Dear Vineet, I went to one Big Bazaar store today. Overall it was a good experience. I have written about it on my facebook, also copying it below. https://www.facebook.com/prashantranjan.verma.5/posts/1667190163352567
I was extremely happy when I got the news that Big Bazaar is planning to provide accessible shopping experience to persons with disabilities. We being a visually impaired couple face difficulties on a regular basis in shopping. We try to fulfil our requirements through online shopping and by ordering the nearby shops on phone. But for many things we do need to go to stores like Big Bazaar. We have always wanted to take advantage of the wide variety of products and lower prices in Big Bazaar but inability to read the price tags and find the desired product on the big shopping floor stops us from going there regularly. Being the chief functionary of a prominent organization for the visually impaired, I understand the importance of this initiative and therefore I congratulate Big Bazaar for taking this step for the first time in the retail industry. At my organization the National Association for the Blind (Delhi), I interact with hundreds and thousands of visually impaired who have narrated their difficulties with shopping in the past. This initiative of Big Bazaar will in all probability push the other retail chains to follow them and all this is just good news for people who have difficulties in reading, hearing, speech or mobility. I decided to just walk into the Big Bazaar store in the Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi today to personally experience the change. I entered the Big Bazaar carrying a white cane from their ground floor. After a few minutes I was able to meet a person who seemed to be staff of Big Bazaar and I asked him to take me to their customer care counter. He led me to the counter and introduced me to the lady handling the counter. I told her that I needed assistance for shopping. The lady immediately called a person from her team and asked him to assist me. It seemed to me from their conversation that they were well aware of what needed to be done. They requested me to come back for filling up a short questionnaire after the shopping was completed. I walked with the Big Bazaar staff holding his arm. He picked up a trolley for me. Another Big Bazaar staff started walking with us to help in shopping. I told them about all the things I needed so that they could stop at the first shelf that had items of my interest. They read out the names of the products and prices for me. Within few minutes I got whatever I needed. This was such a big change from my previous experiences when I have wasted so much time going around and around the shelves not being able to find my desired products. . The Big Bazaar shopping assistant helped me with the billing also which was quick as well. Then we walked to the customer care desk where the lady read out the small questionnaire and noted my response and contact details. I understand that this is a onetime survey to better understand the need of the disabled customers and I am happy to help out in it. My shopping experience was hassle free and actually a pleasant experience. I am just afraid that I will end up spending much more than my budget with this kind of assistance at shopping. My wife is delighted to learn about my experience and she can’t wait to go there with her big shopping list alone, since I am not as patient as her at shopping! I understand that for the team at Big Bazaar these are the first experiences of catering to customers with a difference and therefore they are also learning to react appropriately. The only small change I would like is to be immediately identified as a customer requiring assistance on entering the store since I was carrying a white cane. Today it happened after some time, I am sure when more and more people like me will go to Big Bazaar, this aspect will also improve. With thanks and best wishes for Big Bazaar and the person who took this initiative, Prashant Ranjan Verma General Secretary of National Association for the Blind (Delhi), www.nabdelhi.in -----Original Message----- From: Ai [mailto:ai-boun...@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in] On Behalf Of George Abraham via Ai Sent: 31 October 2017 06:44 To: 'Share, empower &Enrich' <ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in> Cc: George Abraham <geo...@eyeway.org> Subject: Re: [Ai] Soft launch of an accessible shopping experience at Big Bazaar stores across 17 cities, 29th to 31st October Will be visiting the store this morning! -----Original Message----- From: Ai [mailto:ai-boun...@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in] On Behalf Of Vineet Kumar via Ai Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2017 12:11 AM To: Share, empower &Enrich Cc: Vineet Kumar Subject: Re: [Ai] Soft launch of an accessible shopping experience at Big Bazaar stores across 17 cities, 29th to 31st October Thanks for your feedback Our Team would get in touch for your feedback. Tomorrow is the last day of the soft Launch and people residing in Agra, Ahmedabad,Bangalore,Bhubaneshwar,Dehradun,Ranchi,Guwahati,Raipur,Hyderabad,Indore,Jaipur,Kolkatta,Mumbai,Mysore,NCR region,Patna,Pune Plz go and experience the service. Sent from my iPhone > On 30-Oct-2017, at 9:04 PM, payal jethra via Ai > <ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in> wrote: > > Hi All, > > Sharing my experience of shopping at Big Bazar. Happy to be part of > the soft launch at Mumbai. Appreciate the initiative by Future Group & > BGFI in putting this together. > > It was a kind of last minute decision to go shopping so I wasn’t able > to pre-book shopping assistance online. This evening, my ten year old > and I stepped into Big Bazar at Hub Mall, Goragaon East, Mumbai to > experience shopping. Following are my thoughts & observations: > > • We had the mall security reach us to the Big Bazar, aap-ke-liye help > desk. > • We were lucky to get assistance from Seema, Dilip, Sakhib & Manali, > the Big Bazar team members right from the time we began to shop > through the one and a quarter hour we spent > • It was especially helpful to have assistance while shopping for > groceries & staples, to have the weight & prices of items & > ingredients read out. > • The team also informed us on deals & offers as we walked through the > bakery section > • While shopping through the frozen meat section, having the BB team > members assist in reading out labels on details of food items before > making up my mind on what I wished to shop for enhanced the > experience. > • Certain items like loose sugar, required to be filled in a poly bag > & weighed before adding them to the shopping cart. The staff helped > simplify this process. > • When we