How do blind people shop? They shop online with a screen reader, order groceries for delivery or pickup, and go shopping in stores with staff help or a camera app that reads labels. Grocery shopping for the blind is usually a mix of all three, depending on the store and the day.
In stores, I use my iPhone with headphones and Seeing AI to read labels. Recently I started using Meta glasses too, and sometimes the camera mode in Gemini or ChatGPT with voice through earphones. Online, I use Google Shopping to find products and compare prices across platforms. I ask ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude, whichever is handy, which products are best rated. For clothes, I ask them to identify colours and tell me how a colour will look on me. It has made me far more independent.
This guide covers shopping online, grocery delivery and pickup, and shopping in store, plus what tends to go wrong and how to work around it.
How do blind people shop online?
Blind people shop online with the screen reader already on their phone or computer, such as VoiceOver on iPhone and TalkBack on Android. The screen reader reads product names, descriptions, prices and buttons aloud. The shopper moves through the page by swipe or keyboard.
App or website?
Many stores have an app as well as a website. Some shoppers find the app easier. Others find the website easier to zoom and search. Try both for each store and keep the one that works.
What tends to break
Checkout is the step that most often fails. One blind screen reader user found that product pages and the cart worked well, but an order confirmation page froze the screen reader. Several buttons were all announced as Submit, and a delivery time picker could not be used. Unlabeled product images and hard to find checkout buttons are also common. Stores update their sites often, so a problem can be fixed or come back.
How do blind people grocery shop?
Delivery and pickup
Many grocers offer online grocery shopping with home delivery or pickup at the store. Pickup means the store prepares the order and the shopper collects it, so there is no walk down the aisles. Delivery often has a minimum order or a fee.
Repeat orders, favourites and substitutions
Some stores let you reorder past purchases, save favourites, set substitution preferences and schedule deliveries. These features cut the number of items you have to search for each time.
How do blind people go shopping in a store?
Asking for help
Many shoppers ask a store worker to walk them around and read items. The quality of help varies a lot. Some shoppers describe a patient assistant who knew the store. Others describe waits of more than an hour, assistants who did not know the layout, or being treated as if they needed more help than they asked for. Calling ahead can help, though some shoppers say they are told to just turn up.
Reading labels and barcodes
Two free apps help when you grocery shop in store. Seeing AI has a Products channel that works as a barcode scanner and guides you with audio beeps, and a Read channel that reads text. Be My Eyes connects you to a volunteer by live video, and it also offers Be My AI. Mobile signal can drop inside stores, so keep a second option ready.
Checkout and paying
Self checkouts are hard for many blind shoppers because barcodes and scanner points are difficult to find. A staffed till is easier. Ask the cashier to say the total before you pay, since some shoppers report not being told.
How do blind people shop when things go wrong?
How do blind people shop when help is missing or an app fails? Three problems come up most. Help is not available when you need it, a shelf has moved, or an app fails at checkout. Moving a staple item breaks the memory shoppers rely on, so ask staff to guide you to the new spot. If an app fails, try the store’s website, or the other way round. If help is slow, order for pickup next time.
Where to go next
Related guides: how blind people use Uber to get to the store, how Alexa can help blind people, how blind people choose and match clothes, how blind people identify money, and how blind people bank.
Frequently asked questions
How do blind people shop?
Blind people shop online with a screen reader and in stores with staff help or a camera app that reads labels. Most use a mix of routes, depending on the store.
Can blind people shop online?
Blind people can shop online. They use a screen reader such as VoiceOver or TalkBack to hear products, prices and buttons. Checkout and delivery time pickers are the steps most likely to cause trouble.
How do blind people get groceries?
Blind people get groceries by ordering online for delivery or pickup, or by going to the store and asking staff to help. Pickup avoids the aisles. Reorder lists and favourites save time on repeat items.
How do blind people read labels in a store?
They use a phone app. Seeing AI reads text and scans barcodes with audio beeps, and Be My Eyes connects you to a volunteer by live video. Seeing AI is free, and Be My Eyes calls are free.
Can blind people use self checkout?
Self checkouts are hard for many blind shoppers because barcodes and scanner points are difficult to find. Many use a staffed till and ask the cashier to say the total.
How do blind people shop for clothes?
Many shoppers ask a store worker to describe items. Seeing AI also has a Colors channel that identifies colours. For more, see how blind people choose and match clothes.
