method for reducing undesired alarms in an electronic article surveillance system involves measuring a tag response at a first and second pedestal to obtain contemporaneous first and second tag responses . the tag responses are compared to evaluate relative signal strength and thereby discern a lesser signal strength tag response . a reduced level exciter drive signal is applied to a selected one of the first and second pedestals associated with the lesser signal strength tag response . a detection zone is then monitored to determine the occurrence of a third tag response resulting from the reduced level exciter signal . the approximate location of the tag in relation to the first and second pedestals is determined based on the first , second , and third tag responses .