[Blindtlk] store ads

Sun Oct 16 23:46:01 UTC 2011

Hey,
Here in Raleigh (NC), we have the Triangle Radio Reading Service
(TRRS). They are a radio service for the blind and print-disabled.
They read everything from novels to newspapers to, yes, store
advertisements. They have a weekly store ad reading, one for grocery
stores and one for department stores and pharmacies. I listen to the
podcast that they provide after it is aired, and write down the items
that I want from the advertisements. For example, Harris Teeter had
two for one bread crumbs, so I wrote the brand and product down, and
when I went shopping, I asked my assistant to find that particular
one. On one shopping trip to Harris Teeter, I saved $80 doing this!

Your area might have a similar radio program. You might ask your local
NFB group or your state library for the blind if they know of a radio
service in your area. It'll require a special radio that is programmed
to catch the radio signal from them, or, sometimes like for TRRS, it
is streamed online and then provided as podcasts as well.

I hope your area has something like this; I really enjoy them reading
O! MAgazine, the local newspaper, and the grocery ads. They also have
a morning fitness program that I sometimes tune into.

Good luck,
Jewel

On 10/16/11, GREGORY ROSENBERG <gregg at ricis.com> wrote:
> Good afternoon Julie,
>
> Here are a few thoughts. I have not researched if NFB has any particular
> initiative.
>
> I have to believe that all of us would benefit from accessible sales papers
> and advertisements. I would think that you (or fellow Federationists) could
> reach out to the National Associations for the independent grocers. At
> present there are over 50,000 independent grocers. I might suggest that you
> (or someone at NFB) start a campaign and approach the fine folks at the
> National Grocers Association at
> http://www.nationalgrocers.org/general_Info/contact_us.html.
>
> For the rest of the bigger store chains I suspect one would have to reach
> their corporate communications or executive offices for each individually.
>
> I found the following resources on Wal-mart's site.
>
> http://grocery.walmart.com/usd-estore/common/static/accessibilitycontainer.jsp?referrer=cookiesDetecting
>
> Consider completing a Wal-mart shopping experience survey to give them
> feedback. All of us should do this. I just did.
>
> Walmart shopping experience survey
> Please look at the bottom of your receipt to see if you’ve been invited. If
> you’re invited, please tell us about your store experience.
> Since I could not read my receipt I just elected that I could not find it,
> then it takes you to a different survey option.
>
> Here is what I wrote "I am blind and find that your flash based
> advertisements are inaccessible to me and the 180 million blind individuals
> that lived in the United States. I (We) would greatly appreciate it, if you
> would make your site and especially your weekly advertisements accessible to
> those of us that do not have the ability to see graphical representations of
> your advertisements. A simple HTML page would be great. Even a downloadable
> text file would be a usable strategy. Possibly an audio file of some one
> reading the weekly flyer. You should strive to make all aspects of your web
> site accessible. Thank you in advance for your thoughtful and timely
> consieration."
>
> Please write your own version, so they don't think we are just copying the
> same text over and over.
>
> Walmart Global Ethics Office
> 1-800-WM-ETHIC
> Questions or concerns regarding ourStatement of Ethics.
>
> Customer Service
> Customer Service
> 1-800-Walmart (1-800-925-6278)
> We'd like to hear from you. Send your local store or our corporate
> headquarters a comment.
>
> Corporate Mailing Address
> Walmart Home Office
> 702 SW 8th Street
> Bentonville, Arkansas
> 72716-8611
>
> Although not related, please check out this settlement I stumbled across. It
> addresses many accessibility issues with Wal-mart. Including issues with
> guide dogs.
>
> http://www.ada.gov/walmart.htm
>
> -------------------------------
>
> For Walgreens:
>
> Walgreen's offers an HTML version of their weekly adds. You have to click
> the HTML link to the right of the word broadband towards the top left of
> their page.
>
> ----------------------------------
>
> For Bag n' Save:
>
> I don't see any
> http://www.bagnsave.net/contact.php
>
> I posted the following via Bag n' Save's shopping experience feedback link.
>
> "I am one of 180 million blind individuals in this country and a member of
> the National Association for the Blind. A good many of our members shop at
> many of your stores. It is impossible for screen readers to read graphical
> representation of advertisements. We would greatly appreciate it if you
> would create a plain HTML / text representation of your weekly
> advertisements so that we can take advantage of your sales as well. Please
> also consider making your site fully accessible for people with disabilities
> that do not allow them to access print. You could even have some one read
> the advertisement and post an audio file as well."
>
> ------------------------------
>
> For Dollar General:
>
> http://www.hoovers.com/company/Dollar_General_Corporation/ryttif-1.html
>
>
> On Oct 16, 2011, at 3:24 PM, Julie J. wrote:
>
>> Hello all!
>>
>> I have another shopping question for you!  Several years ago I used to get
>> the local grocery store's weekly ad flier by email. It read great with
>> JAWS.  I knew what was on sale and could plan my weeks meals around the
>> sale items.
>>
>> Since then I moved and no longer have that type of store in my town.  I
>> got out of the habit of paying much attention to sale items.  I would like
>> to get back into the routine of making better grocery shopping decisions.
>> This afternoon I've been looking for store ads on the internet and
>> hopefully a way to sign up for them by email.  I'm okay with going to the
>> website to read them though.  That's not a big deal.  My problem is that
>> every store I've checked so far has their flier in flash or some other
>> equally inaccessible format.
>>
>> Do any of you read store fliers?  If so how do you access them?  I'm most
>> interested in Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Bag'n'Save and Dollar General, since
>> those are about the only chain stores I have in my small town.  I haven't
>> checked every store's website to find out if their ads are available or
>> accessible.  I thought I'd ask here  in case someone else has already
>> figured this out.
>>
>> TIA
>> Julie
>>
>>
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>
>
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