no, i don't know your pin number

[darknight73]

my store is located in a downtown location near a rough area of town. we get a lot of people in the store using the direction card (food stamp) card. at least once a day, we have some one come in and look at us with the "gosh, how do i use this card" look. they train you on it when you get it, you use it everyday and you have no job to distract you so what is the problem? then we get the person that asks "don't you remember my pin number?". it's your card and your number. not mine, i have to work for my food. if i have to swipe your card, enter your pin, confirm the purchase- then the card is mine.
a local grocery store has this sign posted at evry register in all of their stores. it is laminated and has large black bold letters:
we do not know how to use your card
if you have a problem with your card, it is your responsibility
call xxxxxxxxxx at the pay phone outside

no particular sc but just a general rant

[BookstoreEscapee]

That is an awesome sign. Not too many business would have the guts...

[Danjo]

I had to call and change a customer's Food Stamp Pin Number. He was a very elderly gentleman who couldn't speak very well. It's kind of frightening how easy it was.



Oh...and that sign rules.

[darknight73]

the sign does rule- especially when the your looks like this YOUR[

[Becks]

PIN number????? No!!!!!!!!

That sign rules, btw.

[Ree]

While I understand your frustration, it's a good idea to remember that many on assistance are not on the program by choice. Some of your comments are a bit mean-spirited and judgmental.
It is very unfair to say

you have no job to distract you so what is the problem?

Some people are on these programs to supplement their income, because they are unable to find a full time job, and that little bit extra helps.

Just a note about generalizing. I am sure there are some who abuse the programs, but there are many more who are legitimately being helped, and are ashamed of the fact that they have to use this help, but have mouths to feed, or bills to pay, so have no choice.
Sometimes it's either take the assistance, or hit the streets. These programs exist to prevent that from happening.

Some of our members grew up in families who were only able to make ends meet using these programs, and some members are currently using these programs.
This is a subject best left to fratching anyway.
It is not our role to decide whether these programs should exist.

Sadly, almost every time a thread starts up on this topic, that's where it heads.

If this one heads there, it will be shut down.

BTW, "PIN number" is redundant. You are saying "Personal Identification Number number"

[Megg]

Just a note about generalizing. I am sure there are some who abuse the programs, but there are many more who are legitimately being helped, and are ashamed of the fact that they have to use this help, but have mouths to feed, or bills to pay, so have no choice.
Sometimes it's either take the assistance, or hit the streets. These programs exist to prevent that from happening.

Thank you, Ree. Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Aramika]

I'm coming to that grocery store and stealing those signs for my store. we definitely need them, unfortunately.

[bainsidhe]

Thanks, Ree. Beautifully said.

You know, PIN numbers (and yes, I like being redundant too ) can be a real pain, whether for debit, food stamps, etc. People get upset because the machine won't take their pin, when in reality they can't type it correctly or they have the wrong number. After a few tries the machine locks you out and you can't do a debit transaction at all. Then it's time to sit back and watch the eruption. I mean, it's clearly MY FAULT a customer can't use their PIN correctly.

[darknight73]

i aplogize if my quote offended anyone but that was not my intention to generalize everyone that uses the food stamp card.
i recognize the fact that there are people that truly need help, whether alot or a little, and that is what the system is for. i mean no disrespect to those people. many years ago, my dad lost his job and we almost had to ask for help. it truly was embaressing to reach that point and i can feel for those who are embaressed by it. these are not the people i am ranting about.
the people i meant are the 20-30 year olds with 2-3 kids (with the pregnant girlfriend in tow) who want the .85 candy bar but are told no. instead mom/dad buys the 5.85 pack of newport cigarettes and the 40 oz beer (with cash). all the while talking on their cell phone about "when i get home we playing on my xbox 360 "
or the couple that comes in every holiday and spends $60-80 on holiday candy (on their card) so their kid can have a good christmas, halloween, etc... then complain "well what are we going to do the rest of the month for food" while i appreciate the sale and business, i think meat, potatoes, or fruit would be a better choice.
the person that uses their card in my store every day, 6 days a week, 2 or 3 times a day, for 4-5 years and still can't figure out how to use their card.
or my favorite "why doesn't my card work ? you need to call someone and get my card to work" no i don't. it is your card and your responsibility as a card holder.
responsibility is all it takes.

[Danjo]

I call them PIN Numbers too. I like being redundant and repetitive.

[darknight73]

and your fond of alliteration

[Triscuitty]

I got a lot of the same issues at my last job; unfortunately, awesome signs like yours were not allowed. Stoopid Corporate monkeys.

I got pretty jaded about foodstamp abusers, too. It was a convenience store, and people would spend $50 and more on junk food with their foodstamps, when the same amount of money could have bought a lot of actual groceries at an actual grocery store. To feed their kids an actual meal. Argh. And there were the guys that would strut in wearing $200 sneakers, covered in bling, talking on a Blackberry, pull out a huge roll of cash to pay for cigarettes/beer/blunt papers, then pay for their Gatorade with a foodstamp card. It's too bad there's no realistic way to prevent this kind of abuse of the program.

[Ironclad Alibi]

it is your card and your responsibility as a card holder. responsibility is all it takes.

Since when has an SC ever exhibited responsibility?

The responsible customers know how to use the card, and know their PIN (w/o redundancy ).