Welcome to (TAFN) The Accessible Friends Network
ONLINE SHOPPING GUIDE
Website reviews by screen reader users.
Online Department Stores & High Street Shops
Contributed to by several TAFN members.
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Welcome to (TAFN) The Accessible Friends Network ONLINE SHOPPING GUIDEWebsite reviews by screen reader users.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/csp/isd/ideal/index.csp
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.
Shop at John Lewis via this link, to raise funds for TAFN!
Web Address: http://www.marksandspencer.com
Brief Rating: A fairly good site.
Review
by: Sue Pallett
Although you can browse the site for products quite easily, the log-on and registration procedure which is necessary before you can make a purchase is very complicated.I’ve had continuous problems with this site, as it keeps forgetting my user name and password. The extra product information is very sketchy, but, if all else fails and you can’t get to the checkout, you can make a note ofthe product numbers and order via the telephone, so that you can take advantage of the very efficient home delivery service.
Shop at Marks and Spencer via this link, to raise funds for TAFN!
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? If so please email us and let us know, the information could be right here on this page within 24 hours!
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