Personal Shopping in Columbus: Plan and Hire

Describe the shopping task and assistance you need

Write a brief that names the stores, deadline and result you want. For groceries, list quantities, brands, dietary requirements and acceptable substitutes. For wardrobe shopping, include sizes, fit preferences, the occasion and your purchase budget. Explain whether you want to approve recommendations before the shopper buys anything.

For an accompanied visit, describe walking distances you can manage, rest breaks and carrying help. Ask the candidate to explain how they would handle the trip from your door through checkout and back home. Discuss physical assistance as a separate task, and ask about relevant experience and references before agreeing to it.

Get an itinerary-specific quote

Request a quote for your proposed itinerary. Ask whether the fee covers list preparation, stock checks, store visits, waiting, delivery and returns. Confirm minimum bookings, cancellation terms and advance payments. Give candidates the same brief so you can compare what each includes.

Set one spending ceiling for service charges and another for merchandise. Agree on approval before either limit changes. Request itemized purchase receipts and a record of travel expenses, then decide how the shopper will return unused purchase funds. Avoid giving access to unrelated financial accounts.

For clothing, ask whether the shopper receives retailer commissions or purchase incentives. Specify whether you want recommendations across stores. Decide who will retain tags and receipts, check return deadlines and complete returns. Include any return-trip charge in the agreement.

Arrange bus travel and payment before meeting

COTA’s January 5, 2026 Tap to Pay announcement requires customers travelling together to use separate payment methods. It supports automatic two-hour fare-free transfers when you use the same card for successive rides. Keep each rider’s payment method consistent when planning a trip with several stops. [4]

Confirm reduced-fare eligibility and account setup before budgeting a discounted trip. COTA’s fare page describes setup through the Transit App or Smartcard. Its January 2026 announcement also directs enrolled reduced-fare customers to 33 N. High Street to link a Tap to Pay payment method to their digital COTA account. Do not assume an ordinary contactless payment receives the discount. [3] [4]

For cash travel involving different service types, ask COTA Customer Care at 614-228-1776 about your itinerary. The fare page groups Standard, Frequent and Rush Hour services together in its table, but its transfer FAQ describes an extra charge between service types. Confirm the applicable fare before agreeing to reimburse the shopper. [3]

COTA permits secure groceries and coolers that leave the aisle clear, and asks riders to fold pull carts. Agree on a manageable purchase load and who will carry it home from the stop. For larger purchases, discuss delivery instead of assuming you can carry everything on the bus. [3]

Ask about support for recurring household needs

Franklin County Senior Options lists homemaker services, transportation and meals among its benefits. Its requirements include county residency, age 60 or older, an unmet service need, income and asset verification, and a sliding fee scale. Call 614-525-6200 to ask whether shopping or accompaniment fits an available service, what you would pay and when help could begin. [1]

For broader help at home, contact the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-589-7277. COAAA coordinates care plans and offers an assessment to determine needs and relevant services. Explain what prevents you from shopping, how often you need help and whether you also need transportation or meal support. Confirm the specific assistance before buying a recurring private package. [1]

Specify the handoff and parking expenses

Give the shopper a contact number and exact handoff location. Discuss building entry, stairs and whether you need bags brought inside. For food, agree on insulated transport where needed and a delivery window when you can receive the order. Tell the shopper how to proceed if you miss a call about an unavailable item.

For downtown or Short North errands, agree on parking reimbursement and request receipts. Columbus’s April 2022 parking announcement described pay-by-plate kiosks, mobile payment and limited short-stay meters for pickup and drop-off. Check the signs at each stop for current payment instructions and time limits before planning a collection or longer appointment. [2]

COTA published fares for shopping-trip planning

Choose the arrangement to discuss

Your hiring checklist

1. Describe the task, preferred stores and completion deadline.
2. Provide quantities or clothing sizes and approval rules.
3. Set separate purchase and service spending limits.
4. Confirm preparation, travel, parking, waiting and return charges.
5. Agree on receipts, payment authorization and unused funds.
6. Plan each rider’s transport payment and carrying help.
7. Specify delivery access, handoff time and missed-call instructions.
8. Record cancellation terms and responsibility for returns.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for a personal shopper?

Request a written quote for your shopping list and itinerary. Keep merchandise separate from service charges. Ask whether preparation, travel, delivery and returns add charges, and set an approval rule for exceeding either budget.

Can I use one contactless payment method for both riders?

COTA says each Tap to Pay payment type serves one rider at a time, so customers travelling together need separate methods. Confirm any personal care attendant exemption through your valid COTA ID marked PCA YES before excluding the companion’s fare. [3] [4]

Can Senior Options provide grocery-shopping help?

Call 614-525-6200 and ask about your specific shopping needs. Senior Options lists homemaker services and transportation among its benefits. Confirm shopping coverage, eligibility, fees and availability before relying on that assistance. [1]

Will tapping my card give me a reduced fare?

Confirm eligibility and account setup first. COTA’s January 2026 announcement says enrolled reduced-fare customers can visit 33 N. High Street to link their payment method to their digital account. An unlinked contactless payment does not establish reduced-fare eligibility. [4]