To be irritated by Asda card woman?

[ExitSandyman]

At our local Asda there is a woman who hangs around the cards - she’s ALWAYS there. She doesn’t seem to do much other than tidy up the shelves and bother customers. She wears a badge that’s says volunteer.

Anyway whenever you go down the cards aisle she will come over and ask if you need any help. No matter what your answer is, she will ask who you’re buying for and start pulling out cards that you might like.

I personally like to shop in peace. If I’m buying a card, I know the person I’m buying for and I know what kind of thing they’ll like.?having this woman pushing various cards into me is a distraction and an annoyance. Has anyone ever heard of these volunteers at Asda? Is it some kind of scheme? She’s been there well over a year. My heart sinks everytime I need a card and I see her stood there as she just won’t leave people alone.

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

I would find this irritating and intrusive too. I'd consider buying cards elsewhere.

Oh I hate this. Do I have a loyalty card, no. Do I want one, no. Do I realise that I can save 30% by signing up today, I don’t give a rats behind.
So irritating

Oh. Wow. I totally never thought of that.

Thank you so much.

So you’re saying you ask them to move and they refuse? I’ve literally never had that experience or seen that happen.

Weird that it happens to you so regularly.

My god if we could get my brother (asd) a job like this our lives would be made!) Well done Asda for giving people opportunities like this

No. Imagine, if you will, me saying excuse me and Card Lady huffing and taking her sweet time to move a mere few inches so I can choose a nice card.

Not hard, is it?

Just politely tell her to leave you alone. No thank you, I'd prefer to choose by myself, I don't want help today.

As I said, I’ve never seen staff do this, you must be asking rudely.

So busy that you can't possibly engage with the volunteer for 20 seconds but plenty of time to moan on mumsnet. Hmm.

Years ago I worked at a supermarket who employed a gentleman with additional needs. It's been over two decades since i left and he still comes over for a chat. He shakes my hand, he asks how I am and then we both get on with our day. I'm always in a rush but I take 30 seconds out of my shop.

Oh the pious prats are out in good number today. The same posters who jump in to criticise anybody and anything else for anything at all. Here they are banging a drum that nobody needs to listen to.

It's fantastic that there are schemes available to help people with SEN, I've worked with social services teams who've busted a gut to do the same but it isn't as straightforward as some seem to think that a person can be placed into a role without support and that's what seems to be happening here. It takes collaboration and an understanding of the roles that people with SEN are being put into, along with support, to make it a success. Pinning a 'volunteer' badge on and putting that person into an area where people where to browse, without that support, is what's unkind. Where are all the 'be kind' posters on that?

As PP has said, leaving a volunteer without help or guidance isn't something to be lauded and ASDA should be focusing on that rather than a box-ticking exercise... or what's the oft overused phrase here - virtue signalling? This thread smacks of it.

It doesn't matter how often OP buys cards. Telling posters to 'shop elsewhere' is just moronic. Suggest that to the CEO of ASDA then and see if they agree with you. I suspect not. There is some really pathetic posturing here and it's doing nobody any favours.

Assuming this lady has some kind of SEN and isn’t good at picking up on social cues you just need to be kind but firm with her.

‘Do you need any help?’
’No, thank you’
‘who are you buying a card for?’
’I really just want to choose one on my own. Is that ok?’

If she’s really persistent after that then it might be a good idea to mention to the store that she might need some training.

You're right. That must be it. When I say 'excuse me... thanks love!' it probably does sound like 'get the fuck out my road so I can pick a fucking card for my mum's birthday. You bitch.'

Yes, our local Asda has quite a few staff members with additional support needs - many of them in paid roles too. It’s fantastic, even if it does lead to some interesting conversations. I once got told I was turning my baby into a “booze bag” because I bought four ciders as a gift when pregnant 😂

Well you must be conveying that if you get that reaction every time.

the80sweregreat · Yesterday 20:58
**
She sounds nuts ! Why voluntarily volunteer to work in Asda ? No offence to the lady , but this sounds a bit bizarre !”

Aww. You’re all empathy, aren’t you.

Fuck. I need to go. I'm going to pop round right now and throw myself at Card Lady's feet and beg forgiveness for saying 'excuse me...thanks love!' in such a nasty way.

All this talk of just politely declining ignores the fact that that is not easy for customers who have SEN or are neurodiverse themselves. If someone knew how to politely deflect an insistent person, they probably wouldn't be here saying that they would find this situation difficult. I would have no clue what to say if she didn't back off after I said no thank you. If staff are in my way, I just continue my shopping elsewhere in the store and come back later to get what I needed. I would never dream of asking them to move.

I'm sure the volunteer lady would love to be out and about being busy. Unfortunately she can't be. My sister would have been over the moon to be in that kind of place.
So very sorry that people can't recognise that you can manage the situation where the volunteer has a a pleasant exchange and the customer gets the cards they require.
Treating people nicely from a position of strength or power is a mark of how civilised we are.

One or two low scores today!

Some people have to volunteer to get benefits. I don't know I'd she is one of them or is trying to build up retail experience, but I'd just talk to her. Tell her you know what you're looking for and you're good without help.

She may be lonel, so be kind.

Hope this works.

Some of the responses on here make me despair.

Those agreeing with op, you do realise your own circumstances can change in a blink an eye? You could become the person with additional needs?

We are all bloody busy and anti social but it's a dark fucking day when you cannot show a shred of empathy for anyone else because of it.

I can’t tell who you’re angry at? Who are the pious prats?

Maybe get her a 'I'm sorry' card!

Some of the peope replying ARE people with addition needs saying that this situation would make the uncomfortable and would be difficult for them

I will if she let's me past to look!

Well it's potentially both isn't it?

My daughter could very easily be in a role like the volunteer described in the OP.

While I think a scheme like this is brilliant and I would expect volunteers to be treated with respect by customers and other staff, it would be doing the volunteer a disservice if they're not trained/able to deal with customers who don't want or need their help.

I know only too well that ableist pillocks exist, but I don't think that's the only thing happening here.