Hey all, I am new to a wheelchair and this forum (so new to a wheelchair I am still using the rental and waiting through all the insurance hassles now and wheelchair company delays now for my new one). Anyways, my vehicle is not yet setup for me to drive either so every time I go out my boyfriend is with me. I am trying to plan ahead to when I can go out on my own or just so I can get around the store without having to ask him to carry things for me. Anyways, my question is this... Is it ok to put items into a wheelchair bag (backpack) when shopping, or will they bust you for trying to steal things? How does everyone else do it? I can put a couple things on my lap but at a point they start to roll off. Or if things are larger how do you get them out of the store? Carts seem a bit difficult to push as I us a manual wheelchair but maybe I just need to learn to get the hang of it for larger items. I am hoping there is a better way than using carts though for when you need to run to the store to pick up a dozen smaller things.

Thanks for your feedback!

I think most people balance a few items on their laps. Its easier for men though as they have longer legs! You really just have to practice I suppose and get your own technique. I couldnt do trolleys for ages as I was really nervous about trying and looking stupid. I can do the smaller trolleys now with no problem although I go when its quiet as my steering is a bit erratic! I cant do the bigger trolleys as I cant reach inside to get the stuff out. I think it helps if you can be seen at the same stores, they will get to know you and realise you are not trying to run off with anything!

cheers
L

I put a basket on my knee and use a bungee cord to go around my waist to hold it in place. If its a bigger shopping trip I just psh a trollt but leave it at the ends of the aisles.

T

I ambulate when outside of home, but I rarely shop anywhere that doesn't provide electric shopping carts...I just don't have that much umph! I can use the floorboards to hold the larger items, like cases of sodas (avoids lifting up the heavier items into the cart too), etc., it frees up the basket space, which is smaller than your average cart.

If I did use my w/c outside of the house, I'd probably still transfer into their electric carts, because I can't remember the last time I bought so few items that they'd fit onto my lap. I often have my son push yet another full-sized cart along with me. I hate to shop, so I usually put it off until we're out of everything....so it's feast or famine at my house. lol.

We had a post on this very subject way back that provided a plethora of good ideas. I just couldn't find it right now.

I'm a para and I always use the store's hand baskets. If I find bigger items, such as a kitchen appliance for example, I'll just ask a clerk to take it to the front counter to hold for me. Usually they offer that right up though before I can ask.

In the grocery store I will fill up a hand basket, then take it to a checker to hold while I grab another basket and fill that up... and so on. I don't feel comfortable packing things on my chair at all and especially to use in place of a basket/cart so I understand your apprehension there.
Always have someone push a cart to my car and help load the trunk for me but I usually direct their packing job because when I arrive home I have to "unpack" it all myself and want to be certain they've packed the bags in a way they're not too heavy or awkward for me. Also Linens & Things were kind enough to permit me to "keep" one of their baskets in my posession so I keep it in the trunk and when I arrive home can more easily carry bags in it and up to my apt. I live in a high rise so it's a trek for me to unload from parking lot to elevator to apt But at least I'm strong ;-)

Best to you on your new "lifestyle"

If I'm going to the grocery store and need a few items I will use the hand basket and put it on my lap. If going big shopping I will use the grocery cart and have the baggers unload what I cant reach and load it to the truck.

But the department store has been more of a challenge especially the ones that dont have the store mesh bags or the small carts. I just went recently with out my good friend who loves to shop she normally helps out and holds my stuff, and it was a disaster. I had too many things on my lap and the hangers fell in my spokes and then some of the sleeves fell and got caught in my front casters. I will next time take the things that I want to the register then go back for the additional shopping I need to do. That was a learning experience and just plain stupid on my part. What was I really thinking with all that I my lap? ...............absoluting nothing...

That's really funny Joed! Made me chuckle.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, sounds like the baskets when available are the most popular methods out there. Some things that you never even though of before suddenly are a bigger issue than you realized when you find yourself in a wheelchair.

The bungee cord is a good idea too until I have more experience in the wheelchair anyways and then I can play it by ear. I don't want to end up accidentally knocking the basket off my lap by hitting it with my forarm on a good push or by not thinking about it when I reach to get something off a higher shelf

They make a basket for this at adalap.com. It's a little expensive though.

If I know I am going to do a lot of grocery shopping I just go to the desk and ask for an assistant to take me round. They grab the trolley and I just shout what is on my list and we go around together. They usually know where everything is anyway. The assistant would even take it to th taxi for me. The taxi driver would bring it all into the house. If no assistant is available I would push a trolly to the end of one aisle and get everything I wanted from that aisle then push it to the next one. Sometimes when it is quite full it is a little tricky but usually people offer to help so just say yes. Nowadays I do it all on computer and they deliver.

