Would you lend your shoppers card to someone in line?

[sk!mom]

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.

So you were trying to make a stop so quick that you wouldn't take the minute or two for them to swipe a new card for you yet you thought that the person ahead of you should wait and let you use her car. Maybe she was in a hurry too and didn't have a minute to spare.

However, during a medical stay in Houston, we lived across the street from Kroger and I had a card. A man did ask one day at the self check and I did let him use it. So while I do not think it's rude to refuse, I guess I would do it if it came up again. Unlikely since HEB, my regular store, doesn't require cards.

 

[Jessica14]

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

This exactly. Someone asked me once as I was scanning, packing, and making sure the kids were OK. I did think it was odd, and honestly I was not sure what info was on that card. I was polite, but declined and she was annoyed. Had I known her, that would have been different.

I also only get discounts, not points towards anything, so it was not an advantage to me. I would never dream of asking anyone though.

 

[PlutoPony]

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

. If you don't have a card with you at the checkout it's because you don't want one as you can always get your discount by typing in your phone # if you forgot your card. Cashiers don't have a card they scan if you don't have one, you're free to open one on the spot if you want one and it just takes a minute.

This is at 4 national or large east coast regional chains I shop in DC suburbs. Some people don't want these cards (no idea why) so it's not a big deal if one isn't used, you just forego the benefits. No big deal.

 

[3Gsandme]

This thread is weird.

I'd have no problem offering my card. I've had cashiers run their card for me. I've had them ask to borrow mine to swipe so a customer without a card could save some money.

If it were an employee discount card, I'd say no, but it's such an easy way to be kind. Why wouldn't you be?

 

[sunshinehighway]

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.

Yup. I've had cashiers ask if someone can use my card. It's not a big deal. Posters here would probably demand the manager and try to get the cashier fired because of it. There's such an odd holier than though attitude that people here get over the dumbest stuff. The superiority that oozes from some posts astonishes me. I think some people need to find a little more joy in their lives.

 

[Mkrop]

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

Really? What could they possibly be buying at the grocery store that I would care about being on my account? And a quick glance could probably tell you if there is an "offending" item anyway. But a bag of Twizzlers, I think I can handle on my account.

And I think the thing here is even if you think it is the oddest request ever, be polite in declining. A simple "oh I am sorry I cant" should suffice, and then if the other person gets huffy, THEN you can start a thread here about how impolite people are.

They are not asking for your SSN number or asking for you to commit a sin, relax, and if you are not comfortable just be nice about it...holy mackeral!

 

[Katlyn]

I've never been asked , but have offered it many times. If I don't have my card with me for my use the cashier can input my phone # instead.

 

[njmom47]

Where I shop, cashiers do not have a "generic" card, nor is it policy to allow a customer to use another's shopper discount card (although I'm not really sure what the cashier could do if it did happen). You can enter a phone number, although that is a different kind of headache in itself...
I would've just dealt with paying 50cents more for the item.

 

[snapppyd]

My goodness, they aren't asking for one of your kidneys. I have lent mine - it's no big deal. A big red spinning light didn't go off over my head, sirens didn't sound, a loudspeaker didn't announce that I had just purchased a bag of licorice.

 

[pryncess527]

The cashiers here always scan one if you don't volunteer yours, so honestly I would have been a bit taken aback by the cashier's refusal to help out. The cashier's attitude would have discouraged me from asking a customer.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thank goodness our grocery stores do not have cards anymore.

If someone did ask me to swipe a card, like CVS or Walgreens to get the discount, I would do it.

 

[gwynne]

My goodness, they aren't asking for one of your kidneys. I have lent mine - it's no big deal. A big red spinning light didn't go off over my head, sirens didn't sound, a loudspeaker didn't announce that I had just purchased a bag of licorice.

Exactly. And how long does it take to hand your keys (card) to the cashier, she/he swipes, and hands them back? Maybe...3 seconds??

