Woman Alleges Kroger Manager Mocked Her For Using Food Stamps

[SheHateMe]

Kroger, America's largest grocery chain, has transferred one of its store managers after customer Cindy Nerger accused the manager of mocking her for using food stamps, local news outlet I3WMAZ reports. Last week, she says, the manager told Nerger that her purchases weren’t covered by food stamps. The manager later acknowledged that food stamps covered all the items in Nergers’ cart, but reportedly went on to say, "Well excuse me that I work for a living and don't rely on food stamps like you.''

Nerger spends 12 hours a day on dialysis and has been waiting for a kidney transplant for years, according to an earlier I3WMAZ article. Her family relies on the income of her husband, who only works part time so he can care for her.

She's just one example of the many Americans propped up by the U.S. food stamp program, one of many government safety net options to become a hot button issue during the election season. Food stamp use has spiked 51 percent since October 2008, hitting an all-time high in June, according to a Department of Agriculture report released earlier this month.

Obama has himself managed to slow the growth of food stamp use during his presidency, according to the USDA. Still, nearly 20 percent of Americans haven't had enough money to put food on the table at least once in the past year, according to a recent Gallup report.

Le Source


Hmm, so I don't know how I feel about this story. A few years ago, I walked to the market near my dorm to get some chicken nuggets and Smirnoff. Not a classy choice...but, Im in college so I get a pass. Anyway, this woman was with her son and she was getting groceries. I ended up behind her in line and there was an issue with her transaction. The clerk behind the counter told her that she couldn't get some of the items she had with foodstamps.

Anyway, the clerk was really rude about it (as in, she made sure EVERYONE around the aisle knew the lady was on foodstamps) and the lady was totally embarrassed, she tried to get money out to just pay for the food but she didn't have all of it. I wanted to just pay the $$ for the stuff she had but I didn't want to come off as rude, so I did nothing as the lady quietly put everything back that she couldn't get and walked out of the store. The cost of the food she couldn't get was probably about $10, It wouldn't have hurt my pockets to help her out, I just didn't know how to do it without making it seem like I pitied her....idk.



ANYWHO, I find it funny that some Manager at a grocery store that probably makes like 50K a year is making fun of some woman on Welfare...as If he/she isnt a layoff away from being in Welfare themselves (themself?). Kroger is also one of many companies that lobbied Congress NOT to make changes to SNAP benefits because so many of their customers are on the program and they don't want to see that money go away. I'd go as far as to say that people like this woman "shopping" at Kroger with foodstamps are paying the salaries of employees at many of these stores.

Hey, did you guys know KFC takes foodstamps too? I had to drive to "home" to Detroit to see if it was true or not...and my goodness, it is.

 

[Atreus21]

Le Source


Hmm, so I don't know how I feel about this story. A few years ago, I walked to the market near my dorm to get some chicken nuggets and Smirnoff. Not a classy choice...but, Im in college so I get a pass. Anyway, this woman was with her son and she was getting groceries. I ended up behind her in line and there was an issue with her transaction. The clerk behind the counter told her that she couldn't get some of the items she had with foodstamps.

Anyway, the clerk was really rude about it (as in, she made sure EVERYONE around the aisle knew the lady was on foodstamps) and the lady was totally embarrassed, she tried to get money out to just pay for the food but she didn't have all of it. I wanted to just pay the $$ for the stuff she had but I didn't want to come off as rude, so I did nothing as the lady quietly put everything back that she couldn't get and walked out of the store. The cost of the food she couldn't get was probably about $10, It wouldn't have hurt my pockets to help her out, I just didn't know how to do it without making it seem like I pitied her....idk.



ANYWHO, I find it funny that some Manager at a grocery store that probably makes like 50K a year is making fun of some woman on Welfare...as If he/she isnt a layoff away from being in Welfare themselves (themself?). Kroger is also one of many companies that lobbied Congress NOT to make changes to SNAP benefits because so many of their customers are on the program and they don't want to see that money go away. I'd go as far as to say that people like this woman "shopping" at Kroger with foodstamps are paying the salaries of employees at many of these stores.

Hey, did you guys know KFC takes foodstamps too? I had to drive to "home" to Detroit to see if it was true or not...and my goodness, it is.

