Carded at Target

[npmommie]

The only thing I find odd about the story is that you went into a store to make a purchase, so you obviously had a wallet on you, but for some reason your wallet doesn't contain your ID. That's odd compared to 99.9999% of all other people.

why would I obviously have a wallet on me?? why assume i had my purse with me. my capris have pockets, i thru money in my pocket and went in the store. my id was in the car precisely because i didn't bring my purse/wallet, i always make sure my license is in the car. i don't always carry my wallet. in fact i rarely do. sorry for being odd.
i am not a purse carrier by nature.
call me odd if you must

 

[Becky2005]

I went to WalMart this summer to buy spray paint because we were making our tent sign for our Relay for Life Team. They would not sell it to me without ID.

I got told that white out is a "controlled substance" from a cashier at Wal-Mart....I was BAFFLED. I had never in my life knew white out was a controlled substance and I think the cashier was insane because if it was a controlled substance, wouldn't it be back behind the pharmacy just like all the good cold medications are now?

THEN she didn't even bother to ask for ID -- so what the heck? A controlled substance yet you can just sell it to me anyway. It was kind of funny as my DD was with me and she asked me if it was for her (it was the pen kind -- figured those were easier as DD hates the tape kind & a teacher had requested white out on her specific supply list), it was. I was told they couldn't sell it to her if I weren't there.

I was thinking the markers with their heavy smell should be more of a problem but any 5 year old could buy those.

 

[merryweather20]

IMHO, some people are way overreacting here. It is store policy that you need to have your license information entered. You cannot just tell them your birthdate, how do they know you are not lying. I believe in my state, they enter both the bdate and lic#. To those upset that the person they were with couldn't purchase alcohol because they didn't have their id...come on now. It is illegal to furnish alcohol for minors, the store needs to cover their @$$. The arguments were....if a parent were with their 5 year old, would they need to be carded??? Let's be real here a 5 year old is not going to consume alcohol but a 20 year old might. Sometimes I think people are just looking for reasons to be argumentative. I always laugh when people say they don't want their id entered. In today's world, everything is online anyway. To the other stores not asking for ID, they are breaking the law and could receive hefty fines.

Are you kidding here? So I can shop with my Mom when I'm 5, but not when I'm 18?

When my Mom was alive I'd regularly go shopping with her and my grandmother in the states and she might pick up a case of beer for my Dad. Really, you think I should have to stay home? And what age do I have to stop grocery shopping with the family 10, 11, is 12 to old?

 

[disneyfav4ever]

The only thing I find odd about the story is that you went into a store to make a purchase, so you obviously had a wallet on you, but for some reason your wallet doesn't contain your ID. That's odd compared to 99.9999% of all other people.

A lot of people don't always carry their wallets with them.

 

[~disneydiva~]

There are times I don't carry my purse/wallet, but I ALWAYS keep my ID with me.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

I work in a restaurant, so I definitely understand how important it is to ID people. Establishments can get into serious trouble if they serve someone underage.

But I do think some common sense needs to be used! I'm always prepared with my ID because I look young...I'm 24 and have NEVER been served anywhere without being ID'd! But when my parents came over from England, they went to Target to pick up wine and were both carded. They are 58 and 61. Clearly not under 21! They weren't allowed to buy anything, and even the cashier said it was a little silly, but there was nothing she could do.

I have a question for the people who mentioned they work at Target. When my parents come over in October, they will be bringing their passports as proof of age when they shop! But someone mentioned that an ID has to be swiped. Does that mean that a passport won't work as proof of ID? Because that would be a Target policy, not a law.

 

[kwelch10377]

I went to WalMart this summer to buy spray paint because we were making our tent sign for our Relay for Life Team. They would not sell it to me without ID. I had it in the car, so I went and got it. I am 31 but have never bought alcohol without having to show ID. I am prepared for that but didn't realize it was such a hassle to buy spray paint. Apparently you have to be 18, which is a bit silly. What if I had to get some paint for a school project, like the home coming float and my parents were busy?

It's not really silly when you have middle school and high school kids who go out an buy stuff like spray paint, canned air, whiteout and sharpies to use to get high. There are so many OTC products now that require you to be 18 to purchase because of this reason and certain stores have policies in place to ensure that you are of that age. As much as people feel like it is a pain to show ID or even be asked, I would rather deal with that, than to hear on the news about a car accident that killed 5 high schoolers that occured bc they were huffing canned air (I am not trying to be dramatic here, this has occured)


If the issue is that you look a certain age, you can't expect a cashier to assume that you are over the required age and they should be consistant and ask everyone, not just who they pick and choose. If the issue is that you don't like that they swipe you DL, well they can get a lot more info about you when you swipe your credit card then they can your DL. If the issue is that you don't carry your ID with you, why would you not, what if something happened to you while you were in the store. Why would it be so difficult to carry cash or a credit card, but not your ID.

