Asking for Assistance

A good place to start to find an employee to assist with your shopping is the service counter. Smaller stores may not have a service counter. In this case try to find a cash register or similar place. Typically in grocery stores and discount stores the check out is very near the doors where you enter. If you do not know where the service desk is and you cannot hear any cash registers simply move toward where you hear people. You can then ask for directions.

Getting the Right Assistance

If you shop at a particular store on a regular basis, you may find a particular employee that you like working with. Don’t be afraid to ask, “Do you always work on Tuesday morning?” Then next time you are in that store on Tuesday morning you can request the employee by name. Finding an employee that you like working with will make your shopping experience that much more pleasant. He or she will get to know your shopping preferences, expectations and habits. You will be saved the time of explaining each time you shop what you expect from the employee.

I think just about everyone has had bad customer service experiences. Blind people are no exception. When a friend of mine would go into his local grocery store, they would give him a non-native English speaking clerk to help him shop. The lady did not know what he was requesting, could not identify the items and was confused with numbers. He would ask, for example, for two cases of Cherry Coke, and the assistant returned with two bags of charcoal. He had no intent of being mean or discriminating against anyone because they speak English as a second language. When you’re blind, you need someone to clearly identify the items for you and accurately relay the information you need.

When he discussed the problem with the manager, he received a different employee, who he said seemed very slow. He was embarrassed not knowing what to do, because he didn’t want to seem as though he was discriminating. When she didn’t know what to do, she would stop random customers in the store, telling them to help him. It was embarrassing for him because the lady worked there, and she was getting others who didn’t work there to assist him.

Although this puts us in an awkward situation when it happens, we must find a way to convey to the store manager that when we are blind, the person helping us shop must be able to answer any questions we may have about items. What is the expiration date on this milk? Tell me how these fruits or vegetables look compared to those? Do these colors match? And there are tons of other questions we must ask to make sure we are getting exactly what we want. Don’t be afraid to insist on a shopping assistant that you are comfortable working with.

Grocery Shhopping

The other way, is to make out a list ahead of time. This is the method Chris and I use. I feel it is more organized. We type out most of the things we need. If we think of other items at the store, we just tell the shopping assistant to add them onto the list. I believe making out the list ahead of time makes it go by faster. When you write your list it also helps if you can group similar items together. For example you can group all of your fresh fruits and vegetables together or all the dairy items together. The shopping assistant will know, for example, that you want milk, eggs and cheese. She knows to get all three of those things from the dairy section and then move onto the next section of the store.

I usually hold on to the handle of the grocery cart. I then ask the assistant to pull the front of the cart. This way the assistant, the cart and I can stay together easily. I have my guide dog walk along beside me on leash. You could put your cane in the cart or just hold it. Sometimes, the assistant may think it’s easier to leave you in one spot while he or she goes up and down the aisles, retrieving your items. It is always best to go along so you know the right item is being selected. You will need to be very clear with the assistant what you need and expect them to do.

I always have the assistant give me the item rather than putting it directly into the cart. I can tell a lot of things by just holding the item. Did you know that sugar free instant pudding weighs less than the regular instant kind? It is important to feel your items for quality, size, and to make sure it’s the right item.

When Chris did not check the tomatoes the assistant had chosen, he brought home three mushy tomatoes. On another occasion, when we wanted to buy Manwich, Chris did not feel to make sure it was the right item. We were looking for the manwich in the can that you pour in the pan with the hamburger, and instead, because Chris did not take the time to feel the item, he was given the dry manwich mix in a packet. I had never purchased this kind before, and therefore did not know how to make it.

Also by taking the item from the assistant and putting it in the cart yourself, you will be more familiar with the package when you get home. Some people take their labels with them to the store, putting them on as they go. If you buy lots of things in boxes or cans this is a good idea.

You can ask the employee to read the package directions to you. I like to try new products, but the directions are always a little different from the last variety we tried. I will usually just remember how to prepare the new food. You could also write a quick note in Braille with a slate and stylus or record the directions on a pocket size cassette recorder.

I always tell Chris If that if he gets the wrong item that is not the assistant’s fault at all; because it is his responsibility to feel to make sure it’s the right size and shape. There are many situations in which we rely on the assistant to do the right thing and provide us accurate information. Size is something we should know simply by taking time to feel the can, box or package the assistant has given us.

Shopping for Electronics

I want to know how easy the item is going to be for me to use. I will usually put some sort of tactile marks on the item when I get home. What I am checking out in the store are things like: is there room to put on a label? Does each turn of the dial make a click? Are the menus only available through a digital display interface? Sometimes I have read through the owner’s manual on the internet before I purchase an item either in a store or on the internet. I have found this information to be really helpful to determine whether or not I will be able to use a particular piece of equipment.

Clothes Shopping

I choose to bring my aunt, rather than to shop with a salesperson, because my experiences with salespeople have been horrible. It is a nice idea to do something in return for the help of your friend or family member. Maybe you can pick up the lunch tab after a morning shopping trip.

Many blind people say that when they shop with salespeople, they really don’t’ know if the salesperson is being honest with them or not, with whether certain clothes look good on them. It can be frustrating not knowing if it really does look good on you, or if the salesperson is simply telling you it does just to make the sale.

Last year, when I was chosen to attend a rally in Washington D.C., I was pressed for time. My aunt was not available to go shopping with me. I went through salesperson after salesperson spending hours and hours in the store. I also spent way too much money. I knew I could have gotten two nice dressy outfits for a much lower price than what I paid.

Each salesperson seemed rushed and as if they just wanted to pick anything and go. I told them the price range I was looking for, and they continued to tell me they could not find anything within my price range. My aunt and I had shopped at that store several times before. I knew that there were clothes in the price range I wanted. It was very frustrating.

On-line Shopping

A few years ago, Chris and I shopped at a store called Schnucks. They had a web site www.schnucks.com and we would order our groceries off that site. There was a $15 delivery fee. In that case though, we had to weigh our options. Chris would take a bus to Schnucks, but he would take a cab home That cab ride was $15. So for the same amount he would pay a cab to take him back home with his groceries, he could have someone do all the shopping and deliver right to the door.

Many web sites offer free shipping if you meet a minimum dollar amount with your purchases. If you order several things at once you will often qualify for free shipping. Also because many internet sites will be located in a different state, you will be saved state and local taxes.

There are also many sites where you can get items at a much lower price than from a retail store. One site I love is eBay. Before buying something full price in a store, I will look on there. Individuals and companies sell things for incredible prices on eBay, both new and used.

I purchased a down comforter last year for $15. It was brand new, never opened. I would never purchase used sheets. That’s just gross!

There are many companies that have eBay stores. My aunt, who is an avid book collector, said she will never buy a book full price in a store again because she can get them so cheap on eBay or its partner site half.com.

Shop around. There will most likely be many, many web sites offering what you are looking for. Compare prices including the shipping cost. Prices seem to vary more on the internet than they do in local stores.

Shopping online is such a convenient way to go these days! You don’t have to deal with the crowds, taking transportation to and from the store and getting caught in traffic. Also the items you want to purchase may not be available locally. In that case the internet, mail order or phone order are your only options.

No matter which kind of shopping you do, consider all the options, make sure you seek the appropriate assistance, and before you leave the store, make sure that it truly is the item you intended to purchase.