I'd be interested to know what she was buying.

If people on foodstamps are eating better than people who aren't, I can understand some resentment.

And people like this woman are not paying for salaries of anyone. The taxpayer is.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I'd be interested to know what she was buying.

If people on foodstamps are eating better than people who aren't, I can understand some resentment.

And people like this woman are not paying for salaries of anyone. The taxpayer is.

I wonder if it's true.

 

[xochi]

I remember last year Yum Brands, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, etc tried to get the rules changed to allow SNAP cards at their restaurants. I had thought it was rejected.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/indus...ting-customers-who-use-food-stamps/50267864/1

Corporations need love too!

 

[xBiffx]

How is this national news, or interesting? Probably happens 10 times a day. Just get tired of hearing about it over and over.

 

[Atreus21]

I wonder if it's true.

If what's true?

 

[rudder]

How is this national news, or interesting? Probably happens 10 times a day. Just get tired of hearing about it over and over.

The manager had probably already put in 60 hours that week and was having to work more because some cashier went to see a lady gaga concert and called in sick.

People in the managers position need to learn restraint... but I can see where some may just be having a bad day.

 

[Incorruptible]

Le Source


Hmm, so I don't know how I feel about this story. A few years ago, I walked to the market near my dorm to get some chicken nuggets and Smirnoff. Not a classy choice...but, Im in college so I get a pass. Anyway, this woman was with her son and she was getting groceries. I ended up behind her in line and there was an issue with her transaction. The clerk behind the counter told her that she couldn't get some of the items she had with foodstamps.

Anyway, the clerk was really rude about it (as in, she made sure EVERYONE around the aisle knew the lady was on foodstamps) and the lady was totally embarrassed, she tried to get money out to just pay for the food but she didn't have all of it. I wanted to just pay the $$ for the stuff she had but I didn't want to come off as rude, so I did nothing as the lady quietly put everything back that she couldn't get and walked out of the store. The cost of the food she couldn't get was probably about $10, It wouldn't have hurt my pockets to help her out, I just didn't know how to do it without making it seem like I pitied her....idk.



ANYWHO, I find it funny that some Manager at a grocery store that probably makes like 50K a year is making fun of some woman on Welfare...as If he/she isnt a layoff away from being in Welfare themselves (themself?). Kroger is also one of many companies that lobbied Congress NOT to make changes to SNAP benefits because so many of their customers are on the program and they don't want to see that money go away. I'd go as far as to say that people like this woman "shopping" at Kroger with foodstamps are paying the salaries of employees at many of these stores.

Hey, did you guys know KFC takes foodstamps too? I had to drive to "home" to Detroit to see if it was true or not...and my goodness, it is.

Wrong. The TAXPAYER pays for the food stamps, how dare you suggest the people on food stamps pay the salaries. This is a complete spit in the face of honest hard working Americans who pay taxes

 

[ch33zw1z]

Lesson learned. Sometimes you need to keep your opinions to yourself. Anyone in a customer service oriented position learns this eventually...or they move on.

 

[Harrod]

0
If people on foodstamps are eating better than people who aren't, I can understand some resentment.

I used to work at a grocery store as a bagger when I was in high school. You would be surprised how many people fill a cart up with steak and shrimp and then go and check out with food stamps.

 

[Svnla]

Funny the story was about Kroger. I was in the local Kroger a few weeks ago and there were two heavy set young women (tatoos in their arms and metal spikes in their lips) with steaks and paid with food stamp card. I saw it with my own eyes because I was right behind them, I was not a happy camper.

 

[bfdd]

I get dirty looks at Food 4 Less because I only pay in cash, while most other customers use food assistance programs. It's neat to be discriminate against by your neighbors just because I'm a minority in my "hood"

Food 4 Less is a Kroger store.

 

[SheHateMe]

Well, the article did go on to say that everything she had in her cart was covered. The Manager made a mistake and got an attitude I guess after she disputed..which is when he made his "Don't be mad cause I work for a living" comment.

