went off to find my repair parts. I located the "bulk" fastener area and commenced looking for the right nut and washer. Every bin seemed to have the wrong sized stuff in it but I continued looking. Finally finding what I needed, I left the washer and the nut I needed on the latch, put my nylobraid nut in my pocket and took off search for my wife.
When I located her, I handed her the latch with the new washer and nut and told her she needed to purchase and if they asked, they were 5 cents each. In the U.S., I'm used to the store having a little baggie in which you mark what it's the bag and the quantity... no such "baggie" at the Do-It Center... still not sure what you are supposed to do there.
She told me, I'll pay for this stuff and meet you at the lighting store. BTW.. after check out we had spent $170.00.
I headed for the door, getting about 3 feet from it, alarms started going off... the guy at the door asked me to step back which I did.... he motioned for me to proceed again, again the alarms went off... I stepped back.
He started blurting a bunch of stuff in Spanish... I explained "no habla espanol"... he called an interpreter. All the while a crowd is forming and more store employees start showing up. The interpreter showed up and asked me if I had anything metallic in my pockets? I said sure, I have coins, my cell phone etc... he asked me to empty my pockets in which I complied. He pointed at the nylobraid nut in which I explained, THAT IS MY NUT, I brought it into the store with me. He stated they had video cameras through out the store to which I exclaimed, OK, doesn't surprise me, what's your point? He stated they had video of me taking things out of the bins and not putting them back... I explained the entire scenario to the interpreter, in turn he explained to the Muscle. They would not believe my story and escorted mew to the back of the store... took 4 of them to escort me.
Once in the back room, I explained that my wife would be looking for me, they were not concerned... they had made a Gringo Collar and they were not going to be denied. More muscle showed including a dude with the word "security supervisor" on his shirt. It was obvious right off, he was on a mission... there were gonna be bonuses for this.
Via the interpreter, I obtained the latch and nuts from them and explained exactly what had happened, including the fact that my wife had paid for the nut and washer...didn't matter. It was now to late, they had called the police and I was gonna have to wait until the police arrived...with 4 goons watching me. I said "fine, I can't wait to explain my side of the story for the 4th time"...
20 minutes later, my wife showed up wanting to know what was going on... she was aghast. She explained how she had gone thru the check out and had identified the latch and nuts & washer to the checkout person (in Spanish)... she assumed she had been charged the 10 cents for the two items.
So we wait... waiting for the police to show. Once again, I try to understand what the issue issue is.. I'm told "We saw you (the video) take several things from the bins and you didn't put them back... I explained once again that I was looking for the right nut and if I didn't "put them back", where were there now? all of my pockets were now turned inside out... they didn't care, the police are on there way.
At least an hour later, two policeman arrive, by this time another store person has showed up with a receipt (piece of paper) that shows the nylobraid nut was 19 cents. I told the interpreter that if they wanted the nut they could have it but I'd like to get on my way... NOPE, you need to wait for the police. I said..."all of this for a few cents?" I was tempted to show them the $6000.00 in $100 bills I had in my front pocket to show them I didn't need to steal a nut but decided against.
This is when I was told that if they take me to the station, I wouldn't get out until tomorrow. I was also told if I pay $100, all of this could go away. I declined.... waiting for the police.
Now about 90 minutes later, picture my wife and I surrounded by 4 or 5 store employees... watching these two "criminals". I thought, damn...who's watching the store? Finally, the police show.. they talk to security supervisor outside of the room and the head guy walks in... looks at me, walks over and shakes my hand and provides a greeting. I pass him my passport.
Lots of disciussion but what my wife picked up... the head policemen wasn't buying the store's story and wanted to vlow it off... the store would have no part of that. They kept insisting I be arrested... maybe even my wife because by now we have determined that even though she had pointed out the nut and washer (in Spanish), the clerk had failed to charge her... they were losing 10 cents in a $170 purchase.
The store kept arguing with police and finally I was told I was going to the police station. I was handed my nylobraid nut and escorted out through the store, while all of these other shoppers gawked. I was told to put the 3 bags of purchases in my car and then led to the police vehicle and placed in the back seat. We sat there at least 15 minutes, again with everyone and their brother gawking at me in the back of the police truck.
Finally... a policeman got in our car with my wife and both vehicles headed for the police station. Once we arrived my story was explained to every big wheel at the station including the head cheeses and the police lawyer... they all just kept shaking their heads...
Now about 3 hours into the saga, police kept walking by wife and I stating "you go soon"... They also had a guy that must have been some kind of judge.. lots of paperwork filled out, all the while my wife and I sitting next to dudes handcuffed to a bar, luckily we were not in that state. Fiannly.. a guy with lots of bars on his shoulder, the lawyer guy and the judge met and made their decision. I had to sign a statement that I hadn't been "hit" while in police custody and some other notebook that only had my name printed on it... we were escorted to our car by the police lawyer, he shook our hands and apologized....
What are my takeaways...
1. The security guys at the Do-it Center are complete assholes, only looking for the opportunity to say"where's my bonus, I busted a gringo"... there was no compassion and it was obvious this store was promoting this kind of conduct. They would not listen to any explanation, they had their minds made up before I reached the exit door.
2. The police in David were great! It was obvious they didn't want to pursue this but the folks at the Do-It Center kept insisting and making it rough on them...
3. I suggest anyone who reads this think carefully before you frequent the Do-It Center, I know I will never shop there again. I was probably going to spend thousand of there and they blew it by insinuating I sole 10 cents from them.
4. This isn't the end of this. Tomorrow I will try and locate some kind of decision maker at Corporate Do-It Center. I've already have an appointment with my attorney tomorrow afternoon, we'll see if he thinks I should just accept this kind of treatment.
5. You may think this is funny, wait until you are in my shoes at the Do_It Center.
6. Please think twice about recommending this place of business to another newby..
7. Welcome to Panama
Please excuse what I'm sure are several typos, still upset about this ordeal and my tying is probably off...
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