[NFB-Talk] [NFBWATlk] Note From Chris Jones About Walmart Shopping Experience

[d m gina]

Yes Jim held the phone while Ira helped me pick out the item of request.
Dar
Original message:
> 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.

> On Tue, Mar 23, 2021 at 7:37 PM Mike Capelle via nFB-Talk 
> <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>> wrote:


> 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.

> No big deal.

> From: nFB-Talk <nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> <mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On Behalf Of Zachary N. 
> Griego-Dreicer via nFB-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 8:36 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>>
> Cc: Zachary N. Griego-Dreicer <zdreicer at gmail.com <mailto:zdreicer at gmail.com>>
> Subject: Re: [NFB-Talk] [NFBWATlk] Note From Chris Jones About Walmart 
> Shopping Experience

> 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.

> Sent from my Macbook Pro 13


> On Mar 23, 2021, at 17:14, Judy Jones via nFB-Talk <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org 
> <mailto:nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>> wrote:

> Hi, All,

> Today, my husband was denied customer service shopping assistance at 
> the Walmart, located in Mt. Vernon, Washington.

> 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.

> 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.

> So, today’s experience was very surprising.

> 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.

> 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.

> See my husband’s e-mail below.

> Judy

> From: NFBWATlk <nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> <mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On Behalf Of Chris Jones via NFBWATlk
> Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 3:55 PM
> To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Chris Jones <clj53787 at gmail.com <mailto:clj53787 at gmail.com>>
> Subject: [NFBWATlk] Note From Chris Jones About Walmart Shopping Experience

> Dear Listers,
> This is Chris Jones from Sedro-Woolley.
> Earlier this afternoon I went to Walmart to pick up a very few items 
> and to get some Subway sandwiches.
> I met a greeter who found me a young lady who gave me some very strange 
> information.
> She indicated that Walmart no longer provides customer assistance in 
> shopping and that everything needs to be handled on-line.
> I was told that this has been their policy for somewhat over a year.
> I was shocked, but went ahead and asked this lady to show me the Subway 
> area, which she did.
> I completed that portion of shopping and, when I got home, called a 
> manager of Walmart at the Mount Vernon store.
> He explained that, due to Covid restrictions, an associate could not be 
> involved with such a shopping trip for any more than 15 minutes.
> I asked if I had a short list, if someone could obtain products for me.
> He said that if I needed a very few items he could probably grant me an 
> exception to policy.
> 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.
> 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?
> Feel free to respond here, or if you'd like to e-mail me privately, my 
> e-mail is clj53787 at gmail.com <mailto:clj53787 at gmail.com>.
> Thank you, one and all.
> Chris Jones

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> --

> Best,

> Nimer Jaber

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