self service tills and disability

[Beetrickspotter]

I really struggle with the self service tills. they are just a little bit low. I am fairly tall and can't bend. so it's a bit undignified, I have to bend at the knees. but you scan them onto the too low platform and THEN have to pick them up from too low platform and put them back in trolley. and by that time I'm in agony and need to lie down

anyone else struggle with self service? I'm fed up with shopping. it's so hard to get a delivery slot and Lidl and Aldi don't do deliveries anyway, so you have to pay a lot more for shopping at Tesco etc

Sainsburys (well mine) employ a lot of staff with lanyards. So in theory they should know about disabilities.

If it’s humiliating ask so it’s normal for people who can’t ask and are in worse pain than you. Change the way it is so it is better.

I think you are trying to say that my disability isn't that bad, so I have a responsibility to get over my humiliation/embarrassment and normalise asking, in the interest of those with worse disabilities. is that correct?

Every store should have a manned till or a member of staff available to open one/do the self checkout for you imo. I can't see how they can be disability friendly and meet the Equality Act otherwise,

No I don’t think so. I think I’m saying try to reframe it and move things forward. A bit like when you talk to someone and say “what would you tell your friend/daughter to do?” To help them reframe things. I have no idea how disabled or not you are but this is how I cope with the kind of feelings you were describing. If it’s not helpful to you then obviously ignore. The point of posting is surely to get a range of solutions and pick what suits you.

I have tremor so I struggle with the touchscreen. Luckily I am in a town with a lot of small independent food
shop so they will be getting my business instead, since Sainsbury’s Local replaced all their manned tills and Morrison’s all except a couple.

I have CP and use a rollator I can just about manage the self scan but have difficulty scanning awkward shapes such as milk bottles
Honestly just ask for help.. I have raised my arm at times
Staff really don't mind and will scan and pack my items for me
I agree about the lack of manned tills
I can't stand long enough in a queue.

Sainsbury's are my closest supermarket and have staff with disabilities too

yes, there is this aspect as well isn't there. I also can't stand for very long at all. I am ok if I am walking but I can't stand or sit for long. so even if one till is open, it's often not an option

I agree some of the tills are not designed with any disability in mind and standing in a queue can be difficult for some people. If that is the case, you need to talk to a member of staff and tell them you have a disability and are unable to queue and you also need help at the till. They will take to past the queue to the next available till and assist. That is what they are there for. I had some really good help in Lidl when I was on crutches, they came round with me carrying my basket and selecting items. I was so impressed.

One reasonable adjustment might be to offer free or very discounted home delivery.

Are you talking about the self service tills that are lower specifically for those with disabilities that mean they need a wheelchair?

Before you accuse me like a PP of saying your disability isn't so bad compared to others, I just think there are usually different machines at different heights and choosing one of the higher ones should mean you don't have to bend (as much).

no, I'm talking about the normal heighted self service tills?

I can't pass as not disabled so appreciate it's a different ball game with different issues, but sorry it's making you miserable.
They're actually excellent for independence in a wheelchair, but annoyingly the card reader is placed at standing height, so still have to ask for help!

Probably the most practical answer is going to be a sunflower lanyard (they're part of the scheme) and a request for assistance please.

You could also create a single sentence requesting either a till opened OR someone to process your goods through self service and into the trolley please.
It's harder for them to give a yes/no answer if you give a choice of how they can meet your disability needs.

An alternative could be an upside down cardboard box scanned as a bag (usually triggers a weight check*) on the paid for scan bed, and work from that.
(*I often use a box as my bag and scoop it onto my lap)

Having fought for independence for a lifetime I'm afraid disability doesn't improve with age, so learning how to politely assert your needs is likely to have to happen sooner or later. Sorry.

I did a weekly shop at aldi a couple of months ago and only the self serve was open. I asked the person monitoring to help me simply because I didn't want to scan a full shop.

I bet it sucks to always have to tell people you're disabled but I encourage you to be bolshy, they either scan everything through self serve for you or open a proper till.

aren't sunflower lanyards for autism/SEN?

ok, I'm going to try asking for help/declaring disability to get a till opened!

I need to do a shop tomorrow. so I will let you know how it goes 😱

what, without any disability? just because you didn't want to scan everything? 😂😂

I'm sure it's easier to do without a disability actually. I could imagine myself doing that just out of rage at the robots kind of thing!!

No, PP is saying she is a wheelchair user, unable to stand and therefore she cannot “pass” as non-disabled

I avoid them if at all possible because they are always too low. My back just can’t take it. I don’t know who decided they all needed to be so low. At least offer a mix.

more and more though, there is no cashier available, only self-service.

Beetrickspotter I suspect your last post is for MuggleMe 🙂

No, Sunflower lanyards are for all hidden disabilities (and sometimes visible ones) including things like chronic pain.

oh no, I was supposed to reply to @MuggleMe . apologies @Elleherd , I did read/understand/reply to your post. it was you saying that disabilities get worse with age that made me realise I AM going to have to ask for help

I think I kid myself that mine is hidden tbh. I probably just need to ask

Yep, along with tubes and wires, visible wonkiness, and other fun stuff, so I just can't play secret squirrel and often have to be up front, as unfortunately there are some really hard of thinking folk out there.
I was challenged in central London last week by someone who having seen me in all my glory, still wanted me to give up my hard won disabled space (had challenged a non blue badge holder out of it) because he needed it for his Dad who he had on the phone and was driving around looking for a space and was... disabled!
He didn't think my cheerful "Snap!" was funny.😂

😯😯😯

I have 'become' disabled over the last 10 years. so it's all relatively new and shocking to me.bi really thought disabled people were 'looked after' but that is not even a little bit true at all