To be irritated by Asda card woman?

I've never heard of people volunteering in Asda, and I wouldn't really want help picking things (cards or anything else) in a supermarket. However, given everything that's been said here, I think (in your position) I'd just brace myself and have the conversation with her.

Wish I hadn't read this thread. Makaton sad face.

@OffToBedforshire I think it is great that you show so much compassion to someone in the workplace, it really is thoughtful and I truly hope someone has the same compassion of my son if he still has the anxieties he faces when he reaches adulthood. Although your last line made me feel saddened, you say 'apart from the odd person with zero empathy or social skills'.

My son has social anxiety and selective mutism so does not have the social skills, but hope someone will be empathetic towards him just as I would in the scenario with the Asda volunteer.

There would be literally no problems here, but for that fact that this woman ignores shoppers who say they don’t need or want help. That’s the issue.

I think it's good that Asda has volunteers to help, particularly people with SEN. However I don't think the card section is perhaps the best place. I would say it's ok to tidy up the cards, but not to suggest cards for people.

If the individual can't understand being told by Asda 'please don't suggest cards for people, just tidy the card area', then they should be moved to another section.

Yes it might, but OP is not irritated because of this sort of situation.

In my view she's just being unkind.

@Zyq

It sounds like the volunteer isn't taking no for an answer looking at what the OP has said. Perhaps she has trouble understanding?

Are you one of those volunteers? You seem quite protective of the scheme.

I wouldn't want someone helping me to choose a card, I like to choose myself. I think most people do as it's quite a personal thing, choosing a card for someone.

@zyq Saying 'no thank you" may not be difficult for most but is for my child who has selective mutism and social anxiety.

I personally would interact with the volunteer, my child however would not and that's not him being rude or difficult, he simply cannot speak in certain situations. I am hoping with the current interventions he overcomes this but know for others this has not always been the case, so yes it may be a difficult thing to say for some people.

@mummyh2016 I'm struggling to understand why some people are incapable of thinking: 'OK, this person has learning difficulties. Maybe I'll be patient and not a complete bell end to them'. Yes, she might not have understood 'no thank you.' But it isn't a big deal is it?
We have an adult with learning difficulties at work. I sometimes need to say the same things 10 times to her. But she is an absolute joy to work with and I'm proud to call her a colleague.
Or would you prefer it that adults with learning difficulties didn't do any volunteering? It seems to me - working on the card aisle is a great place to volunteer. It should be a low stress environment. Apart from the odd person with zero empathy or social skills.

She doesn't mean that. She means that she wants to get her cards from Asda, and she shouldn't have to go elsewhere because of this person.

Just say no thanks and be polite. Have some tolerance.

and yeah I know people will say shop for cards elsewhere but I shouldn’t have to!

Why does anyone have a god-given right to get their cards at Asda? I didn't like the selection in our local Asda and had to shop elsewhere last time I bought a birthday card. Should I complain that I shouldn't have had to do that and they should have tailored their selection to my tastes?

So she can say "No, thank you". It's not difficult.

That's tough - a 30 minute lunch break doesn't allow for much of anything to be achieved. I understand, same for me.

Luckily I have my high horse to take me to places. Super fast 🤪🥳

Too busy? So sad when people cannot find 1 minute of their day to be patient with someone who may have challenges. Oh to be SO busy and self important.

OP if you take a deep breath and engage a little bit you will find it quite rewarding and it will make your day so much better.

Off now ... busy busy busy ... so busy.

@Deathbyfluffy I tried extra, extra, extra hard and read between the lines and noticed the OP (and you) are impatient and rude with zero empathy.

@mummyh2016 judging by your post I don't think you'd have a problem being that arsehoje.

Where has OP said she doesn't have a few minutes? So that bit of your post is irrelevant.

@OffToBedforshire OP has said a no thank you doesn't work.

I'm not sure why so many people are struggling to understand this.

Everyone has their own shit going on. And I'm willing to bet some people have more difficult lives then you and still aren't bell ends to adults with learning difficulties.
It literally takes a few seconds to smile and say 'I'm ok thanks' when asked if you want help.

The majority of your post is irrelevant. OP has said this person doesn't take no for an answer. So you can get off your high horse and instead of asking what's wrong with the OP you can start reading posts correctly.

Everyone saying oh it's only a few minutes, has the OP said they have a few minutes to spend chatting? I sometimes pop to Asda on my lunch break to get a few bits. I get 30 minutes. On a bad day it can take me 10 minutes to get there so I have 10 minutes max in store. I don't have a few minutes to chat. Am I supposed to be late back to work and risk getting told off/disciplinary just so I don't risk offending someone? If this lady won't take no for answer I'm not sure how you're supposed to get away without being rude - and that's what the issue is. No one wants to be the arsehole that offended someone with SEN.

Precisely. It’s patronising BS.

Instead of wanting this individual to be trained properly by this huge corporation and gain some valuable work & life skills, people are falling all over each other to be appear the most “charitable” and say her approach is fine when it’s clearly stressing some customers out. It’s better for all concerned if volunteers are trained appropriately.

This! Spot on.

Also just how many cards are you buying from Asda that this is a problem for you?

No matter what your answer is, she will ask who you’re buying for and start pulling out cards that you might like.

So what do you say? You could repeat your "I'd like to choose on my own" or whatever?

Do you mean she HAS sen?