Dismantling Access Features

[jesse_the_k]

Visited grocery service desk to buy bus tickets and discovered several access features (I'd used previously) which had been dismantled:

At the standing-height counter, the wheelchair-height cutout had been filled up with a lottery ticket dispenser. This meant the clerk and I couldn't touch hands, so they clerk had to leave their station and walk all the way around to hand me the tickets. The swipe-and-sign machine for credit cards has a swivel, so I have used independently before. But someone had pointlessly pushed a bookshelf under the counter, so I couldn't reach it.

I brought these issues up to the clerk. I managed to keep my cool. I pointed out that finding accessible features destroyed is very frustrating. Does this analogy work for you? Delighted to entertain suggestions.

Encountering demolished access features is like getting a big delivery of gravel at the bottom of your driveway that you never ordered. When you complain, the response is, "Oh, I'll help you park your car down the street" or "Oh, just wait, I'll round up a group of folks to help you move stuff out of the garage. It might be three hours — is that OK?"

I'm writing the grocery's central office. I suspect the response is going to be along the lines, "well, you were able to complete your purchase, and weren't our staff polite and helpful?" And yes, the clerk was polite, and helpful, and unable to wipe away the psychic spit this encounter smeared over my glasses.

Comments

[jadelennox]

Grr argh. Psychic spit exactly. My super sweet coworkers used to leave boxes blocking the ADO button they'd so wonderfully had installed for me, and, yes, "oh just ask and we'll open that for you!" *wipes spit*

[treeowl]

I suggest next time you take a peek and if there's anything valuable in the boxes, smash it on the floor first and ask for help moving the boxes after.

[jesse_the_k]

I have done that, but I'm trying not to let the anger control me. It's a delicate balance between ragefuel and ragepoison.

[jesse_the_k]

We're happy to help they say, as if it's always a positive.

One of my clinics put a huge planter next to an ADO, so that I couldn't approach it sideways. After three comments they moved the planter! Sometimes the "record player" technique works. (Hmm, technique needs a rebranding.)

[everbright]

I'm thing SOMEBODY stomped around yelling about not having enough shit at that counter for impulse purchases. Freaking corporate.

[jesse_the_k]

That's one explanation, but the freakin' bookshelf was empty. I suspect it came from somewhere else and had been hidden under the counter en route to another use.

[everbright]

O great, so the area was obstructed for even less reason. *makes a face*

[dirty_diana]

The head office *might* be more helpful that that. At my old retail job I constantly got insulted by co-workers for trying to keep our shelving carts out of the already narrow spaces around the cash desk. One day someone complained to head office about not being able to get a chair through, and suddenly it was, don't forget to keep the aisles clear! So that location may well be breaking company policy. Good luck, anyway.

[jesse_the_k]

That's encouraging, thanks.