Pack The Halls With lots Of Folly

Have you ever felt like you were the object of a big pin ball game? In fact bouncing from side to side would best describe my shopping experience on Black Friday afternoon. I was going shopping with my future daughter in law, Sara, who was running late. I saw an attendant pass my car with an electronic cart so I asked if he would bring it to me and he did. I proceeded to go into the store and do some shopping. While waiting for Sara to arrive I went into the men's department to shop. The aisles were so narrow with the clothing racks all close together. I had to maneuver the cart  several times,  I went forward, hit a clothing rack then back up to bump off another rack, repeat, turn wheels, hit a rack, repeat again. Each time I bounced off the racks like a pin ball off a bumper. It's like a Humvee trying to fit into a parking spot designed for a Honda. I finally was able to turn the cart and started down an aisle when the wheel of the cart caught onto one of the clothing racks dragging it behind me. I had to rearrange the men's department just to to turn around. Released from the snares of the devilish racks I moved forward to get out. As I approached the end of the aisle I saw it was closed off and packed with foolish sale items offered on Black Friday. “You've got to be kidding”, I stated out loud. You guessed it, I had to back up and try all over again to turn the cart so I could be free of this nightmare. Backing up, I banged into a rack causing me and the cart to jolt. One man near by started laughing. Most people just looked the other way. I'm sure if someone video taped this and posted on You Tube it would bring much laughter to those watching. I was so exhausted and flustered by this time. I worked up a sweat and had to use the restroom. I found Sara and told her I needed to use the facility. So both of us proceeded to go into the woman’s room. Unfortunately this experience was worse. I was unable to even get into the restroom they have a small hallway and the cart is way too big to fit. I had to back out of the bathroom and into a maintenance closet so that I can try and turn the cart. I had to physically get out of the cart where Sara and I had to pull it manually to straighten it out. With my legs crossed, I kept praying I wouldn't fall or loose control of my bladder. Sara is saying “Mom be careful, what are you doing? Get back in there and let me pull it.” She's just a tiny little thing and I could not see her being able to pull the cart with my butt in it. Between the both of us we were able to get out of that predicament. Once again others are standing near by but no one offered to help, there weren't any store clerks around either . During this whole experience the only person who showed any sympathy was a little girl shopping with her baby brother. I was backing out of the aisle and hit the shelving unit. She comes running over, “ Are you OK?" she asks. Her parents should be very proud of her. I know I was. I wanted to give her a big hug but instead made it a point of telling her how kind she was to ask. Having worked up an appetite and still needing to use the restroom we left there and went to a near by restaurant.

I decided to write a letter, sharing of my horrible experience, to the guest relations department for that store. I received a reply stating that they were very sorry for my experience but they meet the requirements for the ADA (American Disability Act) and in the future if I have any problems they have Redbox telephones to use to call somebody and they can come and help me. Well while I'm stuck in the men's department there is no red phone for me to have access to nor do they have red phone's in the woman’s restroom . I then called customer relations in the corporate office and explained my situation to them. I'm not looking to cause trouble or report them to ADA but look into the situation and find solutions. They need smaller carts, instead of the Cadillac version expected to fit into the narrow aisles. I also suggested to make the restrooms more handicapped accessible where buttons could be installed on the outside of the doors enabling them to open automatically. Once again I received,  "Thank you for your response. We are sorry for what you went through. We really do care what our customers think. I will pass this information on to our corporate office". Unfortunately I don't think that anything will change.  This store is one of the few stores that offer the electronic carts plus they have the automatic door opener to get into the store. The way it is now I'm like hurricane run wild. Shoppers beware!