Strange experience buying modeling supplies at K-Mart

[Grampys Trains]

Hi every one: OK, a couple weeks ago, I was in the process of making evergreen trees.  I had all   my supplies except for hair spray.  So, I stopped at our local K-Mart on the way home from work to pick some up.  I'm in line and get to the register, and the girl at register looked at the hair spray and asked me for my birth date.  I thought she was kidding, and asked her if K-Mart was going to give me a birthday present.  The icy stare I got back told me she was serious. So I told her 9/13/44, then she rang up the sale.  Then she asked me why I wanted hair spray. I hesitated a moment, I was going to tell her "to hold my hair in place", but I didn't think that would go over too well, so I told her "to make trees for my model railroad".  Then a blank stare, bagged my hair spray, and I left the store.  After I left, I thought, jeez, kids these days must be sniffing aerosol,now. Anybody have an experience like that?

[cacole]

Welcome to the real world.  Yes, kids are sniffing anything aerosol to get their kicks.  Even though I'm 71, I've been asked at K-mart and Wal-mart because it's a federal law that they're not allowed to sell certain products to minors.

 

[markpierce]

When I was 59 the grocery clerk asked for my ID because I was purchasing wine.  I said "are you kidding?"  Got a blank stare in response, so I showed it to her.  Do you suppose the manager required her to check the ID of all customers purchasing alcohol because of her previous poor judgment?

Mark

[rolleiman]

DJ, I wouldn't give any personal info of any kind to any of these people. None of her biz what you want it for. My answers are usually a little more creative to those types of questions but really aren't suitable for these forums. Basically however, they amount to this..

(sorry Mods, had to do it, delete it if you must)...

 

 

[dale8chevyss]

I work at a Kmart store and the people they hire are dumber than bricks.  (at least at my store and the one it seems like you were at).  I realize this is a cheap shot at myself and I can live with that but it's true, they hire morons.  I had one girl the other day ask me how to turn the water on to water flowers.  I kid you not.  I told her to turn the valve to which I got "which one?"  I said turn them on  till water comes out! and left. 

[DavidGSmith]

Its nuttier by the day. We in Ontario the good(?) will have to show ID when buying tobacco products as of June 1. I think getting carded by kids not as old as my grand kids is a bit much. They are not old enough to buy them is is insulting as it can get. I quit by the way.

Dave 

[dale8chevyss]

When I was 59 the grocery clerk asked for my ID because I was purchasing wine.  I said "are you kidding?"  Got a blank stare in response, so I showed it to her.  Do you suppose the manager required her to check the ID of all customers purchasing alcohol because of her previous poor judgment?

Mark

 

No, sometimes it's corporate policy to do that regardless of age.   

[markpierce]

When I was 59 the grocery clerk asked for my ID because I was purchasing wine.  I said "are you kidding?"  Got a blank stare in response, so I showed it to her.  Do you suppose the manager required her to check the ID of all customers purchasing alcohol because of her previous poor judgment?

Mark

No, sometimes it's corporate policy to do that regardless of age.   

That couldn't be the case in this situation.  I have shopped at that same store once to thrice a week for nearly 20 years, and it only happened once.

Mark

[Kenfolk]

When I was in my early 40's, I stopped at a fast food place for a lunch...was not asked to pay for the coffee. I asked, why not? The teen replied, "We don't charge senior citizens for coffee"

I said, "I'm not a senior yet, by a good number of years, but since you insulted me like  that, I'll take you up on the free coffee that I had planned to pay for!"

To avoid the risk of being off topic, I'll just add that businesses may need to "train" their employees a little more, to keep them on the right "track". 

[MisterBeasley]

Yes, carding is generally set by policy.  It's not a new thing, either.  I remember being in college (like, in the 60's, man) and seeing them card a retired professor (Emeritus, no less) in the graduate dining hall, which served alcohol at the time.  The "no exceptions" rule gets them around the sticky issue of "profiling" or whatever.

I was at a ball game a few years back, as part of a company group.  They carded most of us.  My supervisor was absolutely ripped that they hadn't carded her, even though they carded her father!

 

[loathar]

I've seen Wal Mart card kids for spray paint, but I think that's a good idea.
In Tn. it's a law that all people have to show pictured ID for alcohol. That REALLY ticked off the illegals that have bogus or no ID. They're probably gonna start that for tobacco too.

I don't get why they do it for hair spray though? Kids usually huff butane or gold and silver spray paint.

[Robby P.]