 

[minniecarousel]

On another note: if you're using a credit card for a purchase, the retailer may ask for the zip code associated with the card. That's to keep down the use of stolen CCs. Gosh darn, another nuisance!

 

[JEmaryland]

It's not really silly when you have middle school and high school kids who go out an buy stuff like spray paint, canned air, whiteout and sharpies to use to get high. There are so many OTC products now that require you to be 18 to purchase because of this reason and certain stores have policies in place to ensure that you are of that age. As much as people feel like it is a pain to show ID or even be asked, I would rather deal with that, than to hear on the news about a car accident that killed 5 high schoolers that occured bc they were huffing canned air (I am not trying to be dramatic here, this has occured)

I don't think it should be the store's responsibility to protect kids from getting high. I also don't think the rest of society should be punished because parents can't get control of their kids.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I don't think it should be the store's responsibility to protect kids from getting high. I also don't think the rest of society should be punished because parents can't get control of their kids.

You're not talking about little kids though, you're talking about teens.

 

[JEmaryland]

You're not talking about little kids though, you're talking about teens.

Yes, I am. A little kid wouldn't go into a store and buy stuff, normally. But I do think that when you reach high school, you should have the common sense to know that huffing is dangerous, and it shouldn't be a store's or anyone else's responsibility to enforce that.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Yes, I am. A little kid wouldn't go into a store and buy stuff, normally. But I do think that when you reach high school, you should have the common sense to know that huffing is dangerous, and it shouldn't be a store's or anyone else's responsibility to enforce that.

Teens know it's dangerous, but that doesn't stop some of them. When I was in grade school we had classes every year on how bad cigarette smoking is, doesn't mean I never smoked when I was older, and many of my friends did too.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes, I am. A little kid wouldn't go into a store and buy stuff, normally. But I do think that when you reach high school, you should have the common sense to know that huffing is dangerous, and it shouldn't be a store's or anyone else's responsibility to enforce that.

You could make that same argument for selling alcohol. Or guns. In today's sue happy society, things are just not that simple. People want to blame others for their own bad behavior, and stores are easy targets. I don't blame them at all for doing what they can to cover their own behinds.

If someone decides to not shop at a store because they don't like the policies, then that is there choice. But it is beyond reckless to walk around without any type of ID on you. What if you have an accident or heart attack? No one would know who you were, or who to call for you.

 

[kwelch10377]

I don't think it should be the store's responsibility to protect kids from getting high. I also don't think the rest of society should be punished because parents can't get control of their kids.

In many cases it is the stores responsibility since a lot of states have laws regarding the sale of certain items to kids under 18. The stores are also protecting themselves from being people who won't think twice about suing them because they sold a product to their child and they were dumb enough to use to get high and go out and kill a couple of people. The fact of the matter is that we can't always depend on parents to watch their kids and guide them as they need to and prevent things like this. Kids are going to figure out a way to whatever they want many times so we have to put other things in place to ensure that it doesn't happen.

I am also not really seeing how you are being punished? Is seriously presenting an ID that people should be carrying with them anyway that big of a deal.

 

[onelilspark]

I wonder how many people who are opposed to showing their ID use credit cards at these stores... And out of those people, how many of those cards lack a signature on the back...

A store can track who shops there by credit card transactions, I'm sure. (Not positive, but I'm sure there's a way.) I doubt they need your ID. Personally, everytime I pay for my purchases by credit, I encourage the cashier to ask for my ID and check it against the name on my card. So I never shop without my ID.

Wegman's needs to plug in a birthdate when you buy restricted products. I have no problem handing my ID over for this, as a matter of fact, I have it ready for them.

And I grew up in PA. I remember for a time not being allowed to go into the liquor stores with my parents, so the arguement of "well if I had my 5 year old with me, would I not be allowed to by the bottle of wine?" seems kind of ridiculous. Um, yeah, you might not.

Really, is it so bad to want to protect our youth?

 

[georgina]

I love how these threads take on a life of their own! It sounds like we are headed for a police state - you MUST carry ID at all times! Actually, we are getting a taste of that in Pittsburgh this week, with the G20 coming.