proceeded to check out, Manali, at the priority Counter red > out the list & quantity of items on our list to help recheck the bill. > • The boys helped us load our shopping into poly bags & happily saw us > off as they reached us to our vehicle. > > We probably missed filling the feedback form in case there was to be > one. Hope I get a chance to fill it online. > > Also, would have appreciated getting help in pre-booking assistance > via BB’s 1-800 customer care in situations when it is not possible to > access internet while commuting. > > Overall, it was a good experience. I am not a mall-going, shopper type > for at most times, I get all my groceries delivered to my house by > calling the local grocery store. However, sometimes, it becomes > important to step out for items like mushroms or corn, frozen meat or > spring onions which are rarely found at local stores. > > Cheers! > Payal Jethra > Phone: 7303448295 > > "Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to > anybody." - Mark Twain > >> On 10/30/17, Vineet Kumar via Ai <ai@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in> wrote: >> I completely agree with you Ma'am >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On 30-Oct-2017, at 6:12 PM, Preeti Monga >>> <preeti.mo...@silver-linings.org> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Dear Vineet >>> >>> This is a great initiative and we all need this kind of service very >>> much! >>> Thank you for taking the first steps towards making shopping >>> accessible to the visually impaired. I am sure other companies will >>> follow your lead and make many more services accessible for us! >>> >>> However, please may I say that most visually impaired people are >>> not used to getting out and that too for shopping! There are various >>> factors for this. So this will take time, and we will have to keep >>> on reassuring and encouraging people to come forward. I too will be >>> visiting one of your stores in East Delhi tomorrow. >>> >>> It could also be the shortage of time, or mobility issues at the >>> personal front that is preventing us from going to your esteemed store! >>> >>> Please be patient, there will be teething problems, but we don't >>> want to give up the baby just because there are problems! Please do >>> keep up the great work! And there is no city in India where there >>> are no blind people! >>> Only they are kept away from mainstream society by many many factors! >>> Slowly >>> when these people realize that theendently, they will come flocking >>> to your store! >>> >>> Will give you all my feedback tomorrow! >>> >>> Warmly >>> Preeti >>> >>> Preeti Monga - Chief Executive Officer >>> >>> >>> Inspiring INCLUSION! Fostering DIGNITY! >>> >>> >>> Mobile : 91 9871701646 >>> Landline : 011 22781446 >>> E-mail : preeti.mo...@silver-linings.org /preeti.mo...@gmail.com >>> Website : www.silver-linings.org Our Services: Recruitment, >>> Trainings- Unique Motivation Programmes, Diversity & Inclusion, >>> POSH. >>> >>> Your Choice to partner with us contributes towards quality Education >>> & Empowerment of Visually Impaired Girls, and providing them with >>> secure Hostel facility at SHIKSHA (A CSR Initiative of Silver >>> Linings) >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Ai [mailto:ai-boun...@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in] On >>> Behalf Of Vineet Kumar via Ai >>> Sent: Monday, October 30, 2017 17:41 >>> To: Amit Bhatt >>> Cc: Vineet Kumar; AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility >>> and issues concerningthe disabled.; >>> vineet.saraiw...@futureretail.in; vineet saraiwala; Share, empower >>> &Enrich >>> Subject: Re: [Ai] [AI] Soft launch of an accessible shopping >>> experience at Big Bazaar stores across 17 cities, 29th to 31st >>> October >>> >>> RDear colleagues, >>> >>> It is very surprising that not even a single Person with visual >>> impaired has visited any of the Big Bazaar in >>> Kolkatta,Ranchi,Guwahati,Raipur and Patna. >>> Please spread the word if you reside in these cities because your >>> response will help me to plan for the launch accordingly.It might >>> also happen that Persons with Visual Disabilities do not exist in >>> these cities and Big Bazaar might have assessed the market >>> situation wrongly. >>> >>> >>> Regards, >>> vineet >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>>> On 30-Oct-2017, at 7:42 AM, Amit Bhatt <misterbh...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> Dear Vineet, >>>> >>>> I happened to have this opportunity to visit Big Bazaar at The >>>> Great India >>> Place, Noida yesterday. >>>> >>>> I had submited my feedback to the authorized representative there, >>> however, a few brief points I'd like to mention here: >>>> >>>> 1. I have found my shopping assistant being cooperative and >>>> friendly but >>> they need to be provided with a professional training for the >>> betterment in my opinion. >>>> >>>> 2. Staff available in billing desk is required to tell the customer >>>> about >>> the cost of each product and then final cost of all shopping while >>> preparing the bill. >>>> The person I met on billing counter was also a very good human but >>>> I am >>> addressing these small points just for the improvement. So it can be >>> resolved at the larger scale by your endeavors. >>>> >>>> 3. I bought some perfumes from their and the seller was absolutely >>> professional this time! and I was happy with the way he presented >>> the products and explained the product specification along with the price. >>>> >>>> I had told this to your team members, so the other sellers and >>>> staff >>> members can be made more sensitised and professional like the >>> person who was at the cosmetics store. >>>> >>>> 4. Accessible environment inside and outside of the Big Bazaar is >>>> another >>> matter of great concern, it has to be taken care in entire Mall area >>> in the future I suppose. >>>> >>>> Overall it was a wonderful experience and I was thrilled after >>> participating in this soft launch! >>>> >>>> Wishing you and the entire team all the very bestt! >>>> >>>> With warm regards, >>>> >>>> Amit Bhatt >>>> >>>> Probationary Officer - United Bank of India >>>> www.unitedbankofindia.com >>>> >>>> Moderator - SayEverything, an open discussion forum for persons >>>> with >>> disabilities >>>> www.sayeverything.org >>>> >>>> Contact: +91-9560175887, 8178838112 >>>> >>>> Skype: amitbhattindia >>>> >>>> "Success lies not in the result, but in the efforts" >>> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was >>> scrubbed... >>> URL: >>> <http://accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in/pipermail/ai/attachments/201 >>> 71030/62 >>> 03b1b6/attachment.html> >>> >>> >>> Disclaimer: >>> 1. 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