I use a basket, you can fit loads in them

Just had to repost to this thread as I had my first experience with a shopping cart last night and am pretty proud of myself...

I went to the grocery store last night with my boyfriend and he grabbed a cart. He told me he was going to run over to the bank (in the grocery store) and make a payment on the boat and was also going to quick buy some stamps. I then sat next to the cart just inside the entry way of the store. After waiting for a few seconds I saw the soda that we were going to get sitting about 10 feet away from me so I decided to try pushing the cart over there and loading it under the bottom of the cart. Success... was able to do that, took a while to get the cart as it was all over the place but at least I did it. I waited then for a few minutes and I didn't see him so I thought I would try starting to go through the store pushing the cart as much as possible. Then if anyone offered assistance I would be able to tell them no thanks because I was with someone. As I started to get going it was slow and difficult at first but then I figured if I could get my feet wedged underneath the cart it was a little easier as the cart would stay pretty much in the direction the chair was headed... then I took my feet out from under the cart as they were pointed in a weird direction and tried to push it again. I found that if I pushed my footrest right up to the cart and then held the cart with one hand and wheeled the chair with the opposite hand then the cart stayed pretty straight. I would just push for half dozen times with one hand and then swap the hands if I started to go to the side. Turning corners just consisted of me pushing the cart out as far as I could in front of me while turning, then bring the chair up behind it, and repeating a couple of times. Then again line up the chair and hold on with one hand to the cart and wheel with the opposite hand. It actually was pretty easy.

By the time my boyfriend finished up and caught up with me in the store he said he couldnt beliieve I had made it so far. Major accomplishment for me at the grocery store!

Normally baskets will do the trick like many suggested but at least I know that if I need to use a cart such as at the grocery store, I can actually do it.

Everyone loads me up like a pack horse...i could go to the shop with no top on and you'd never know as i have that much crap on my lap. Then they'll run off to grab other things and leave me, unsucsessfully trying to keep everything from falling off my lap.
And the amount of times i've almost been taken out by a shopping trolley flying around the corner who needs extreme sports when you have saturday morning grocery shopping

Thats pretty good

My boyfriend loads me up like a mule too when we go shopping together. We pick up 6 cases of soda and he will pile them on my lap and then get a basket and put that on top of the pile of soda cases. I looked at him once and said "this might hurt" he laughed and said yeah well good thing you cant feel it then.

Nude shopping...that's hilarious! You may have started something here.....

Hello,

I can totally relate to your frustrations and difficulty in shopping. I have been dealing with that for years. My answer was to design and develop a unit to solve the problems. It is soooo awesome, but stores don't have them available yet because people are not even aware of the existence of this new product. The hardest thing seems to be grocery shopping, and this not only solves those problems listed in the posts above, but also allows me to enjoy mobility in parks and trails, etc like never before.

This product, "the Buzzy", is a new invention. Instead of supermarket stores having 8-12 amigos and NOTHING specific for permanent wheelchair users, they should at least have 1 less amigo and replace it with the Buzzy.

Take a look at the site below, and respectfully demand they carry the unit to assist in your shopping their stores. Consumer demand is what will help ALL of us to be able to do things more simplified and will assist in pressuring stores to have one available to all of us users of wheelchairs.

Please see: www.thebuzzycompany.com, then ask your favorite store to place one right next to their extensive lineup of Amigo's.

That is actually a pretty handy/cool looking device. I hope to see them in stores one day

Thank you for your reply... AND that is the intention (to have them in stores). Marketing is tough, so pressure from customers like us in wheelchairs is what is going to make it happen. They just don't "get it" because they don't deal with the same obstacles as what we have to contend with. Request your store to carry it, and we'd be happy to send you information on it as well, as we have DVD's professionally produced that is the same video as you see on the website.

Thanks!

Thats neat buzzy..

I would LOVE to see that in stores! I fear it may be easier said than done though.......stores aren't too likely to buy something that ONLY those who bring their own manual wheelchairs can use, their attitude is that they already provide those electric cart thingys.

I understand your feelings, and yet if they can purchase special carts for parents to place their un-disciplined children in, then there is certainly a place in their heart to purchase a Buzzy. However, customers like us who push for it will be necessary for them to actually admit the need is there - rather than avoiding the issue.

You shop w/ a Buzzy and you'll not go back to a typical cart. Guaranteed.