Was I a Karen today?

[XanaDUer2]

I'm out of work due to illness, living off savings now. So, I now shop once a week for $100.00. Feeding 2 adults and a cat. So, I shop at Wal-Mart. Survival at this point.

My SO is profoundly disabled and needs the ride-around cart. He doesn't get out much, so a trip out, even to WM, gets him out of the house.

I asked for a manager today because, as usual, the disabled carts were not plugged in and batteries were run down. This is a huge problem for us. It only happens at Wal-Mart. I asked the manager if staff could make sure the carts were plugged in for users who need them. I was polite.

I'm a middle-aged white woman.

[ret5hd]

1. Never heard of a polite karen...

Just sayin’.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

2. That is not Karen behavior

You were taking care of your SO's needs that were legitimate.

[hlthe2b]

3. No.

You were a paying customer pointing out a valid service problem to the store manager. Something EVERYONE has the raight to do, albeit politely.

[demigoddess]

4. NO you were fine. Walmart seems to be falling down on the job.

[FuzzyRabbit]

5. You did the store a favor.

The manager and other store employees probably were not aware of the problem.

[jpak]

6. Did you fall on the floor and scream like a 2 YO?

If not

No Karen

[Ocelot II]

7. If you were polite you weren't being a Karen.

There are times when it's perfectly appropriate to want to talk to a manager, as when a normal, advertised service is inexplicably unavailable and a rank-and-file employee can't or won't take care of the problem. "Could I please talk to a manager about this?" said in a polite, respectful tone is not Karen-ish. Screeching "What the hell is wrong with you people, you're supposed to keep these f&cking batteries charged! This store sucks! I want to see your manager right now!!" is. You didn't do that.

[sheshe2]

8. No, you were not.

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. The ADA is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life.

https://adata.org/learn-about-ada

Your SO has a disability and by law these places need to provide access. By leaving them uncharged, scattered and therefore inaccessible is against the law.

Hugs. You did good.

[MerryHolidays]

9. Not at all! You did WalMart a favor

I'm not sure whether electric shopping carts are required under the ADA and comparable state laws. But WalMart put these there for a reason, and it's, at the very least, bad form for it not have the carts charged.

[sarge43]

10. Not even in the same time/space continuum.

Karens don't ask. They demand, then throw a hizzy when they don't get exactly what they demanded. Threats and insults are part of the production.

[Skittles]

11. no

"Karens" act out in an unreasonable, arrogant fashion over trivial or non-issues. Yours is a very valid complaint, and compliance by that management would make it easier for other disabled folk. Kudos to you.

[Aristus]

12. The Karens of the world need to be more like you.

I think you did just fine...

[hibbing]

13. No, you didn't inconvenience or abuse anyone n/t

[Jilly_in_VA]

14. Nope

Not a Karen. Not even remotely. You did other disabled folks a favor.

[Mr.Bill]

15. I don't know...

You did ask to "speak to the manager".

[7wo7rees]

16. No I don't believe you were. I was a Karen all afternoon!

Running errands for our house. Mom is 85 with dementia, getting worse. DH works from home and can't/won't lift a finger to do anything else (he is also obese, morbidly so).

Our truck was out of gas, I did not have any idea how dsngerously close I was to being stuck on side of road! I took care of oil change yesterday. I am out of fucks to give.

I told the people at Pet Smart I will never give you another dime because I walked in and saw the sign saying if you are not vaxxed, please wear a mask. I asked the 1st 2 employees I encountered how does this work? "Honor system". Right. So you without mask, vaxxed? Yes mam" And so you wearing mask? No. "I don't believe in it, too experimental".
Turned out unmasked was mgr, he stepped in and said, "mam, it is personal preference"!
Yeah, I don't think so!!!
At the gas pump ran into a 20 year old blonde in cute, expensive car. "Are you vaxxed?" Yeah, no. I'm 20, I'm healthy, I don't need it"

[XanaDUer2]

18. I'm sorry

sounded like a horrible time. No masks in WM, I'm vaccinated.

[7wo7rees]

19. No sorrys are necessary, but thank you. And yes, this afternoon was horrific!

[luckone]

20. Not at all they were stopping the disabled from shopping !

Now if you come back and they are still down maybe you know it’s not gonna get better and look for another place .if they have a new mangr or team problem it might not change Not doable for you ? then complain at the Walmart again
I don know Walmart well but if they have one of those surveys on the receipt answer it about the carts
A Karen would complain about a disabled cart in an aisle and feign inability to get around it or even fake getting hurt by it ,maybe be judgy about why you need it or say I am glad I don’t need that thing to get around or are you allowed with that in this area ?
The store did not have to call the security on you and you did not fake call the police to come to help you
You weren’t crazy mean or racist just asking for a service to work when you come to shop

[Sherman A1]

21. No you were not

but I would recommend shopping around as best you can. I find Walmart is actually higher on many products than the Union grocery stores in my area.

[Demobrat]

22. Depends

Did you yell at people and call them names? Did you ram any carts into any displays? Did you try to run anybody over? Did you hit the manager with your purse? Did you sit on a cart and refuse to budge until it was charged? Did security have to haul you out kicking and screaming?

If so, you might be a Karen.

[AverageOldGuy]

23. What will you do the next time . . .

. . you go to the same store and the carts are discharged, not plugged in?

I suggest you find out -- NOW -- the name and phone number of the store manager's boss. When you go back to WM next week and find the carts unplugged and discharged, with the store manager standing there, call the district manager and have the store manager explain him/herself.

Be prepared for the store manager to blame it on the kid who brings the carts in from the parking lot. DO NOT let him/her get away with that bullshit. I served 30 years in the Army. There is an Army regulation that states "The commander is responsible for everything the unit does or fails to do." Hold the manager's feet to the fire.

[XanaDUer2]

24. I also called the number on the receipt

and it gives only the first name of the manager. It rang and rang, then disconnected me.

I don't want the lowest person on the totem pole blamed. This is a real hardship to us when these carts are unusable. My bf had to sit on the one bench available. Once he had to sit on the non-functioning cart. Today, he got his hair cut, and they then let him sit in the salon.