The holiday season has descended upon us again like a plague of locusts and you know what that means, time to fork over your money to the Capitalism gods. And the mall, oh the blessed mall, has become a symbol of the holidays – the place to buy gifts and to absorb yourself in the holiday spirit. Just in time for the holidays, my shopping mall survival tips. As a self-confessed shopaholic, saying I know a thing or two about navigating a mall from a wheelchair is an understatement.
Say ‘No’ to the Weekends: This may be impossible for some, but if you can find a way to shop during the week, and avoid Saturdays and Sundays completely, you’re doing yourself a huge favor. While malls have more holiday entertainment on the weekends, the lines and the sheer amount of people quickly negate any weekend-shopping bonuses. If you’re serious about holiday shopping and want to make sure you leave with everything you came for (and NOT leave with a headache), then go on the weekdays. You’ll be able to roll the stores and the mall with ease, without dodging people left and right or wasting time in line.
Make a List and Check it Twice: Everyone that goes holiday shopping has a list – either in their minds, on their cell or jotted on a piece of paper. Try going a step further and do some online research at home before you head to the mall. Doing this can help you find the best stores and prices for what you’re looking, making sure you don’t wander aimlessly around the mall wasting your time and money (unless that’s your thing of course).
Slow It Down, Partner: It can be almost too enticing to zoom all over the mall getting your holiday shopping done in a flash, but remember, malls are public spaces and you need to go at pedestrian speeds. Not only is it the polite thing to do (don’t want to scare the kiddies now), but it’s safe. Even on the deadest days at the mall, you never know when someone will pop into your path out of no where, causing you to stop suddenly.
Elevator Hunt: Never think the mall elevators are your only option when trying to navigate through a mall. Remember, most department stores that sit at the corner of a mall also have an elevator, use those while everyone else hogs the most visible elevators in the center of the mall.
Pack Sustenance: Or fill up before you go. Everyone loves a piping hot pretzel from Auntie Anne’s, but it can be hard to handle vendor food if you have a disability. Pack something both salty and sweet, and something to drink, so you’re not feigning for food when all you’re trying to do is get out of there with your list completed.
Take Up Help Offers: Why waste your time combing over a store when there’s a perky employee who’s more than willing to help? Stop trying to prove you‘re so independent and take them up on their offer. It will not only save you loads of time and the hassle of making your way through a packed store, but hey, you’ll make someone feel like they did their good deed for the day.
Have fun holiday shopping and remember – with a little bit of planning, holiday shopping from your wheelchair can be just as enjoyable, if not better (hello the wheelchair is the best rolling bag carrier in the world), than anyone else.
Did I leave you wanting more? Read my post Managing Your Holiday Shopping Experience From Your Wheelchair for more info (and a bit of humor) on this topic.
What are your shopping mall strategies?
Photo courtesy of Ian Muttoo
I have a huge problem with the last one. Being such a stubborn mule, I often refuse help more often than not. However, I do agree that the Christmas rush is the time to put aside those feelings and accept help.
Another thing I tend to do during the holidays: if I must go to the mall, I try to get there EARLY – as in “opening time” early. Even though it’s the Christmas rush, there are still a lot of people who don’t want to wake up early on a weekday morning.
Great tips. I’m just getting acclimated to this chair and am having trouble with the whole independence versus asking for help type of thing. My surgery hasn’t gotten me out of having to go along with my wife Christmas shopping though. It seems to take two-dozen trips every year (actually that’s probably hyperbole, but it seems like a lot). So I was sitting around bored out of my mind, until a coworker at DISH told me about the dish remote access app that we have. It turned out to be really easy to set up, and now I can stream all of my programming anywhere I go to my iPad. Watching It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and browsing the guide to see what I want the DVR to record while my wife meanders through the stores, is going to keep me sane this season. I can’t ask for too much more than that.
ha! love the iPad idea!