Would this have offended you?

[wdwfan16]

I would not be offended. It was just a cashier making a comment.

 

[luvmy3]

If that is the case, and this is where hearing the tone and seeing the expression makes all the difference, then I would not be offended and I would just let it go.

I can see how that could happen too. Sort of like saying, "Are plastic bags ok," to a customer that is handing you their reusable canvas bags. It's such a habit that when you say it 100 times a day it just comes out.

Jess

ITA, without knowing how it was said, I would just assume it wasn't really anything meant specifically to the OP, but something that the cashier had assumed with everyone that day because 90% of her customers had used foodstamps. I don't know how it works, when the money is issued, but if it was within a timeframe where its typical to have alot of customers pay with them she probably assumes everyone is. It wouldn't offend me or bother me at all.

 

[descovy]

I agree, brainfart, and blurted out what she should have kept to herself.

I cashier at Target. When a guest uses an EBT card it acts like a debit on my screen except for this little awkward pause... where my side acts "frozen." I used to think the card reader didn't read the card and it had to be slid again, until I realized, thats just the way the EBT is processed in the computer.

While I have gotten used to it, and just carry on business as usual, our sales floor team members help cashier when we back up. They know the "nuts and bolts" of the job, but anything different throws them off (like that awkward pause might)

I wouldn't think anything more of it. We have a stupid question on our card reader that asks "do you want it all on the card?" (I HATE that question!) 99% of the people who press "no" do so on accident, so I'm always asking "are you sure?" The 1% who meant to press it are always
"duh, yeah!"

And I doubt she was judging you on food stamps. She's a grocery cashier... which tells you she's not wealthy! In fact the wages we make in retail/grocery means that many of our co-workers are yes, on food stamps. Hardly something for an $8/hr cashier to "judge you."

 

[AndreaDM]

There will always be people who say stupid things without thinking, she was probably kicking herself later for saying that. A few years ago I went into NY & Company with a $10 gift card. There was nothing in there I needed/wanted, so to use up the gc I bought some underwear for my teenage daughter. As I was paying the cashier held them up and said, "you do know these are a size small right?" while looking me up and down. Yeah lady, I KNOW my butt isn't a small!! Of course later I thought of a hundred clever things to say but at the time I was so stunned I think I just mumbled, they're for my daughter. She probably thought she was being helpful, but it was a longgggg time before I shopped in there again!

 

[BabyTigger99]

I had this happen to me this spring. I was at a gas station in a less than desirable part of town, buying soda for a cast party we were having at someone's house. I bought like 5 2-liter bottles of soda, and the cashier looked at me and goes "Food stamps?", I said, "Nope, Mastercard" and that was it. And then I laughed all the way to the party!!

 

[sbell111]

I would be no more likely to be offended by that exchange than I would be if she thought I was paying with cash or CC, instead of debit.

I think that too often we choose to be bothered by things that just don't add up to anything.

 

[marthachick]

The cashier probably thought that, in this economy, no one could afford that many groceries on their own!

 

[JerseyJanice]

That happened to me too one time. I put my debit card through the machine and the cashier asked if it was a Food Stamps card. I thought it was odd because I was dressed fairly well, but I didn't get offended. Maybe she had a lot of Food Stamp customers already that day?

I'm not young or black BTW.

 

[luvmy3]

That happened to me too one time. I put my debit card through the machine and the cashier asked if it was a Food Stamps card. I thought it was odd because I was dressed fairly well, but I didn't get offended. Maybe she had a lot of Food Stamp customers already that day?

I'm not young or black BTW.

What exactly do you mean by that ?

 

[meloneyb21]

^

Uh oh, no I think she meant, because I put that in my OP, that it doesn't matter what you look like people could still assume the same.

 

[ZachnElli]

I wouldn't be offended in this day and age. Alot of good, normally hardworking people are seeking assistance for the first time because they've been laid off and are having a hard time finding a new job. I'm sure the cashier is seeing alot more food stamp customers and was on autopilot like someone else said.

 

[JerseyJanice]

What exactly do you mean by that ?

Look at the OP. She pondered whether the cashier thought they were using Food Stamps because they were a young, black couple. I was just saying the same thing happened to me, and that definitely wasn't the reason because I'm old and white.

 

[clovergirl5]

Offended? No.. But - I would wonder about the personality of a person who would make such an "assumption" based on - "what"?? (Let alone actually make that kind of statement out loud).. I'm thinking she's sorely lacking in the "manners" department..

 

[luvmy3]

^

Uh oh, no I think she meant, because I put that in my OP, that it doesn't matter what you look like people could still assume the same.

Look at the OP. She pondered whether the cashier thought they were using Food Stamps because they were a young, black couple. I was just saying the same thing happened to me, and that definitely wasn't the reason because I'm old and white.

Oh, I'm sorry I was thinking you meant something else.

 

[padams]

I wouldn't be offended. Obviously, the cashier is seeing a lot of food stamp cards these days. There have been many news articles lately about the large rise in food stamp use.

 

[Kim&Chris]

those cards look a lot like my debit card, so it's very likely the cashier thought the same thing.

 

[monkeybug]

I don't know if someone already suggested this, but could it be because food stamps were issued today? (I don't know if they were, just a guess) It is towards the middle of the month, and there is a holiday on Monday. I was a cashier in a grocery store in a financially depressed area. On days when social security/food stamps were issued a good portion of the orders I rang up were food stamps.
The cashier still shouldn't have assumed anything, but she likely didn't mean any harm by it, she might have just been on sort of "auto pilot".

 

[AlleyKat]

Here's the scenario:

DH and I went to the market earlier. We're in the check-out line, spent about $200. DH is bagging while I'm finishing up using the card machine thingee (LOL). I'm using debit.....

Cashier: (staring at the register looking confused) $15 change?

Me: Yeah, I'm getting $15 cash back. I'm using debit.

Cashier: (now laughing, I guess at herself) Oh, I'm sorry! I assumed you was using food stamps!

DH: What would make you assume that?

Cashier: Um, no, no reason just.........(awkward silence)

Me: (awkwardly laughing)Don't worry 'bout it. Thank you! (grabbing my receipt) Have a good one!

I just brushed it off. It was nothing to me. DH thought I should be offended because I guess he figured she only assumed that because we are a young black couple? I don't know. It wasn't that deep to me. I mean, I don't know what made her automatically say that but, whatever. Should I have been offended?

The cashier shouldn't have voiced her opinion on your assumed method of payment!

I'd be offended if I were in your shoes!

 

[Angelhalo]

Did you buy $200 worth of soda, smokes, Cheetos, and Ding Dongs? I ask only because I've read here on the DIS that this is what the food stamp people usually purchase.

Having been a cashier at a grocery store, that actually was what the vast majority spent it on except the smokes. Junk Junk and more Junk. You can't really blame them too much though as junky food that is bad for you is much cheaper than stuff thats good for you. So by purchasing the cheap cruddy foods, they got more for their money.

 

[Angelhalo]

I don't know about where you live, but here the Food Stamp cards have an American flag on them. If your credit card is "patriotic themed" that might be the reason.

This was my first thought