Living with disability

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Was in an outdoor clothing store today looking at jackets - up to 70% off sale. I want a thermal and bright coloured one. I got one second hand but it's not going to be waterproof enough - it's too thin, more of a windbreaker.

I saw some that looked good on the far wall that I wanted to look at. As I looped around and tried to cross near those jackets, I got stuck. My scooter got stuck because there was not quite enough room. Almost , but it was just just a smidge too narrow. I ended up pushing a moveable rack forward a few inches. A man, I think he was a manager by the sounds of his directions to staff, was on the other side. He got bumped with some puffy jackets - nobody was injured.

Anyway, he said "You have to go to the main aisle, behind you, to get out."

And I said "I'm really sorry, I'm trying to get to those jackets on the wall over there.

He replied, "I'm telling you right now, you can't get over there. This area is not for wheelchairs and scooters."

I couldn't think of anything else to say except, "I came in because I wanted to look at those jackets. Bye-bye."

Then, I stopped out in the corridor, pulled out my phone and called and made a complaint - it was in UK. Apparently that's where head office is. The woman on the phone was understanding...anyway, he could've moved the racks so I could get through. There were only a few light ones in the way. He could've also asked me if he could help me find anything. He could've taken a couple of them down off the wall and brought them to me...but he didn't even treat me like a customer, he just showed me the door. I think my complaint was warranted.
 
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To serve and be served is chaotic to many powerful salesmen that forget what they are actually doing ... requires a sense of balance to avoid separation anxiety!

The great void between Ide and Egos ...
 
Kimmio Laughterlove said:
...anyway, he could've moved the racks so I could get through. There were only a few light ones in the way. He could've also asked me if he could help me find anything. He could've taken a couple of them down off the wall and brought them to me...but he didn't even treat me like a customer, he just showed me the door. I think my complaint was warranted.
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I am wondering why you chose to leave the store rather than having the conversation with 'he' about the many options 'he' had to help you instead of 'showing you the door'.
 
Ritafee said:
I am wondering why you chose to leave the store rather than having the conversation with 'he' about the many options 'he' had to help you instead of 'showing you the door'.
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When my wife was still able to get around with her wheelchair, and we went shopping together, we came across numerous situations similar to that, and a number of less-than-helpful and less-than-cordial store personnel and managers. Some conversations with some people just aren't worth wasting your breath over. Complaining to higher ups may be a better option. At least there, someone might listen.
 
Good for you for immediately lodging a complaint - will be interesting to hear if they get back to you about any follow up. I canunderstand the leaving - it's hard to think 'on the spot' about what to say, how to respond etc. when faced with such situations. I'm always better at thinking about what to say AFTER the moment has passed!
 
I understand not rearranging the racks, but very odd he wouldn't just bring you items. I see that no different as when there are items on the floor but a ladder is needed - liability issues with customers using a ladder so it usually states for employee use only.

I understand lodging a complaint and have done so myself. When someone is already showing lack of compassion explaining can just be a waste of time, effort, and breath.
 
Ritafee said:
That would assume that no one else buys the

jacket.
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It is not really about the sale of one jacket, though. From a marketing and customer relations standpoint, losing one sale is not a big deal. But losing a customer long-term can be. Because that means more than one sale is being lost. Even pre-social media, losing a customer was considered a bad thing for that reason. But now, that customer may go and post their gripes on social media, causing you to lose more customers.
 
Poor customers get poor customer service ... they don't have much influence on the long term sales/marketing strategies one way or another even tho they have been complaining about it for quite some time.
 
Still the store could have been easily arranged to provide for wider aisle and better all around motility. Had that been the case, there would have been no reason for snarky, piss-poor customer (dis)service, provided by poorly trained staff.
 
Didn't watch yet - but I know we're buying too much. I really do need a versatile/ multi-seasonal waterproof jacket that will last a long time - one that's a bright colour so it's visible at night. Regardless, I almost always buy everything second hand at thrift stores - but I wanted to take a look at the new jackets on sale. It was a 70% sale - they're trying to clear them out - and those jackets were already produced. They will have to go somewhere.
 
I buy very little due to the quantity of hand-me-downs that dates my appearances!

However in my career we worked in a sales/service tech business that slowly lost the sense of serve and thus servicing ended ... and sale collapsed. Thus poli tech terminates without much mult etudinous study of the where;s and Y'force ...

Primarily because people didn't like certain perspectives ... only: "show me the moni!" Thus when gone monis lise đ a the worries!

So many sinking words ... don chat think? Intellectual functions like thought are displaced by powerful opinions ... canon? Give it a blast and return to the silence ... rackets refuse to allow me to think down ... the lesser joice ... ju Cei it?
 
I've come across this attitude few times now...

I was in the Tim's line-up...or, should I say, trying to get into it. There is a kiosk in the supermarket I was in, with a queue set up. I asked a store staff person if she would please move it so I could get in. She appeared to not understand and just stood there. So, a man also getting into line, moved it. Then he asked me, "why are you in the 'chair'?" (None of his business, really.) I told him I have cerebral palsy and my balance isn't so good. I get sore and tired and fall down more, so this is safer." He said, "My neighbour growing up had severe cp so I know all about it. I guess it comes in different forms." I said, "Yes. I'm fortunate I can still walk, I used a cane and a walker out and about until recently - but this helps me a lot. And it's kinda fun!" He said,"Oh I bet it is! And I bet there are a lot of people with them who don't need them."

So...this attitude that there are a bunch of rogue people zipping around with scooters, who don't really need them? What's up with that (rhetorical question - it's prejudiced that's what)? Maybe there are a few. I imagine not many. I imagine for some seniors it just makes getting outside a bit more enjoyable. And so what? To get it funded in places where there is funding available, you need a pretty thorough medical assessment. And if not funded, who cares anyway? Anybody can buy a mobility scooter if they want one and have enough money. They're cheaper than a car. There are too many people with cars who don't really need them. There are too many people with fancy cars who don't need them at all. There are too many people with jet skis who don't need them. There are too many people with skateboards who don't need them. There are too many people with motorcycles who don't need them. There are too many people with ride-on lawn mowers who don't need them ... See what I am getting at?

I should've asked him how far away he lives...did he drive to the store, and could he have walked? Or was driving just faster and easier? What? Was he afraid of a bit of rain? He should just not be so lazy. (I would normally never think that or say it but in this case, afterwards, I wanted to.)

He didn't know he was rude and prejudiced. I'll give him that. At least he moved the queue.
 
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