• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Magnetic Bracelets again.

andycal- It was, as you say, Boots.
I emailed them about ten days ago with no response so far.
I'm at work and have had limited access to e-mail. I'll try again though. See if we get anywhere.
 
Only vaguely related story:

Home Depot carried what I thought was a bogus energy saving device.

I did a little research on the web about it, added that to my opinions as an electrical engineer and sent them an email describing my skepticism of the device. I never heard back from them, but Home Depot no longer carries the item. Did I have anything to do with that? I'll never know.

I think the situation is very different when it comes to a pharmacy though. Home depot makes essentially none of its money from bogus devices. Everything in the store does what is claimed for it.

A pharmacy sells lots of stuff for which the efficacy is a matter of controversy. If they get rid of the magnetic bracelets, do they then start taking a hard look at other things for which efficacy is suspect? Maybe, the magnetic bracelets do seem to be unequivocally ineffectual, but so much of what a pharmacy sells doesn't have a whole lot of scientific testing behind it indicating a real benefit, the pharmacy may just not see the distinction between a magnetic bracelet and a dietary supplement which doesn't have any testing indicating benefit either.

How about homeopathic medicines? Do some or most pharmacies refuse to carry these? I wonder.
 
Boots is a well-known and respected high street retailer and I would imagine a lot of people respect their opinion. In the UK a pharmacist has to go through far more training than a doctor, and it is often that he/she will even question a prescription.

Also, we have extremely well documented peer-review journals that are freely and easily accessible.

I feel that Boots are simply hopping on the 'new-age' bandwaggon purely for profit reasons. I've also seen patches to reduce the craving for chocolate and infra-red massagers - all with dubious claims on the packet.

I've not seen homeopathic stuff in there yet - that's left to some of the other stores.

Anyway, my point is, they shouldn't be stocking them, unless they pop a disclaimer on the front I guess. I've no problem with a company wanting to make a profit - but not at the detriment to people's health whilst playing on their fears.

I haven't heard a reply yet, I'll give them another few days, then it's complaining time...
 
andy- I have had no response either. Since the Blaster worm, I have had big problems getting onto Hotmail. (I'm on a drlling rig in Kazakhstan). I'll be home this weekend and I will try contacting them again.
 
I actually got a reply today!

Thank you for your e-mail addressed to our Customer Service Department. Please quote your Customer Reference number of 1856011 for future correspondence.

We sell magnetic bracelets in our stores, which many people use for relief from rheumatic pain, but I do understand what you say about being sceptical.

All of the information we have is located on our websites, and I would suggest that perhaps you speak with one of our pharmacists in store for more specific advice. It might be worth trying something new to see if it improves your grandmother's condition as different things seem to work for different people.

I do wish you every success in finding the right product to help, and in the meantime, thank you again for contacting us.
Click to expand...

So there you go. So much 'sitting on the fence', they must have splinters up their arse.

I reckon the next step is the ASA...

While I'm at it, I've battered Argos for selling a head massager that 'gets in tune with the body's electrical field'. I'm expecting a similar response.
 
It might be worth trying something new to see if it improves your grandmother's condition as different things seem to work for different people
Click to expand...
:D:D:D

He obviously does not know the difference between anecdote and a controlled trial.
 
andycal said:
Boots is a well-known and respected high street retailer and I would imagine a lot of people respect their opinion. In the UK a pharmacist has to go through far more training than a doctor, and it is often that he/she will even question a prescription.

I feel that Boots are simply hopping on the 'new-age' bandwaggon purely for profit reasons. I've also seen patches to reduce the craving for chocolate and infra-red massagers - all with dubious claims on the packet.

I've not seen homeopathic stuff in there yet - that's left to some of the other stores.

Anyway, my point is, they shouldn't be stocking them, unless they pop a disclaimer on the front I guess. I've no problem with a company wanting to make a profit - but not at the detriment to people's health whilst playing on their fears.

I haven't heard a reply yet, I'll give them another few days, then it's complaining time...
Click to expand...

Boot's certainly used to stock homeopathic remedies. The last time I visited my local store, some eight to ten years ago, a whole shelf was filled with them. Oddly, these miraculous cures weren't behind the pharmacy counter. I wonder why this should be the case.

I now have my photographs developed elsewhere.

Regards,

AC.
 
Boots does indeed stock homeopathic products - I have seen them in the Durham, Gateshead (Metro Centre), and Stockton-on-Tees branches, all in the North East of England.

I now buy my sandwiches elsewhere,

Stevie -G-
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom