Welcome to (TAFN) The Accessible Friends Network
ONLINE SHOPPING GUIDE
Website reviews by screen reader users.
1st Floor = Online Department Stores & High Street Shops
Contributed to by several TAFN members.
|
|
Welcome to (TAFN) The Accessible Friends Network ONLINE SHOPPING GUIDEWebsite reviews by screen reader users.1st Floor = Online Department Stores & High Street ShopsContributed to by several TAFN members. |
Sites Reviewed on this floor (11):
Amazon UK
Argos
Boots
Comet
Debenhams
Ideal World TV
John Lewis
Marks &
Spencer
QVC
Street Sensation
Tesco
Ground Floor & Shopping Guide Index / 2nd Floor: Healthfood Stores & Herbal products
Web Address: http://www.amazon.co.uk
Brief Rating: A very good site.
Review
by: Sue Pallett.
Don’t, whatever you do, be put off by what looks like a huge, unmanageable site.It really is very easy to search from the home page and add your selected choices to your shopping basket.I do admit that the extra information is quite difficult to find sometimes, being well down the page, but persevere as the audio clips available on some of the cd titles are useful in helping you to make the right selection.
Be careful at the checkout when you are putting in your card details as although there is a list showing the order in which the information should be added, the edit fields below don’t always speak to tell you what you need to put in.Once you have made your first purchase, it won’t be necessary for you to fill in very much at all, simply check the radio buttons to confirm that you want the next order to go to your home address and wait for the confirmation e-mail followed by another one telling you when to expect your order. Be sure to make a note of your password as you will need this for future ordering.
Shop at Amazon UK via this link, to raise funds for TAFN!
Web Address: http://www.argos.co.uk
Brief Rating: Quite a good site.
Review
by: Sue Pallett
Its well worth having a look around that well known high street catalogue store Argos, either to compare prices before you buy or check on its wide range of products.
Searching the site is fairly straight forward, but I’ve found that the extra product information is set well down the page, is very sketchy and leaves a lot to be desired. And the check out procedure is quite tricky. However, you can buy via their telephone order line using credit or debit card and have items delivered to your home, or, alternatively, arrange to pick them up at your local Argos store.
Selected items from the Argos Catalogue are now available on CD, ask in store or contact them by telephone.
Web Address: www.boots.com
Brief Rating: Quite a good site.
This site is quite large, but you can find everything here for your personal use, from a toothbrush upwards!
Reviewed by: Sue Pallett
Web Address: http://www.comet.co.uk
Brief Rating: Quite a good site.
If you are looking for items for the home, try this one! Although it is quite large and it might take you a while to find what you want, there is a large selection of household and home wares to choose from.
Reviewed by: Sue Pallett
Web Address: http://www.debenhams.com
Brief Rating: A fairly good site.
Review
by: Sue Pallett.
The homepage is easy to navigate with good search facilities. Search either by keyword or department to find out what’s in stock.There is a great deal of room for improvement when it comes to extra product information, and it would help if the links for consecutive pages were easier to find.They have a door to door courier service with one delivery charge per order and a free returns policy.
Web Address: http://www.idealworld.tv
Brief Rating: Quite a good site.
Although it is fairly easy to order here, you really need to have watched the Ideal World tv shopping channel first to hear the description of your product in depth. Unless a product has been featured recently, there is no information available, just the product code and option to buy.
In my experience, goods usually arrive within 7 to ten days.
Reviewed by: Sue Pallett
Web Address: http://www.johnlewis.com
Brief Rating: Easy to navigate site.
Reviewed by: Sue
Pallett
John Lewis is one of the old established British high street department stores where quality is guaranteed. Search for what ever you need or click on a link and browse the aisles in the various departments. Bring up the product information on the item you want to buy, take a note of the web reference number in case of any problems with your purchase, or, alternatively make a note of the reference number so that you can reserve it at your local store, as the site doesn’t offer the option to order online and collect locally.
Add the items to your basket, choose your preferred delivery charge which varies according to the length of time you choose, and wait for your goods to arrive. The customer services information is very comprehensive and there is a telephone number to ring if you need any help.
Web Address: http://www.marksandspencer.com
Rating: A Good Site.