I really don't get the naysayers. Maybe if we told them their 3 sec help would count as their "pay it forward" good deed for the entire day they might be less annoyed.

 

[ronandannette]

Many of the cards give a small rebate of some sort after so many dollars spent. If someone asked to use my card, I'd let them regardless of the rebate, but there is the added benefit of a few more points towards the rebate so win-win.

I do think some people might feel that the card is their reward for being a regular shopper and an out-of-state customer shouldn't get the reward since they aren't regular. I don't agree with that attitude. In fact I find it silly, but I know there are people who think that way, and the OP may have met one of them that day.

The cards are actually part of the store's market research to track buying patterns. The discounts are incentives for customers to use the cards so that the store can collect the information from individuals and break it down by much more complex criteria (some application forms ask questions like how many people in your family, the ages, even a general income bracket if you choose to answer). It's not primarily to promote loyalty.

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.

This. Not to mention how much I LOATH having dozens of plastic cards in my wallet. I purposely frequent places that DON'T have a card. Interestingly, Canada Safeway just announced the end of it's Club Card program. I guess they now know everything they need to about buying trends.

 

[Pixiedustaway]

I would if it came up. It's a store loyalty card, not the blood of the Redemmer. Why the fuss?? Here the cashier will scan one for you, if you forget yours.

 

[snapppyd]

Exactly. And how long does it take to hand your keys (card) to the cashier, she/he swipes, and hands them back? Maybe...3 seconds??

I really don't get the naysayers. Maybe if we told them their 3 sec help would count as their "pay it forward" good deed for the entire day they might be less annoyed.

Now you are making too much sense One of the stores I stop at even has a button on the self checkout register that says "forgot my card" - you press it and you get the discounts.


I find it intriguing that on these boards people are always all about running into burning buildings to rescue a stray cat, but won't help out a person trying to buy licorice Remember the thread where EVERYONE gives money to the homeless, offers them a bed and a shower?

 

[gwynne]

I would if it came up. It's a store loyalty card, not the blood of the Redemmer. Why the fuss?? Here the cashier will scan one for you, if you forget yours.

Now you are making too much sense One of the stores I stop at even has a button on the self checkout register that says "forgot my card" - you press it and you get the discounts.


I find it intriguing that on these boards people are always all about running into burning buildings to rescue a stray cat, but won't help out a person trying to buy licorice Remember the thread where EVERYONE gives money to the homeless, offers them a bed and a shower?

BBM, You guys are hilarious! Great points...I agree.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Ummmm .... let's be real here. It's not like the person can't shop there without the card and therefore you're stopping them from buying anything!

I guess I don't feel entitled to a discount from someone else's card, so it would never occur to me to ask. If it was offered I'd be pleased and very grateful though.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The only discount cards I have all specify they are for cardholder use only.

 

[mmouse37]

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.

Last time we were in Florida on vacation I was shopping at Winn Dixie where I did not have a shopper card. We are in Florida fairly often (from NY) and just figured I would get a card while I was there to take advantage of the deals with the card. Process took 2 mins and they even delivered my card right to me while I was checking out.

Our local Stop and Shop just stopped letting you enter your phone number if you did not have your physical card with you. You can use a store card but you don't accumulate any points that way.

MJ

 

[DopeyDame]

I would probably offer on my own if I saw somebody needed a discount.

However, I would NEVER be so presumptuous to ask a stranger in line to use their card, especially for 50 cents. That just seems really weird.

If somebody asked me to use my card, I would be taken aback, be a bit shocked and befuddled that somebody wanted my card and would probably answer the same as the lady in the OP.

Yup, this would be my reaction too. Sitting here in the quiet of my computer, and I can see how it would be a nice, no-big-deal thing to do for someone, but standing in the grocery line, getting ready to leave (and almost certainly rushing to get home to the kids, thinking about what work needs to be done, or just otherwise in my own la-la-land at the time), yeah, I'd be taken aback and would probably say no quickly and walk away, just because it's such a bizarre out-of-the-normal request. (at least where I live)