Disgusting situation at the grocery store today

[momof2inPA]

I would have paid for their food and have before. A little juice, eggs, milk wouldn't even be a drop in the bucket of my family's monthly food bill.

 

[VSL]

Goodness - they could have drunk water at home and bought some actual food at the store with what money they did have.

Ridiculous.

 

[vandergriff4]

When they began to check out, the cashier told them that their WIC coupons were not valid. After a quick conversation, they put back all but one carton of milk, a package of ham, and the 3 12-packs of pop. The mom was quite vocal about not being able to feed her daughter because the WIC coupons were not written properly but they used what little money they had to buy pop. They even talked about not having any food at home. The eggs, cheese, juice, more milk, etc.... want back on the grocery shelves.

They bought a carton of milk for the baby and then a package of ham and the soda. I would think that maybe the Dad has a job and maybe he takes his lunch during the week to save money. Maybe that is why they got the soda and ham. I bet the Mom will go and get the WIC corrected then go back and get the good items.

 

[mudnuri]

It's funny how people jump to conclusions before knowing the entire story.

It is quite possible that the coupons were invalid for some reason and they were heading back to the office to fix them, therefore not needing to spend their possibly last $20 on the stuff the coupons will cover later?

Here, we have wic deliveries. I know across the river in NH they do the voucher thing- I've seen people use them at walmart for baby formula etc, but here in VT a truck delivers your WIC foods to your house once a week.

Food stamps in VT can be used for prepared food as long as its not hot prepared food- meaning- you can buy bakery items but not a full cooked chicken...

We dont have 'stamps' here anymore...we have a card that looks like a debit card- at least that way its less obvious your using foodstamps...

Brandy

 

[poohluvrs]

No its easier to have more children, and then get on WIC and food stamps and allow the government and the hardworking folks pay for it all.

ITA....I know there are the exceptions who really are getting their lives together, but what happened to people helping themselves?

Now all I can envision is some little girl eating a fried egg & can of soda for breakfast

 

[Marseeya]

No its easier to have more children, and then get on WIC and food stamps and allow the government and the hardworking folks pay for it all.

I worked in a grocery store too. I hated it. It drives me nuts to this day being in line with people who have food stamp cards, and have better food on the belt than I do sometimes. Then they whip out a wad of bill to pay for the items that the food stamp card wouldnt pay for.

Ok..better be hush before I say something I shouldnt

You do realize that WIC isn't a government "handout" right?

I was on WIC with both of my kids when I was working as a manager in a bookstore. Ironic that a cashier who probably made less than me, in a lower position than me would treat me like trash under her feet every time I used those checks.

You can't possibly know everybody's situation. There can be nothing more humiliating or degrading than having to use food stamps to feed your family through no fault of your own.

Try walking a mile in someone else's shoes before you sit up there on your high horse.

 

[Marseeya]

We dont have 'stamps' here anymore...we have a card that looks like a debit card- at least that way its less obvious your using foodstamps...

Brandy

We have the cards in PA too, but it's not the least bit discreet when you have a cashier saying, "Will that be FOODSTAMPS?" in the loudest voice possible.

They did it seven years ago when I had to be on them, and they still do it today. I remember the humiliation like it was yesterday.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The part that gets me is mom was quite "vocal" about being able to feed her baby.

In my experience (5 years of cashiering)---I have never had anyone get vocal. Usually they know the rules/guidelines. If they didn't realize the dates--or really needed the food...the would be apologetic, upset, or indifferent---but they didn't get vocal. Also--you can't argue with what is printed on the voucher.

Usually when someone makes a scene---it makes it difficult to not jump to conclusions.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They bought a carton of milk for the baby and then a package of ham and the soda. I would think that maybe the Dad has a job and maybe he takes his lunch during the week to save money. Maybe that is why they got the soda and ham. I bet the Mom will go and get the WIC corrected then go back and get the good items.

They said they had no food at home--so no bread IF she were telling the truth.

And they bought THREE 12-packs of soda.


(just an observation)

If their WIC check was their ONLY way to get food at this time--I don't care why they bought the soda--there was better use for that money.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We have the cards in PA too, but it's not the least bit discreet when you have a cashier saying, "Will that be FOODSTAMPS?" in the loudest voice possible.

