Q: Is a retailer required to assist disabled customers with their heavy purchases?

A: In Arizona, as in many places, retailers are generally expected to make reasonable accommodations for customers with disabilities, under federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This includes providing assistance with navigating the store, accessing goods, and in some cases, help with transporting heavy purchases to a vehicle. However, the specific obligations can vary based on the nature of the business, the type of accommodation requested, and whether providing such assistance would cause undue hardship to the business.

If you've requested assistance due to a disability and the retailer denied this request, it might be considered a failure to provide reasonable accommodation. The key here is whether your request was reasonable and whether the business could have provided the assistance without significant difficulty or expense. The situation you've described suggests that the retailer might not have met their obligations under the ADA, depending on the specifics of your disability and the feasibility of accommodating your request.

It might be helpful to discuss your experience with a legal professional who has experience in disability rights. They can offer advice on how to proceed, whether it be filing a complaint with the Department of Justice, which enforces the ADA, or considering other legal actions. Additionally, reaching out to the retailer's corporate office to explain your situation and the denial of assistance you faced could also result in a more favorable outcome or clarification of the store's policies regarding assistance to customers with disabilities.