While visiting our local mall on a shopping expedition for a new "outfit" for myself I decided that instead of wearing myself out that day I would borrow a wheelchair from Mall Services. Little did I know how "eye opening" an experience it would lead to!
Initially Buck and I just did some window shopping, it's been a while since I've been a "fashion plate" and I felt I needed a tutorial :) Then I spied a lovely outfit in the window of a store and Buck wheeled me in. Immediately a clerk approached us, or rather I should say she approached my husband and asked him if "he" needed any help? While thoughts of "does she know something I don't know about my hubby being a cross dresser" passed through my mind, my husband informed the clerk that he was NOT in need of assistance but rather I was. Her response? It was as if she was asked to have a conversation with "liver pate".
SOOOooooooo onwards we trekked...next store! :) Again, we entered a store, the clerk approached. I sit calmly in the wheelchair, check my breath and body odour, she address' my husband as I sit there pondering my husband's ability to conceal his "hidden lifestyle" from me and wait for my existence to be acknowledged. Hmmmmmm it never comes.
Third store.......we enter, the clerk approaches (I hold my breath), she get's down on one knee and ask's if she can help..... ME!!!!!! HOORAY! I'm finally noticed! Bet I don't have to tell you which store got my business? :)
Now before you think I let the first two stores get away with anything, they didn't. I phoned their head offices to complain about the treatment I had received in their establishments. They countered that they had in place a "disabled shopper sensitivity course" that they provided to all staff......guess it was just my luck that I got "attendees" that flunked the course?
I have since shopped for clothes on several occasions and I think you know which store gets my business. Maybe someday I'll revisit those other stores to see if their customer service has improved but their "first impression" didn't exactly endear themselves to me. Maybe they should borrow a wheelchair from Mall Services themselves and give it a try :)
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