Category: the Rant Board
Ok well today we went to Best Buy. We live in an apartment on our school's campass. We only have one spot to plug in a network connection, and the wireless isn't supported for dorms or apartments, and the
wireless is about as stable as some zone relationships. We have to buy an eithernet hub. I went in to the store and told the guy who worked there exactly what my problem was. We get one that has four ports, and get a network cable, and the other things we need. We come home cut open the blister package. Inside...
...
a USB hub?
ror!
About a month ago they put us with someone in the grossery store with a young gentalman. Here's the picture. Two blind people, one cart, a printed list, and a guy with a slight problem of mental retardation. It wasn't that he was unhelpfull. I blame the store. They gave him a job to stock shelves. He tried to help but it was hard for him to read what was on the list, and he needed clarification on everything we were getting. Not only that, but then he has to watch out for two people behind the cart. I think the second one was just plain stupidity on the store's part.
How about any of you?
Yeah, there are some winners working in stores, alright. My favorite story about best buy was the guy who tried leading me therough a door going sighted guide. I had his arm, and (let's see if I can do this justice), he stood in front of the door, stood on one foot, and rotated his body so I'd folow through. With his free hand, he held the door. Funny thing is, I've run into two or three blind people in my area who had the same guy "help" them through the door.
Another time, had someone help me in the grocery store, and he had trouble reading. I wanted ginger ale. We were going through the products, and I swear, he said "toxic water".
Lou
i had exactly the same issue as post one with the shop assistant who couldn't read! you could have transported that issue to england and it would have been me. I complained in the end, because the service was just shite. re th internet modem, it's just them not knowing their trade, these ppl in stores have no beedin idea, espeically the multi purpose stores. You might as well not ask them as they'd most likely get you a bunch of bananas when you asked for bread. There are great customer service people too, but I've had my share of crap.
While I was in guide Dog training, another person and I were walking around a store, trying to find the elevator, and the lady att the front desk gave us bad dirrections, so we were just walking around in circles for a while. I hate it when people do that. no shitty personal assistants in stores yet, but i'll keep you updated on this topic.
I have had some really crappy service in stores which is why, if I find someone who is really good at helping me, I always make sure to comment to a manager about what a help this person has been.
I can't think of any stories right now *grin* but regarding the Bestbuy issue. Circuit City has a "buy it online and pick up in store" option that has worked well for me. May be Bestbuy has implemented something similar, I'm not sure, but this way you can get exactly what you need and know that's what you are getting when you pick it up.
In the first story, I think that one shows the stupidity of people in the store. I doubt there is much you can do about that, except, as the previous poster suggests, research beforehand the product you need and then go to the store. Of course, I don't always follow that suggestion and have come home with some pretty useless stuff.
In the case of the store having a mentally challenged--or, at least, reading challenged--person help you, I agree not a well thoughtout solution on the part of the store. The only thing I can suggest here is have a braille backup list and take control. The helper becomes your eyes, and you become the boss and a paragon of patience.
Bob
I used to live in London, and me and a few other blind friends had terrible trouble with people helping in the local supermarket because of there trouble with the English language. I sware this is true! A friend asked the lady helping him for tooth paste, and she came back with a bottle of wine! Another time, shortly after moving to Northern Ireland the same group of friends got a bit disorientated in the town centre, and stopped somebody, and asked if they could tell them where abouts they were... honest to God, the lady said... yes dear, you are in the city of Lisburn! Now, while her answer was true, it didn't exactly help! Its very frustrating meeting people like this... but it gives you something to laugh about a few days later!
Yes, if your gonna help speak my language please!
When I was at a blindess training center me and another person had gone to the mall and we got what we needed to get in target then we asked the lady to tell us where the music store was. She gave us bad directions and we wwerwe wondering around the mall for an hour trying to find it.
That's the time to stop the next person you hear walking by, because the mall is usually packed, and ask them if they know where it is. If not, go in to the nearest store and ask for dirrections. solicitting aid is a skill all of us, blind or sighted, need to be able to do.
It happens a lot more than one might think!!!!!
I had a couple stories. I asked a man in the dollar store if they had any glass crosses. He said no. It so happened that my mobility teacher was right there and seen one cross left. The guy was making a personal phone call at the time. I asked this girl in the dollar store if there were any peanut butter cups left, and she didn’t know what I was talking about. She didn’t know English.
I had this one curtacy shopper in the mall. I asked him what stores that were around that had dolls. Sounding suspicious, he asked, is this doll for you or someone else. I know that’s not being an idiot, but isn’t that a little bit nosey? For the poster who had a mentally challenged helper in the store, it’s the stores fault for hiring this person. My advice is, call ahead and have the store arrange for a curtacy shopper.
Joanne, I agree with the statement about seeking assistance. I think one of the funniest times I "foudn assistance" was when I was going on a job interview. I called for directions and was told that the building I wanted was at an intersection. I got to the intersection, and the building wasn't there. I knew I was close, and stated walking. I heard someone walking and asked them where it was. The response was, "Yeah. Its that brown building two blocks up. You can't miss it." Well, I figured that was better than nothing, so I kept walking. I got to the first block, and heard someone else. "Yeah. Its that brown building in the next block." I ask you, what are the odds of getting two equally sets of "helpful" directions from two different people?
Lou
At the airport I asked someone what gate I was at and they thought I was asking what time it is.
Most directions I get from people are things like "it's over there" or it's next to the parking lot. When I ask for spicific directions like if it's right or left they take a long time trying to think.
Last week at college one of the carers was helping me to a chair and he said over here, another carer took over because I couldn't see the first carer. The second carer told the first one she cant see you. He said that he knew that.
if he knew that why did he do it then? sorry no stories as of now but I'll probably think of one before long.
I had an experience in a grocery store where they gave me someone who couldn't read. The store should never do that it embarrasses both people.
Lou's story made me think of something. What gets me is when you ask for directions to a story and someone says it's on the corner. well well, it ends up being no where near the corner. Like half way down the block.
I guess when we hear on the corner we think of the corner literally. Wonder if this is a blindness thing or if the sightlings do this as well.
Maybe they're thinking of the building vs. the specific entrance.
I get lucky and get people who don't know how to give verbal directions. At least knowing right and left should be a start.
People who point ... ugh! It drives me mad! You'd think the cane or dog would give them some kind of clue.
Those people who point need a whack with the cane and a bite from the dog.
Lol. I don't think that will get them to give decent directions.
but it would certainly give them a hint that the person who asked them for assistance can't see.
lol.
u know. i was asking my dad where the bag with my gifts were a few days ago, and he points and says over there. and i said dad i need more specific directions. and he sad to the right next to the christmas tree.
the thing is that i had been living with my mother and father for so long, that they forget that i am blind. my husband does the same thing as well and he has limited sight as well. but not as bad as mine. i cant see anything, he can see very well but has trouble seeing in the daytime.
na the cane will just bruse the shins just shoot the eyes with pepper spary they'll know by expierience that way
yikes.
How cruil.