As I had a day off during the week yesterday, I decided to take my mother to Hamilton Place Mall to get a jump start on her Christmas shopping. We went early, hoping to beat the crowds, and also to get one of the two working scooters they have (there are three scooters, but we were told last Sunday that one of these did not work. So for that entire huge mall there are only two scooters available.)

We got to the mall at 10:30 a.m. (the mall opens at 10 a.m.). I dropped her off at the door and parked the car. We walked up to the Customer Service counter, only to discover the Customer Service counter does not open until noon. I certainly don't call that "customer service".

I'm sure there are others, in our situation, as well. When we went on Sunday, we were unable to get a scooter. That sign about the "new" Customer Service hours was not sitting on the counter when we attempted to get a scooter, which we were unable to get, since there were only two working. They didn't even have a wheelchair that I could push my mother around in.

This is a huge mall - the largest one we have, but there are no chairs available, and then they don't even have them to be available during regular mall hours.

My mother does not have her own chair or we would use hers. She can manage at home, as there is not much walking involved, but to go out, we have to have assistance.

I just wanted others to be aware if they go to Hamilton Place Mall and are in need of a scooter to shop, they need not go before noon, or they won't be able to get assistance, and good luck if you need a scooter.

Yvonne H. Burroughs
Chattanooga

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I have been a longtime shopper at Hamilton Place - going out to the mall weekly to shop. Each time I go, I require the assistance of an electric scooter.

The workers at the Customer Service are always so nice and accommodating. I am very thankful that the mall has these scooters for us to use, as I am sure they are not required to provide them.

Most malls I have been to do not have scooters at all. Sometimes when I go on the weekend, I have to wait for a scooter. However, I do not mind. The courteous workers simply take my name and phone number and call me when one is available.

Ms. Burroughs is incorrect on the number of scooters available. They have four electric scooters and four push wheelchairs. We should be thanking Hamilton Place for providing them, not condemning them for not having enough or for reducing their hours of operation of the booth. Everyone has been hit by the slow economy and I am sure that our local mall is no different from any other business.

Thank you, Hamilton Place, for providing us with these wheelchairs and scooters. Some of us appreciate it.

Sarah White
Chattanooga

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Thank you, Ms. White.

I"m amazed at the number of people in our society who want to show up
somewhere and say "accommodate me."
Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

Like Ms. White says, everyone should be thankful that Hamilton Place Mall provides any means of conveyance. They are not required to do so as long as access to the facility is ADA compliant (ramps, doors, elevators).

We should applaud any conveniences they add at their own expense that
are not required rather than complain about them not being convenient
enough.

Charles Graham
CGraham423@aol.com

* * *

Dear Ms. Burroughs,

I wanted to respond to your letter about providing scooters at
Hamilton Place Mall. You have touched on a subject that the majority
of people have no real understanding of what it’s like to experience.
Mobility issues are beginning to affect more and more individuals
however, as we all age and experience the effects of aging.

I happen to work for a company that has been providing scooters, power chairs and other mobility devices for 20 years now. For several years we
have been providing the free scooters for patrons of Hamilton Place
Mall. In a perfect world we could take care of each and every need,
but unfortunately we have a limited number of scooters that we can
supply to Hamilton Place at any given time.

The good news is we have a company representative on site at the mall each Black Friday to help alleviate the demand for scooters. This year is no exception. In fact, we are adding a second day this Thanksgiving and will be on site Saturday as well. We plan to bring in several additional units that will also be available to shoppers free of charge.

It will still be difficult to meet the demand on these high volume shopping days, but this is a small way that we can try and give back to the community that has been so good to us. We consider it a pleasure to provide these scooters each year.

The management at Hamilton Place has been very kind to allow us to
provide these scooters each year, and we consider it a privilege to
partner with them in this way.

Brent L. Beasley
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
Fuller Rehabilitation/ILA