Thats the thing about this hobby.  You tell someone what you do and they give you a blank stare.  So......... if you are like me, and explain what you do and how you make things for your layout, they are in shock.  Most people then are like, why you must be a artist, or you must be tallented.  Makes you wonder if they are being a smarty or they are serious on how much you can do with this kind of hobby.

[Ibeamlicker]

You get carded for hairspray,yet they argue you cant make people show ID to vote.Another case of the powers that be keeping a safe distance from genius.

[selector]

Dale, I apologize in advance, but I have to have a little fun at your expense.  Please go back and re-read the first sentence in your first post.

Think about it.

-Crandell

[jsoderq]

I hate to ad fuel to this fire, but I used to sub at a grocery store and the cash register computers would not ring up alcohol without a birth date being input to the computer. Originally we used 1/1/1911 but as soon as the computer guys caught that we had to use a real date. Of course, people were just asked if they were over 30, so they could tell you pretty much anything. However, if they caught you not carding someone  under the age (I forget what the law says - either 25 or 30) it could be the end of your job!

[IRONROOSTER]

I've seen Wal Mart card kids for spray paint, but I think that's a good idea.
In Tn. it's a law that all people have to show pictured ID for alcohol. That REALLY ticked off the illegals that have bogus or no ID. They're probably gonna start that for tobacco too.

I don't get why they do it for hair spray though? Kids usually huff butane or gold and silver spray paint.

You can use the hair spray with a lighter or other fire to make a really nifty torch. 

Enjoy

Paul 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I get carded almost every time I buy something age restricted at Wal-Mart. Now, it's really obvious looking at my gray hair and the wrinkles on my face and hands that I'm old enough to be somebody's grandfather. What are they thinking, that some kid is gonna make himself up to look like he's almost half a century old? Come on, give me a break!

[Anonymous]

Memories!  When I was a teenager, in the 50's, I was a pin setter.  On Friday night some of us would stay after closing for pot games.  Of course they gave us "refreshments".  The owner had a bar next door.  I graduated and a couple of years later I enlisted in the army for three years. 

         When I was 25 and a civilian, my brother and I went to a local bar and lo and behold the owner of that bar was the person whom I worked for setting up pins.  Yep, he carded me.  Now that law came out when I was in the service and knew nothing about it.  I looked at him and laughed.  He asked what was so funny. I told him that I used to set pins for him and his buddies for the Friday night pot games.  He didn't card me but we had a good time talking about old times.

[BRAKIE]

I can relate to the ID thing..I picked up 2 spray cans of Krylon paint at our Wally World and the sweet pea running the cash register ask to see my ID..All I said was "Surely you jest?"..Nope she was dead serious..Let's see then..I am 60 and look 55 and have salt and pepper hair.Hardly a youngster that might want the paint for mischief.

[loathar]

I can relate to the ID thing..I picked up 2 spray cans of Krylon paint at our Wally World and the sweet pea running the cash register ask to see my ID..All I said was "Surely you jest?"..Nope she was dead serious..Let's see then..I am 60 and look 55 and have salt and pepper hair.Hardly a youngster that might want the paint for mischief.

She just wanted to know where you live so she could come over later and "tap" some Brakie!

[mj5890]

Sometimes it amazes me how stupid some people are, and how tight some of these rules are, me being a minor(17 curentley) I cant buy any of these things.  One time my mom and I were at walmart and we get some fireworks like snakes and sparklers for 4th of july and then we were checking out and I went to grab the bag with the fire works in it to take it out to our car and the older lady working the register just exploded NO NO NO!!! YOU CANT CARY THOSE!! YOUR TOO YOUNG!!! so my mom caried those but as soon as we got out of the store she gave them to me to cary, another time I was at Sams club(similar to costco) and I was going to get a sample for a cookie and when I reached to get one the lady wacked my hand with her spatuala and said my dad would have to get it for me because it has EGG in it.

I work at a local garden store as a cashier/cary out and when Im a casheir we have to ask for ID but since we dont sell anything ilegal for minors we only ask for ID if your credit card is unsinged or "unledgeble" and I have had some people make a huge deal out of this and say that its so dumb and that they'll have to go out to thier car to get it and then after they say that they just look at me like Im gona say ok forget it then or something like that, I mean come on people this is for your own protection, but I will also add that if it says "C.I.D" or "SEE ID" or something like that then I will also ask.  Another lady that works there asked to see the ID from a man because his signature looked like a 1 year old did it with a caryon, and aperentley later that day he caled back and told the manager he was discriminated against and carded because of his race(Asain).

