Cigarettes and non IDs

[figgyx]

At one point in my life I found myself working the midnight shift at a gas station. The company I worked for rhymed with hires but really started with an M. The corporate policy was that anyone who looked under the age of 40 was to be carded before being allowed to buy cigarettes.

I can't tell you how many times this proved to be the biggest pain in the ass. People yell and scream and demand to be sold cigarettes regardless of not being able to prove they are old enough. Most of the older customers (women) were flattered that we were checking Id but it was always the 20 and 30 year olds that yelled the most. One guy walked into the station early one morning and had no Id. When I refused the sale (and we could get in trouble due to constantly being on camera if we did not check) he called me an asshole and stormed off.

Another time I refused a sale because the kid had no picture Id and he went to the main store. A short time later I was told by my own management to go ahead and sell him the cigarettes - really? The one rule you tell us we could get fired for breaking and my own management team tells me to break it.

[LillFilly]

Another time I refused a sale because the kid had no picture Id and he went to the main store. A short time later I was told by my own management to go ahead and sell him the cigarettes - really? The one rule you tell us we could get fired for breaking and my own management team tells me to break it.

I think in that case, you'd better cover your butt by logging off your id on the register (if you have one) and telling manager that you don't want to be responsible for breaking policy, so HE can ring up the customer; that way he gets fined/fired and you don't. Because that sale is likely to fall back on you otherwise. Maybe call corporate or the owner or a higher-up too.

[BrenDAnn]

I was gonna say--no, you let that manager make the sale then. As for me, I'm a stickler for IDing people. I've passed several stings. For me, it's ID or GTFO. Of course I don't say it in those terms, but people get the point. They throw royal fits sometimes, but they get the damn point. Also, giving me nasty looks or rolling your eyes and huffing will not make me sell to you without an ID, you who looks about twelve to sixteen years old. Go away!

[emt_cookies]

I used to work there on the floor in their main stores and when I ran registers, I carded everyone. Didn't matter if they looked 16 or 100, they were carded. When they complained, I told the I can't judge ages that well and I know people who have been burned by stings so they should blame their local police/ATF/whoever does the stings for dressing people up to look 60. I also was burnt out in regards to retail so I didn't care when a customer screamed at me. Most of the time they just rolled their eyes though.

If I was in the gas station, I might be slightly more concerned since there's only 2 people out there. I know in the one video, if the customer starts getting scary and abusive, you're allowed to sell the cigarettes and report it to management. I think they said if you feel threatened. The training video was old (pre 2007) so double check to see if that still applies. This also was an actual VHS tape for register training and not the stupid computer program.

[downforit2008]

At my store, the cashiers have to card people who are under the age of 40 as well. These customers can whine, scream, and moan about why we have to check their ID but they'll NEVER understand that it's a cashier's job to do so, and to NOT check the ID just to make the customer happy can result in termination.

Here's a good retort: "It's my JOB to check for ID, sir/Ma'am. If I get fired for not checking your ID, then you better have a real good job offer for me so I can continue having a source of income." Most customers don't know what to say to that.

[EricKei]

What they all said ^_^

Also, you can ask them one tiny little question, ESPECIALLY when working at a gas station -- if they don't have an ID on them in the form of a driver's license, what they heck are they doing DRIVING there in the first place?

[Redbeard]

Another time I refused a sale because the kid had no picture Id and he went to the main store. A short time later I was told by my own management to go ahead and sell him the cigarettes - really? The one rule you tell us we could get fired for breaking and my own management team tells me to break it.

Tell him no, and make sure it's because you refuse to break the law.
Seriously, what kind of moron tells his staff to perform an illegal act that get the store fined and get the employee fired? Hell, if he does it again tell him you want it in writing and then go to HR.

[notlovinit]

Oh man, I have some stupid cashier stories from the other side of this. My friend used to participate in some of the police stings, but for alcohol, not cigarettes. She said 9 times out of 10 she would get sold to, EVEN when the cashiers checked her ID. She said some wouldn't even ask, some would do the math wrong, and worse yet some would ignore the register warning them that the customer was underage.
One time, she handed the cashier her ID, he scanned it in the register, the register told him she was underage. Does he deny her sale? No! He says "Huh.. your ID says your only 19, but that must be a mistake." Then he overrides the register and gives her the alcohol.

It's cashiers that act like this that breeds the SCs that get mad when the good cashiers that are following their job enforce the law. The SCs expect that the good cashiers are just being jerks.

[Redbeard]

Oh wait...this is from a FORMER job.
Good job for not killing anyone with your brain, then!

[NCO]

When I worked a couple of part time jobs at convenience stores, I carded everyone. Some didn't like it. When it was obviously older folks, especially older ladies, I'd still ask but with a - I guess - lighter tone in my voice. Always made their day.

I'm 40 and still get carded occasionally.

[RealUnimportant]

My wife... I swear she's got a portrait hidden in an attic somewhere; if anything, she looks younger now than she did half a lifetime ago, which is when she was last underage! (We're in the UK.)

She got carded for alcohol just before Xmas, it made her day.

[Kristev]

Oh how silly. My brother wouldn't dream of leaving the house without his driver's license, which is in his wallet. Nor I of leaving for anywhere but the neighborhood grocery store without my passport. How utterly foolish.