Marks & Spencer is so familiar and well established that I'm sure it needs little introduction. This high street store offers its huge selection and variety of goods to its customers online. Look specifically for what you need by using the search box or take a lesurely virtual stroll through each department, adding items to your basket as you shop or just save them for future reference. Set up an account with your password, name and address then If you don't want to buy straight away, store your basket for your next visit. Customers are invited to leave product reviews which can give positive and informative feedback as well as telling you a little more about an item you're interested in before you buy. Take care when using the combo boxes showing size, colour, amount etc, they must be filled in in the order they appear on the page before you can successfully add the selected item to your shopping basket. Occasionally they can be tricky to open, some screenreaders do momentarily lose focus, so be patient and double check that information is selected correctly before moving on to the next box in the list. Although their are images showing products, often their is very little written information describing them. Please bear in mind that page content and layout are subject to change.
Review your order prior to going to the checkout where paying by credit or debit card is nice and straight forward. Once you've set up an account and placed one order, next time you shop the checkout process becomes even easier with the option to buy with One Click Ordering. When you've placed an order You are kept up to date with confirmation and order status emails, letting you know when your goods should arrive depending on your chosen postal method. Items can be returned if you're not completely satisfied with your payment card credited promptly. terms and conditions to help you shop and use the website successfully, are easy to read and clearly set out.
Brief Site Review by Sue Pallett.
Website Address: www.qvcuk.com
Brief Rating: Excellent site.
Review
by: Sue Pallett
Description: Explanatory links from the home page, good product description, straightforward combo box selections for choosing goods, and after filling in a membership form,choosing your pin number and giving your card details initially, using both the membership number sent back to you and pin at all times for security reasons, future ordering becomes easier.Excellent courier delivery,telephone customer services and returns policy. I use this site on a very regular basis to buy things for the home, clothes and jewellery, there’s an ever expanding, wide range of items available, and product information is improving all the time.
Web address: http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/
Have you ever wanted to visit part of London but don't have the transport or the opportunity? Well look no further. You can use these pages purely as a reference, by consulting the maps, or walk the virtual pavements where you will come across independent retailers with specialist products and services.
Website Address: www.tesco.com/access
Brief Rating:
Very good site.
Review by: Sue Pallett
Description: Shop for your groceries on a site developed by Tesco in conjunction with the RNIB to help make it easier to choose groceries using speech screen reading software, a small TV screen or your computer. Despite much controversy as to whether two sites for one Organization are necessary, personally I find that less graphics make selecting and buying goods much faster and easier. After reading about how the site works, register with your name, address and postcode. Once you’ve received confirmation that they deliver in your area, click on the link, search for products, from the homepage, Browse the departments and select products using edit fields and add notes for the in store pickers, click on update your basket and proceed to checkout.Go to check out your order, choosing your delivery slot and payment method from the combo boxes and edit fields at the checkout, then send your order. Future ordering is easier, as after logging back in with your password, all formerly ordered items are there already, in your Favourites List, just add them to your basket and pay as before. In my experience the delivery van drivers are extremely helpful and will bring goods in, put them where you want them and read the paperwork, returning unwanted goods is not a problem with the cost credited to your card within a few days.I use this site very regularly. If you would like to have access to a wider range of Tesco products, fashion, wine, flowers and electrical goods to name but a few, why not use the main site at www.tesco.com
It is quite possible to purchase from this site too, but make sure that your screen resolution is set to the correct level before you go to the checkout.You will need to use jaws screen reading commands to help you get past the graphics and through the checkout process but you can buy on line successfully.
New Link: Shop at TESCO via this link to raise funds for TAFN!
DISCLAIMER: Neither Sue Pallett or the Accessible Friends Network accept liability for any transaction with any of the companies listed on this page, which is intended as a helpful guide and produced and run on an entirely voluntary basis.
Click here to contact Sue / Click here to contact the TAFN Webmaster
Sue's Kitchen, a cookery guide for blind & VI people that featured on BBC in Touch, in 2005!
Also the excellent
Sue's Accessible Container Gardening Page
We would love to hear of your online shopping experiences, both good and bad. Is there a particular site YOU recommend or would like to add to this page? Have YOU had problems with online shopping, either with screen reader navigation, or customer service? Or has a particular supplier been especially helpful to you? If so please email us and let us know, we are happy to accredit website reviewers for their contributions.
TAFN - Shared Vision Through Friendship.
All content at www.tafn.org.uk is copyright The Accessible Friends Network 2003-2010. All rights reserved.
UK Registered Charity No. 1108043. For all anquiries please contact us via this link.