Would you lend your shoppers card to someone in line?

[okeydokey]

We were in another state in a store I would probably never shop in again. The savings was only 50 cents as I was just getting some licorice for the ride home. If I thought I would use it again, I would have. Plus it was a quick stop as we wanted to get home.

For 50 cents I would never have even asked.

 

[cntrygal]

I shop in Cooperstown on a regular basis, I offer my card all the time especially during Dream Park season allthe tourists stocking their kitchens for the week, means tons of gas points for me!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MIGrandma]

It would depend on the type of card.

The 10% off employee discount card at Wal-Mart? No, I wouldn't share that as it could be revoked.

A grocery store card? Sure, I would share that and have before. I don't recall ever being asked to use mine by a stranger, but I have offered. Normally, though, the cashier will just swipe a generic one for anyone who doesn't have a card.

But for me to ask someone to use theirs to save 50 cents on a package of licorice? I wouldn't even think to do ask someone to use their card for that piddly little amount of savings.

 

[kmb584]

I live in PA and offer my card if the person in front of/behind me forgets theirs.

 

[Mkrop]

I have offered my card before to people without one and would have given the OP mine to use. Why not? There is no personal information on the receipt and it's definitely not a personal item like a lipstick. Regarding the employee card, a simple "I'm sorry, this is an employee card and I can't let anyone else use it" is polite and takes maybe 5 seconds to state.

Of all the things I have read on here...this is what is having some of you in a tizzie

I have been asked, and offered to run my card through for people at Acme, Shoprite and Giant. It is no big deal to me. It is not like they can get any personal info off my card. My DBrother use to live near me, he rarely shopped in ShopRite, preferred Acme, but on the occasion he was in there he would just plug in my phone number for the discount instead of getting his own card. He is young and single and did not want another card for his wallet or key chain. I never saw this as a big deal.

Now if I had an employee card, that would get me in trouble if I lent it out, I would POLITELY state so to the person asking. "oh I am sorry, I can only use this for my purchases, it is an employee card, have a good day"

ETA also comparing this to an item that I use on my mouth, with my germs etc is a ridiculous analogy!

 

[gwynne]

It is amazing to me that rather than use a sentence or two to explain, "I'm sorry, this is a non-transferable card, or employee card", some folks would rather just be huffy.
Gosh, you'd think if someone actually had an employee card, they might have an idea of a solution. Would it be that hard to ask the cashier if they have a blank "new" member card, and offer that?

 

[luvsJack]

There are two grocery stores near me that have a shoppers card. At one its the only way to get the sale prices, at the other you just get points and after so many points you can get X% off of some items or some free items.

At the first one, I have never been in there that the cashier didn't just use a card she has and many times it is their personal card--the card gives points that gives you $ off of gas. At the other, they always ask but never offer to let you sign up for one.

In any case, if I was in line and someone asked me to use the card, I would let them. If there was some reason why not (like the pp who would lose their job), then I would just say "I'm sorry, I can't." and then give a quick explanation.

Personally, I hate the fact that the only way to get the sales at the one store is with the card and rarely shop there for that reason. I see too many people that run in there to get a special price and then get to the register and not get that price because of the card. Seems to happen a lot to little old ladies that don't always understand the card and that they are not signing up for anything that cost them anything. And I have offered mine now that I finally took the time to sign up for it.

 

[antmaril]

Yes, I have shared my Kroger card with the person in front of me in line (more than once). Sometimes at the request of the cashier to save the customer some money.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Good grief, your seem to be taking this way too personally. It's not lipstick or a debit card. It's a discount card that stores actually use to track consumer spending habits. Yes, you have an employee discount card linked to yours but that's a special situation.

It's entirely possible the shopper being asked doesn't want others' spending habits showing up on their account.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Northeast Pa here and yes I have been asked if they could use my card I smiled and said yes. I have also offered my card.

 

[Robinrs]

See I just think asking a total stranger in line a question like that as just way to personal. Would you ask to use a lipstick in her purse because you wanted to try the color and see if it looked good on you.

Wow, I have read it ALL.

 

[Colleen27]

All the time. The only full service grocery in my town is a local chain - if you don't live in this county or the next one over you're never going to have heard of them much less have their shopper's card - and we're a community that draws a lot of out-of-towners over the summer. Our store used to have generic cards at the register for that purpose but did away with that when they instituted their fuel rewards program. I often end up in line behind someone who asks to use the card, or I offer it if I see them about to pay full price for everything in their cart for lack of a card. I know I don't want to sign up for a lifetime of marketing e-mails (and now texts as well) from a store that I just happen to stop at while vacationing, and I assume most other people don't either.