Joe

[RicHamilton]

...I was going to get a sample for a cookie and when I reached to get one the lady wacked my hand with her spatuala and said my dad would have to get it for me because it has EGG in it.

When you have someone, especially a young child with severe allergies that can cause anaphalaxis to irritants such as egg or tree nuts (items commonly found in cookies), you would understand the importance of knowing the contents of the food that they ingest.  Was it the right way to approach it by slapping your hand, probably not, but nice to know that the demo people care enough to inform.

[mj5890]

...I was going to get a sample for a cookie and when I reached to get one the lady wacked my hand with her spatuala and said my dad would have to get it for me because it has EGG in it.

When you have someone, especially a young child with severe allergies that can cause anaphalaxis to irritants such as egg or tree nuts (items commonly found in cookies), you would understand the importance of knowing the contents of the food that they ingest.  Was it the right way to approach it by slapping your hand, probably not, but nice to know that the demo people care enough to inform.

I know that some people have some very severe allergies to these things so now when I look back on it, it wasnt that big of a deal becasue she was just doing her job, but I was about 10 at the time so it scared me a bit when she slaped me.

 

Joe

[Texas Chief]

When I was in my early 40's, I stopped at a fast food place for a lunch...was not asked to pay for the coffee. I asked, why not? The teen replied, "We don't charge senior citizens for coffee"

I said, "I'm not a senior yet, by a good number of years, but since you insulted me like  that, I'll take you up on the free coffee that I had planned to pay for!"

To avoid the risk of being off topic, I'll just add that businesses may need to "train" their employees a little more, to keep them on the right "track". 

First they need to hire people that are "Trainable". You have no idea how hard that is to do now days.

Dick

Texas Chief

[eeyore9900]

I remember buying Dullcote (for my "weathering") at WM & hearing the warning "beep" on the scanner, & thought, "Oh please, don't card me!" (they didn't) I'm 42 years old. I've been told I look younger, but not young enough to pass for a minor!

Not too long ago I bought beer at WM, & the clerk wouldn't scan anything more until I showed her my ID. She had to type in my birthdate. Sheez, I understand the reason, but has common sense gone out the window anymore? (they may have gotten some serious complaints,as I haven't dealt with it since!)

It just doesn't make sense to me-sell it with no questions asked to those whose age is questionable, but ID the obvious "of age." Several times I've watched clerks at the local "fill-em-ups" (I'd love to name the chain, but don't want to get Kalmbach in trouble) sell young pups who weren't more than 14 cigs & "blunts" (which are cigars used for "other" purposes!)

Furthermore, Grandpy, it was NONE OF HER BUSINESS as to what you were using if for. You are "of age." (no offense) & attempting to purchase a perfectly normal, legal product. Any clerk asks me what they did you, the next thing I'll be saying is, "GET ME YOUR SUPERVISOR-NOW!"

Sorry for my folks-I don't usually do that, but that's just one thing about "today" that sticks in my craw-the loss of "common sense."

[JulesB]

I gave the cashier girl a $20.00 bill. The check was for $18.50. She screwed up entering "Cash Tendered" and had to go get the manager. He said to me,"Can you believe she just graduated from high school? I told him to show her how to 'Count UP' to make change.

 

Jules

 

[hobo9941]

I got asked for ID at Wal-Mart recently, when I bought some rubber cement. I was using the self checkout, and the message popped up, Please wait for assistance. Product requires approval.

[wgnrr]

I've seen Wal Mart card kids for spray paint, but I think that's a good idea.
In Tn. it's a law that all people have to show pictured ID for alcohol. That REALLY ticked off the illegals that have bogus or no ID. They're probably gonna start that for tobacco too.

I don't get why they do it for hair spray though? Kids usually huff butane or gold and silver spray paint.

You can use the hair spray with a lighter or other fire to make a really nifty torch. 

Enjoy

Paul 

That's how we get rid of the tent caterpillars....

Phil 

[highhood63]

I miss the days when folks bought such thigs to do sily things like Paint Models or maybe hold their hair in place. 

 I guess that is the official sign that I am now middle aged. :(

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I've seen Wal Mart card kids for spray paint, but I think that's a good idea.
In Tn. it's a law that all people have to show pictured ID for alcohol. That REALLY ticked off the illegals that have bogus or no ID. They're probably gonna start that for tobacco too.

I don't get why they do it for hair spray though? Kids usually huff butane or gold and silver spray paint.

You can use the hair spray with a lighter or other fire to make a really nifty torch. 

Enjoy

Paul 

That's how we get rid of the tent caterpillars....

Phil 

It works good for getting rid of wasp and hornet nests too.