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<DIV>There isn’t always a competitor to go to. Pam.</DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=nfb-talk@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfb-talk@nfbnet.org">Karen Rose via nFB-Talk</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, March 24, 2021 8:09 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=nimerjaber1@gmail.com
href="mailto:nimerjaber1@gmail.com">Nimer Jaber</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Cc:</B> <A title=rosekm@earthlink.net
href="mailto:rosekm@earthlink.net">Karen Rose</A> ; <A title=nfb-talk@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfb-talk@nfbnet.org">NFB Talk Mailing List</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NFB-Talk] [NFBWATlk] Note From Chris Jones About
Walmart Shopping Experience</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>I
certainly do not disagree. In fact, I have been denied help in stores, many
years ago. My solution? I simply went to their competitors. You more more than
willing to help. :-) Yes I certainly think we should fight for the right to have
the same health is does any other customer in any store. Ultimately though, the
nature of the market is such that I can always take my business elsewhere that’s
weird to eat much friendlier competitor<BR><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr>Karen Rose MFT/LPCC www.career-therapy.net</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">On Mar 24, 2021, at 4:45 PM, Nimer Jaber
<nimerjaber1@gmail.com> wrote:<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV dir=ltr>Hello Karen and everyone:
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>While this may be a good solution, I feel it is our right to walk into a
store and shop, and it is our right to solicit assistance in finding products,
as do all customers who walk into a store. Otherwise, what is the point of
having associates walking around assisting customers if they are actually
unwilling to assist customers? It is true that there are many ways of skinning
a cat, some of which have been mentioned. I find that shopping with Aira is an
incredibly tedious, pointless waste of my time because of the fact that it is
done through a camera, with potential connection issues, with other customers
trying to get at the same items, etc., and I find their service to be entirely
over-priced and their policies to be paternalistic at best, with little regard
to what blind people actually desire, want, or are capable of. The bad taste
in my mouth hasn't gone away when, over the past few years, they've continued
to introduce hardware products and kill them off, some of which they charged
customers quite a lot of money for very cheap devices that they couldn't
maintain the day they were released, let alone a year after, when they killed
those devices off. Plus, I hate their advertising, the fact that they claim to
give blind people independence is asinine to me, as people still rely on a
human to accomplish tasks, and don't get me started on what I think of them
charging businesses exorbitant pricing just for that business then to get a
notion that they've done accessibility, and they shouldn't bother with
customer service, actual true accessibility, orientation assistance, etc. I
also know that Instacart and other delivery services often mark up item
prices, in addition to charging membership fees, shipping fees, driver fees,
and whatever other kinds of fees, so while I understand the need for those
fees, I also understand that Instacart is not an ideal solution for many who
are sensitive to pricing, as many individuals who shop at Walmart may
be.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Nonetheless, this thread isn't about Aira or Instacart. It's about a
company who chooses to discriminate against people who are blind, simply
because they can. Do you think that, if a person walks into a store and
requests finding an item, that the associate would say that they weren't
allowed to help?
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I realize that my opinions on this topic may be a bit unpopular,
particularly on an NFB list, seeing as the organization and its members have
whole-heartedly thrown their support behind Aira, and may be okay with, and
maybe even desire the fact that we should not be soliciting assistance when
going shopping. I hope that those people who find this as offensive as I am
won't simply sit down and back down when being told that they cannot receive
assistance at a Walmart or any other store, for that matter. In fact, I hope
that others will use that opportunity to go in more often, just because they
can and ought to have the right to do so, and that they will continue
soliciting assistance, again, simply because they can.</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>
<DIV class=gmail_attr dir=ltr>On Wed, Mar 24, 2021 at 12:54 PM Karen Rose via
nFB-Talk <<A href="mailto:nfb-talk@nfbnet.org">nfb-talk@nfbnet.org</A>>
wrote:<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=gmail_quote
style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid">
<DIV>Walmart is definitely on the Instacart list of stores available. You
may want to consider shopping through Instacart on Walmart. Several years
ago, I spent considerable time helping Instacart become fully accessible
through its app. End it has remained completely accessible, at least using
voiceover.<BR><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr>Karen Rose MFT/LPCC <A href="http://www.career-therapy.net"
target=_blank>www.career-therapy.net</A></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">On Mar 23, 2021, at 7:38 PM, Mike Capelle via
nFB-Talk <<A href="mailto:nfb-talk@nfbnet.org"
target=_blank>nfb-talk@nfbnet.org</A>> wrote:<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<U></U><U></U></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>No big deal.<U></U><U></U></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P>
<DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><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<U></U><U></U></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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 with”… 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. <U></U><U></U></P>
<DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: black"><U></U><U></U></SPAN> </P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: black"><U></U><U></U></SPAN> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: black">Sent
from my Macbook Pro 13<U></U><U></U></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><BR><BR><U></U><U></U></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; MARGIN-TOP: 5pt">
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>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:<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>Hi, All,<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>Today, my husband was denied customer service
shopping assistance at the Walmart, located in Mt. Vernon,
Washington.<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>So, today’s experience was very
surprising.<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>See my husband’s e-mail
below.<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>Judy<U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV
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<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B>From:</B><SPAN> </SPAN>NFBWATlk <<A
href="mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces@nfbnet.org" target=_blank><SPAN
style="COLOR: rgb(5,99,193)">nfbwatlk-bounces@nfbnet.org</SPAN></A>><SPAN> </SPAN><B>On
Behalf Of<SPAN> </SPAN></B>Chris Jones via
NFBWATlk<BR><B>Sent:</B><SPAN> </SPAN>Tuesday, March 23, 2021 3:55
PM<BR><B>To:</B><SPAN> </SPAN><A href="mailto:nfbwatlk@nfbnet.org"
target=_blank><SPAN
style="COLOR: rgb(5,99,193)">nfbwatlk@nfbnet.org</SPAN></A><BR><B>Cc:</B><SPAN> </SPAN>Chris
Jones <<A href="mailto:clj53787@gmail.com" target=_blank><SPAN
style="COLOR: rgb(5,99,193)">clj53787@gmail.com</SPAN></A>><BR><B>Subject:</B><SPAN> </SPAN>[NFBWATlk]
Note From Chris Jones About Walmart Shopping
Experience<U></U><U></U></P></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><U></U><U></U> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>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> </SPAN><A
href="mailto:clj53787@gmail.com" target=_blank><SPAN
style="COLOR: rgb(5,99,193)">clj53787@gmail.com</SPAN></A>.<BR>Thank
you, one and all.<BR>Chris
Jones<SPAN> </SPAN><U></U><U></U></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><Untitled attachment 02820.txt><SPAN
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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>-- <BR>
<DIV class=gmail_signature dir=ltr>
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<DIV dir=ltr>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.</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><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.</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>Thank you, and have a great
day!<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
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