 

[merryweather20]

I wonder how many people who are opposed to showing their ID use credit cards at these stores... And out of those people, how many of those cards lack a signature on the back...

A store can track who shops there by credit card transactions, I'm sure. (Not positive, but I'm sure there's a way.) I doubt they need your ID. Personally, everytime I pay for my purchases by credit, I encourage the cashier to ask for my ID and check it against the name on my card. So I never shop without my ID.

Wegman's needs to plug in a birthdate when you buy restricted products. I have no problem handing my ID over for this, as a matter of fact, I have it ready for them.

And I grew up in PA. I remember for a time not being allowed to go into the liquor stores with my parents, so the arguement of "well if I had my 5 year old with me, would I not be allowed to by the bottle of wine?" seems kind of ridiculous. Um, yeah, you might not.

Really, is it so bad to want to protect our youth?

You miss read her post. The cashier would have allowed a Mom with a 5 year-old to purchase liquor, but wanted to card a teen-to-twenty.

The subsequent responder said this was fine because the 5 year-old wouldn't be drinking liquor but the teen might.

That doesn't make sense they are both children with Mom.

 

[FireDancer]

It's not really silly when you have middle school and high school kids who go out an buy stuff like spray paint, canned air, whiteout and sharpies to use to get high. There are so many OTC products now that require you to be 18 to purchase because of this reason and certain stores have policies in place to ensure that you are of that age. As much as people feel like it is a pain to show ID or even be asked, I would rather deal with that, than to hear on the news about a car accident that killed 5 high schoolers that occured bc they were huffing canned air (I am not trying to be dramatic here, this has occured)

My issue with this is 2 fold. First, it assumes that people are buying the product is using it for something illegal. Second, like a previous poster said, it is not the store's responsibility to keep people from buying products and using them for unintended purposes. I don't want to be inconvenienced because someone wants to use glue or paint to get high.

If anyone wants to get high on canned air and drive around the consequences of their actions belong to them, not to me. I can also use a knitting needle to stab someone in the throat, but since that isn't the intended use of the product I am not carded to buy it. If I do use a knitting needle to kill someone no one is going to blame WalMart for selling it to me, they will blame me for making the decision to kill someone with it instead of knitting a handy lil scarf. The misuse of glue or paint is the exact same thing to me. If someone does something dumb and they don't like the consequences, they need to look in the mirror for blame. I should neither have to nor want to be inconvenience because someone else might make a dumb choice.

People are carded for products like alcohol and cigarettes because the intended use of the product is that they are being protected from, not some unintended use. I hate the safety police mentality. Put the information out there, like huffing paint can kill you, but leave it up to the individual to make their own choice. Those choosing poorly will have to deal with the consequences whether they be death, brain damage, or jail.

 

[npmommie]

I love how these threads take on a life of their own! It sounds like we are headed for a police state - you MUST carry ID at all times! Actually, we are getting a taste of that in Pittsburgh this week, with the G20 coming.

yes really that is what it sounds like to me.
and the target thing yep its a little too big brotherish for me.

If someone decides to not shop at a store because they don't like the policies, then that is there choice. But it is beyond reckless to walk around without any type of ID on you. What if you have an accident or heart attack? No one would know who you were, or who to call for you.

I am beyond reckless..........good grief, flair for the dramatic eh?

my previous posts said, I did have my license, in my car, where I needed it. I don't shop with credit cards or debit cards,cash only.

i wasn't buying cigarettes or alcohol, which incidently I never get carded when I buy a bottle of wine at the liquor store, but I digress.

my problem was not with telling them my birthdate so they could enter it in. I offered that.
my issue was with requiring a license to be scanned. so even if my license was in my pocket i wouldn't have agreed to that, and i thought about walking out to the car to get it, until I found out they needed to put it in the register.

Like another poster said, common sense people, common sense.
a 40 something yo person buying nicorette should not be required to scan id. sorry but again too big brotherish for me.

i don't get asked for ID when i buy alcohol like i said, so yeah, this was over the top if you ask me.

 

[lsyorke]

And I grew up in PA. I remember for a time not being allowed to go into the liquor stores with my parents, so the arguement of "well if I had my 5 year old with me, would I not be allowed to by the bottle of wine?" seems kind of ridiculous. Um, yeah, you might not.

Really, is it so bad to want to protect our youth?

So, not having them stand next to you for the purchase is "protecting" them?Having them stand outside with another family member, buying the wine and taking it home to their house is protecting them, how? This is a feel good measure that mean nothing in terms of "protection".

No one is buying crack, it's a bottle of LEGAL wine being purchased by a legal adult!