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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you very much, Nimer. Our sentiments exactly!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for adding your voice.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Judy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> nFB-Talk <nfb-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Nimer Jaber via nFB-Talk<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 23, 2021 10:23 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Nimer Jaber <nimerjaber1@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFB-Talk] [NFBWATlk] Note From Chris Jones About Walmart Shopping Experience<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On the other hand, I think it's a huge deal, not all blind people want to go with a sighted person, can afford Aira, or would even find Aira to be helpful in a shopping setting like Walmart. And, I hope that, instead of dismissing a concern like this, or making selfish statements, we can try to step into the shoes of someone and understand why something like this is important and should not be refused. I will be calling Walmart to add my voice to this, but I really hope that a bigger voice, like the NVF steps in on this matter.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Tue, Mar 23, 2021 at 7:37 PM Mike Capelle via nFB-Talk <<a href="mailto:nfb-talk@nfbnet.org">nfb-talk@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>It is because of covid, I am not going to make a fuss over it, I will just use AIRA, or bring a sighted person with me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>No big deal.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b>From:</b> nFB-Talk <<a href="mailto:nfb-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfb-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Zachary N. Griego-Dreicer via nFB-Talk<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 23, 2021 8:36 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB Talk Mailing List <<a href="mailto:nfb-talk@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfb-talk@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Zachary N. Griego-Dreicer <<a href="mailto:zdreicer@gmail.com" target="_blank">zdreicer@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFB-Talk] [NFBWATlk] Note From Chris Jones About Walmart Shopping Experience<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> Hi, I a sorry to hear of your experience. I have actually not going into grocery stores since the start of the pandemic. But my parents have occasionally. Curb-side at Walmart has been a big hit for my area…the amount of times we’ve gotten “Out of stock†or “we can substitute withâ€â€¦ is far outweighed by the amount of times we will have the order right on the 1st try without ever actually going in. I would definitely understand if you would rather remain in person when doing your shopping though. And as for that, I would think that’s just an associate having an issue. Regardless of this we still need to buy groceries so you did the right thing by contacting a supervisor. I would encourage you to continue doing so. <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Sent from my Macbook Pro 13</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>On Mar 23, 2021, at 17:14, Judy Jones via nFB-Talk <<a href="mailto:nfb-talk@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfb-talk@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Hi, All,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Today, my husband was denied customer service shopping assistance at the Walmart, located in Mt. Vernon, Washington.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>The only other time in our lives I can remember being turned away from shopping at a store, was in a neighborhood where we’d just bought our first house in 1980. It was a Winn Dixie, and I stopped there in the evening for groceries.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>However, when I explained that I worked during the day and this was the only time I could come, right away, they found someone to shop with me, and we never had any issues with that store or any other ever since.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>So, today’s experience was very surprising.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>I would like to know of anyone’s personal shopping experience at the physical store, and how much of this shopping assistance denial is tied to a possible Covid policy of Walmart, or if our particular store is simply not providing reasonable accommodations.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>We have no problems with any other store in the area: Costco, Safeway, Hagen, Pioneer Market, to name just a few. Thanks for perspective and comments.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>See my husband’s e-mail below.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Judy<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b>From:</b><span class=gmail-m-3675154241265106108apple-converted-space> </span>NFBWATlk <<a href="mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0563C1'>nfbwatlk-bounces@nfbnet.org</span></a>><span class=gmail-m-3675154241265106108apple-converted-space> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span class=gmail-m-3675154241265106108apple-converted-space> </span></b>Chris Jones via NFBWATlk<br><b>Sent:</b><span class=gmail-m-3675154241265106108apple-converted-space> </span>Tuesday, March 23, 2021 3:55 PM<br><b>To:</b><span class=gmail-m-3675154241265106108apple-converted-space> </span><a href="mailto:nfbwatlk@nfbnet.org" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0563C1'>nfbwatlk@nfbnet.org</span></a><br><b>Cc:</b><span class=gmail-m-3675154241265106108apple-converted-space> </span>Chris Jones <<a href="mailto:clj53787@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0563C1'>clj53787@gmail.com</span></a>><br><b>Subject:</b><span class=gmail-m-3675154241265106108apple-converted-space> </span>[NFBWATlk] Note From Chris Jones About Walmart Shopping Experience<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Dear Listers,<br>This is Chris Jones from Sedro-Woolley.<br>Earlier this afternoon I went to Walmart to pick up a very few items and to get some Subway sandwiches.<br>I met a greeter who found me a young lady who gave me some very strange information.<br>She indicated that Walmart no longer provides customer assistance in shopping and that everything needs to be handled on-line.<br>I was told that this has been their policy for somewhat over a year.<br>I was shocked, but went ahead and asked this lady to show me the Subway area, which she did.<br>I completed that portion of shopping and, when I got home, called a manager of Walmart at the Mount Vernon store.<br>He explained that, due to Covid restrictions, an associate could not be involved with such a shopping trip for any more than 15 minutes.<br>I asked if I had a short list, if someone could obtain products for me.<br>He said that if I needed a very few items he could probably grant me an exception to policy.<br>I do not regularly shop Walmart and I have never found such a reception at Costco, Fred Meyer, Safeway or any other store which I frequent.<br>Is there anyone who can explain this type of treatment to me? Is this a Walmart thing, or does this occur at many other stores where folks shop?<br>Feel free to respond here, or if you'd like to e-mail me privately, my e-mail is<span class=gmail-m-3675154241265106108apple-converted-space> </span><a href="mailto:clj53787@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0563C1'>clj53787@gmail.com</span></a>.<br>Thank you, one and all.<br>Chris Jones<span class=gmail-m-3675154241265106108apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><Untitled attachment 02820.txt><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>_______________________________________________<br>nFB-Talk mailing list<br></span><a href="mailto:nFB-Talk@nfbnet.org" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>nFB-Talk@nfbnet.org</span></a><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'><br></span><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org</span></a><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nFB-Talk:<br></span><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/zdreicer%40gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/zdreicer%40gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>nFB-Talk mailing list<br><a href="mailto:nFB-Talk@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nFB-Talk@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nFB-Talk:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/nimerjaber1%40gmail.com" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/nimerjaber1%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Best,<br><br>Nimer Jaber<br><br>The message above is intended for the recipient to whom it was<br>addressed. If you believe that you are not the intended recipient,<br>please notify me via reply email and destroy all copies of this<br>correspondence. Action taken as a result of this email or its contents<br>by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) may result in civil or<br>criminal charges. I have checked this email and all corresponding<br>attachments for security threats.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br>Registered Linux User 529141.<br><a href="http://counter.li.org/" target="_blank">http://counter.li.org/</a><br><br>To find out about a free, open-source, and versatile screen reader for Windows, visit <a href="http://www.nvda-project.org" target="_blank">nvaccess.org</a><br><br>You can follow @nimerjaber on Twitter for the latest technology news.<br><br>To contact me, you can reply to this email or you may call me at (970) (393-4481) and I will do my best to respond to you promptly.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you, and have a great day!<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>