Frankly the whole shopper's card thing aggravates the heck out of me. Advertised weekly ad prices should be the price that rings up at the register, no strings attached, not contingent upon signing up for a new source of spam.

 

[Disney Doll]

Yes I am taking this seriously. The OP wanted to know if this was common. I am stating from my experience. She has no idea if she was refused because the person she asked had a card like ours or not. Maybe she did. I have seen people fired on the spot for allowing others to use their card. And this is with a company that is in all states. The one time I was asked I was in Ohio, the person in front of me saw my card and asked to borrow it. I said absolutely not and left it at that. She was a bit huffy but paid her bill and walked off. After I paid the cashier said to me, "you did the right thing, she is our loss prevention officer and if you had let her use your card you would have been fired." She asked for opinions and I gave mine. Most people take their livelihood very personal. I see the line in the grocery store as a place to get out of as soon as possible. Leave me alone and check me out quickly. My DH on the other hand will chat up whoever is in line with him and have their life history in under 5 minutes.

obviously no one would expect you to risk your DHs job. But in that instance a simple polite "this is an employee card so can't be shared" would probably suffice rather than barking out a rude "no". I can be rude when pushed, but intend not to lead with being rude when someone asks a simple question. YMMV.

OP, in my area it's no big deal nor is it unusual to ask to borrow a card or loan out a card. I'm happy to loan my card to whomever because it puts more on my card to redeem for gas discounting points. Generally the cashier will ask the patron for their card and swipe a generic one if the patron doesn't have it. On the self checkout machines, there is an "I forgot my card" button you can push so you get the discount. I haven't been arrested or banned from Stop & Shop yet.

Your lipstick analogy is ridiculous so worth no further commentary.

 

[SC Minnie]

I would and I have. I don't see the big deal.

 

[cabanafrau]

All this over 50 cents?

I'd have asked the cashier, but not another customer.

 

[gwynne]

We went away for the weekend. We stopped for a few items for the car ride home. We did not have a store card as that chain of grocery stores is not in our area.

The cashier would not run one through and the woman in front of us was almost "nasty" sounding and told us "NO".

I always offer my card when I see someone without it and cashiers also offer.

So my question is - Do you or would you let someone use your card for the discount and what state do you live in?

Thanks for answering.

It's entirely possible the shopper being asked doesn't want others' spending habits showing up on their account.

I had to go back and re-read the OP's post.
BBM-Really? That would be understandable consideration?? So it's far preferable to be unkind to a visitor rather than risk, say, an extra bag of tortilla chips and salsa on "their" account?? How paranoid does one have to be to worry about this?
I am amazed.

 

[dbrn]

I have let others use my card, and I have asked to use cards from others if I don't have my card with me for some reason. I've never had anyone say no. At one grocery store in the area, the cashiers have a card they can swipe for you. At another, the cashiers have said they're not allowed to swipe a new card for me, but that if someone in line let's me use theirs, they can swipe that person's card for me - so I ask. The person behind me gets more points to use for gas, and sometimes it add points to their card for other promotions, like a coupon that generates for free milk, or when they offer a free ham or turkey with purchases at Christmas. I get my purchases at a slightly lower price. It's a win/win situation.

I am not the least bit offended by someone asking - doesn't seem like a very personal thing at all. It's not like they're asking for a credit card or asking me to purchase their groceries for them.

I would be offended by someone intentionally and/or repeatedly asking for an employee card hoping to get an employee discount. I wouldn't be offended if it was someone who was simply asking for a grocery store card and didn't realize my card was somehow different. Either way, I'd decline politely.

I wouldn't be offended if someone asked for my lipstick, either. I'd think they were nuts, say no politely, and laugh about it later with my mother, who gets a kick out of all the crazy people I've run into in stores. She says I'm like a magnet!

 

[kimmyann]

This is pretty common where I live & I'm actually shocked that people think it's such a bad thing. Makes me worry about our society that we lack common courtesy & take offense to helping someone in need over something so benign & simple.

 

[cabanafrau]

This is pretty common where I live & I'm actually shocked that people think it's such a bad thing. Makes me worry about our society that we lack common courtesy & take offense to helping someone in need over something so benign & simple.

Someone in need?

 

[Allison]

It would never occur to me to ask to use a stranger's card. I would find it odd if someone asked me.