Guy in front of me at Publix tried to buy a 12-pack of beer with an EBT card.

Cashier scanned it anyway, but the computer said no.

Cool story, bro.

Stupid twits, the two of them

Some people are just dumb as a stump.

If I was the cashier, I would rather say the computer said no, too, instead of me... ya know?

the system worked

What is "Publix"?

Publix is a grocery store. Located mostly in the South East. A nice store. Especially compared to Sedanos, Bravo, and Winn Dixie.

Winn Dixie, heh.

Or Food Lion, or some Kroger's.

So, the EBT system can recognize the specific items he is buying, not just the store?

Uhhhhh no.

Publix has programmed the items you can buy and not buy with EBT. No alcohol is one of them.

Yeah, motherfucker!

Tell me about it, we have two, a Piggly Wiggly, and two Walmart supercenters. Talk about no selection.

I've always had a sneaking suspicion Winn-Dixie is owned by Kroger (or vice versa). I remember using my Kroger card in a Winn-Dixie and it worked. I used my Winn-Dixie card in a Kroger and it worked. Either one owns the other, or they're in cahoots.

Here's the thing: I am a cashier. I have no problems denying sale of alcohol, and I know the rules of EBT sales and reminding the customer (because the state supposedly will tell them when they apply and receive their benefits) what they are.

I've pissed off several customers that were clearly over 30 (and sober) because I denied them booze. Why? They didn't have their ID. No ID, no booze, period. I don't care if they're sober, of age -- once I ask for the ID, they must present it.

Likewise with credit cards -- if the signature strip says 'See ID', I will. If it's blank, I will card them. Way too many cashiers don't. They just swipe and give it back to them with the slip the customer signs instead of the customer copy after the merchant copy's signed.

My point is this: A cashier's supposed to know the rules and follow them. It's to protect the customer (credit cards), their job (booze and ID), and the state (EBT). Relying on the computer is waste of time, particularly in POS systems that require manager overrides to cancel orders (and there are some out there). "I'm sorry, sir, you can't buy alcohol with EBT. Do you have another form of payment?"

Not to sound too sheltered or anything, but what's an EBT card? Never heard of it before.

EBT=food stamps

Ah, that 'splains it then. I'm one of those evil capitalist types who actually works for the money to buy his junk food.

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It's also a fully employee owned Co-op. Maybe for this reason I've always found the stores to be very clean and the staff most helpful.

How about biometrics used in link cards.

Publix is one of the best chains in the country. Everything Frontline says is true. Of course, there is another side to it: the grocery industry is brutally competitive and you work your ass off. A friend of mine worked there for several years and the working conditions weren't great and the pay was lousy. That said, the stock ownership plan is very lucrative. Publix was able to succesfully expand into Atlanta in the last few years,even though a lot of experts thought they were nuts.
Winn-Dixie recently came out of bankruptcy. They had a lot of aging stores, especially in inner city locations. Right now, the Winn-Dixie around the corner from me is in great shape, beautifully clean and has a meat counter that's even better than Publix.
The profit margins in the grocery industry are unbelievably thin and it takes a lot of smarts and effort to survive.

I always like going to the Publix down at Gulf Shores, it's so nice and clean.

I hear it is even cleaner than the beaches!

Orange Beach > Gulf Shores.



How often are you down that way?

In Memphis, there's pretty much just one grocery store chain...Krogers. There are a few Schnucks here and there, but for the most part Krogers is it. When I lived there I had a Krogers card and a Sam's card...that was it. There was always a Krogers somewhere between where you were, and where you were going.

Now I have to keep up with a Bi-Lo card, an Ingles card, a Harris Teeter card, and a Food Lion card.

Piggly Wiggly was started in Memphis!

Are they still there? The only two I know about closed years ago.

No Publix or Winn-Dixies here in the Northwest. Instead, we have Whole Foods and New Seasons, with New Seasons being the local Portland natural/organic chain.

I think there used to be some Winn-Dixie stores around here, but I haven't seen any in years in this area. Used to have Giant as well, but they've been gone a long time.

I'd give Winn-Dixie my business if they were here. I always make it a point to buy Dixie Crystals sugar.