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In Texas, we have electronic foodstamps - known as the Lonestar Card. Stores are still supposed to accept paper foodstamps up until June 30th, but I've never seen one and wouldn't know what to do with it.
I took a phone call from someone asking where we were located and if we accepted Lonestar - I gave her directions after telling her yes, we accepted Lonestar.
Sure enough, about 30 minutes later, she shows up in my line - I recognized her voice, and she told me it was her first time using the Lonestar card and she wasn't sure if a lot of her items would be covered. It was also her first time in our store.
As a general rule of thumb, if it's a taxable item, it probably won't be covered - but that's not always the case. Some of the prepared items from produce (like in-house made guacamole and pico) are taxable, but covered. But none of the prepared items in the deli or meat dept (sandwiches, salads, etc) are covered. And a lot of bakery items aren't covered. I'm still learning what is and isn't covered, I've been cashiering for close to a year, and 2 other cashiers have had Lonestar cards for awhile and they're not fully clear and what's covered.
I went over her purchases with her, told her what I thought would and wouldn't be covered, and told her that the worst thing that would happen if we tried to charge something that wasn't covered is the register would just ask for a different form of payment for that item - and I could remove it from the transaction at that point. I didn't think the guacamole she'd picked up from produce would be covered, everything else would be for sure (as it turns out I was wrong, the guacamole was covered, surprised me). I also went over what would print up on her receipt and what to select on the card reader - our receipt printers will spit out a mini-statement showing how much was deducted and the remaining balance on the card when the Lonestar card is used.
We don't get very many Lonestar customers - being an upscale store in the richest part of town and everything - but we do get them here and there. I usually get 5-10 a week.
Anyway, she was awesome to deal with, and looked like she was ashamed to be using the card. These days more and more people are winding up on foodstamps, I don't look down on people using them (well, unless they're driving off in an Escalade or something equally ridiculous)
I took a phone call from someone asking where we were located and if we accepted Lonestar - I gave her directions after telling her yes, we accepted Lonestar.
Sure enough, about 30 minutes later, she shows up in my line - I recognized her voice, and she told me it was her first time using the Lonestar card and she wasn't sure if a lot of her items would be covered. It was also her first time in our store.
As a general rule of thumb, if it's a taxable item, it probably won't be covered - but that's not always the case. Some of the prepared items from produce (like in-house made guacamole and pico) are taxable, but covered. But none of the prepared items in the deli or meat dept (sandwiches, salads, etc) are covered. And a lot of bakery items aren't covered. I'm still learning what is and isn't covered, I've been cashiering for close to a year, and 2 other cashiers have had Lonestar cards for awhile and they're not fully clear and what's covered.
I went over her purchases with her, told her what I thought would and wouldn't be covered, and told her that the worst thing that would happen if we tried to charge something that wasn't covered is the register would just ask for a different form of payment for that item - and I could remove it from the transaction at that point. I didn't think the guacamole she'd picked up from produce would be covered, everything else would be for sure (as it turns out I was wrong, the guacamole was covered, surprised me). I also went over what would print up on her receipt and what to select on the card reader - our receipt printers will spit out a mini-statement showing how much was deducted and the remaining balance on the card when the Lonestar card is used.
We don't get very many Lonestar customers - being an upscale store in the richest part of town and everything - but we do get them here and there. I usually get 5-10 a week.
Anyway, she was awesome to deal with, and looked like she was ashamed to be using the card. These days more and more people are winding up on foodstamps, I don't look down on people using them (well, unless they're driving off in an Escalade or something equally ridiculous)
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