They did it seven years ago when I had to be on them, and they still do it today. I remember the humiliation like it was yesterday.

That sucks.

I thought the cards were to make it more discreet.

Where I worked we didn't ask about form of payment--we give the total and then when they give us their form of payment---it isn't rocket science to figure it out without embarrassing the customer.

 

[ryka]

The card is use here in NJ and they don't ask you what you are using. You swipe the card and you answer the questions on the screen of the machine. Credit, debit, foodstamps, EBT I think there is one more but can't remember might be giftcard. They never say is that foodstamps?

OT: This is my 100th post. YAY.

 

[Marseeya]

They said they had no food at home--so no bread IF she were telling the truth.

And they bought THREE 12-packs of soda.


(just an observation)

If their WIC check was their ONLY way to get food at this time--I don't care why they bought the soda--there was better use for that money.

I have to agree with you there. I know we went a couple of years where the only soda we bought was for a rare treat (of course, who's to say this isn't their rare treat?). A container of Kool Aid might have been better and gone a longer way if they wanted something different than water.

 

[Marseeya]

The card is use here in NJ and they don't ask you what you are using. You swipe the card and you answer the questions on the screen of the machine. Credit, debit, foodstamps, EBT I think there is one more but can't remember might be giftcard. They never say is that foodstamps?

There's absolutely no reason for them to do it in this town, but both of our grocery stores do it. They don't ask if you're using credit or debit, but they sure make a scene over the foodstamps. I've complained about it (both when I was using them and more recently), but it's to no avail.

 

[ryka]

I also don't think to many people here care. Alot of families in my town are low income and alot use foodstamps and WIC. I have seen the good and bad of foodstamps. I do know people that sell their foodstamps for money so they can buy drugs and their kids go hungry or beg for food. I have no problem with reporting people like that. I don't care if you are on foodstamps as long as you are using them to buy your children food but as soon as you decide that money for you is more important I have no respect for you and will do whatever I can to make sure those children get what they need.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I don't think things like pop, candy and ice cream should be allowed to be purchased with WIC coupons.

 

[mickeyfan2]

And we wonder why some of these people are in this position!? They showed poor judgement here and do in other aspects of their lives.

When I was in college my DF and I went to the laundrymat to wash his sleeping bag and the large washer next to us was running. The water was black. I have never seen anything like it. I thought, well atleast they are washing it. But to my horror I realized it was the rinse cycle. The family came back and put it in the dryer. They had a 1 year old girl whose pink jacket was grey and food stained. My heart just broke. We also learned not to got to the grocery store after the 1st of the month. Back then all Gov't checks arrived then.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I don't think things like pop, candy and ice cream should be allowed to be purchased with WIC coupons.

They can't. They use money to buy the junk.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

food stamps can buy junk unfortunately. WIC is for "healthier" foods only. I.e.--if it is for juice it MUST be 100% juice. That colored water crap doesn't count.

Also--some of our stores will have WIC labels next to food that can be purchased with WIC--makes it easier for shoppers--though they still have some that try to sneak through food either just b/c they didn't know--or they just wanted to substitute.

The store will NOT get paid for a substitution--and in my store--for a WIC--you had to enter the check data first and then ring up the items--so unallowable items-wouldn't even be allowed by the computer. then you close out the sale.

Very nice that WIC does police itself in that way.


(at least in Florida)

 

[DVCLiz]

Hmm, and here I was wondering what to do with myself today. I know, I'll head over to the grocery store and make judgements about people who use food stamps!!! And even though I don't know them or know what their circumstances are, and even though I'm supposed to be...hmmm, what was that word?...charitable to my fellow man (those pesky religious beliefs certainly do get in my way sometimes!) I'll feel perfectly justified trashing strangers who are poor!!! Yeah! That'll be a lot mor fun thatn doing laundry today!!!!

This thread makes me sick...

 

[VSL]

This thread makes me sick...

What makes me sick is people who complain that they can't feed their child yet spend any money they do currently have on 3 12-packs of soda.