Wrong. The TAXPAYER pays for the food stamps, how dare you suggest the people on food stamps pay the salaries. This is a complete spit in the face of honest hard working Americans who pay taxes

You didn't understand the context of my statement. These Grocery chains get federal dollars for participating in SNAP. They lobby Congress because they don't want people off of foodstamps. Walmart stores in Oklahoma made over $500 million in the past few years from people on SNAP benefits.

So, yes...these foodstamp users are probably keeping businesses like Walmart and Krogers from laying off workers.

I get dirty looks at Food 4 Less because I only pay in cash, while most other customers use food assistance programs. It's neat to be discriminate against by your neighbors just because I'm a minority in my "hood"

Food 4 Less is a Kroger store.

Some people might just be jealous that you use cash. Times are tough right now, I'm careful of where I pull my money out. If I ever go grocery shopping in Detroit (which is often because the food is cheap). I take enough money to cover whatever I am going to buy and nothing extra. I also don't just pull out a wad of cash at the register.

People notice and I've been asked a lot outside of a store if I could spare some change because people notice you have money. I don't look down on these people...even if some of them are the scum of the Earth. The worst thing to be is stuck up.

 

[Texashiker]

Woman Alleges Kroger Manager Mocked Her For Using Food Stamps

Why is the news even reporting this?

So what if the grocery store manager mocked her? I see no issue here.

 

[nehalem256]

Funny the story was about Kroger. I was in the local Kroger a few weeks ago and there were two heavy set young women (tatoos in their arms and metal spikes in their lips) with steaks and paid with food stamp card. I saw it with my own eyes because I was right behind them, I was not a happy camper.

Sounds similar to my experience. I saw an obviously obese couple with a child who was well on the way to matching their weight buying a cart full of food with food stamps...

 

[SheHateMe]

Why is the news even reporting this?

So what if the grocery store manager mocked her? I see no issue here.

Do you think its professional to mock a customer at a store you're supposed to be managing? Maybe it shouldnt be in the news..but this woman doesn't deserve to be made fun of in the store either. Welfare or not, people need to learn to be professional.

Some lady at work chewed me out today because she hates that the new machine we got for her has Windows 7 on it, she insisted that we put her back on "Windows 10". That doesn't exist! And when I tried to explain she was probably talking about Vista, she lost her damn mind. She also had a problem pulling her emails from Outlook because it was prompting her for a password. She continued to put in th e password for her computer and not her email account on the server. I insisted that it wasnt right, she got pissy and told me it was. I told her to write down her email password. It did not match the one she had in outlook... She was being rude to me but I was nice to her the whole time. I could have mocked her but that would have made me look like an ass.

Professionalism.




Interesting Tidbit

JPMorgan Chase holds the contracts for Electronic Benefits Transfer or EBT -- which distributes food stamps electronically -- in half of states, according to the June 2012 report, "Food Stamps: Follow the Money." In Florida, JPMorgan's contract is worth $83 million over five years, and in New York, it's worth more than $112 million over 7 years.

That's interesting.

 

[bfdd]

SheHateMe for sure, I take it all in stride. I have no thoughts that those people are anything, but my equals. They are the ones with the issues.

Of course they get mad money, what a scam.

 

[SheHateMe]

SheHateMe for sure, I take it all in stride. I have no thoughts that those people are anything, but my equals. They are the ones with the issues.

Everybody has issues

 

[peonyu]

Alot of grocery stores give a "pass" to food stamp use just because they dont want to make a scene. Ive seen hot foods purchased with them and a look of hesitation on the cashiers face, but they let them get it anyways. Im sure alot of food stamp folks will argue and cause a scene if declined and the cashiers know it...Alcohol and smokes are the only exception ive seen where cashiers wont back down on food stamp use.

Of course there is a loophole with alcohol and smokes, and its a common one in S.Florida...The abusers of the system will hang outside a grocery store and offer to "buy" $20 worth of food on their EBT card in exchange for $15 in cash. Alcohol money and smoke money is now available on the taxpayers dime to people who dont work. Cha ching!

 

[child of wonder]

Food stamps are a joke. Why can't there be tight restrictions on what recipients can buy, like WIC?

Milk, beans, chicken breast, frozen vegetables, hamburger meat, etc. should be things food stamps can buy and that's all. Hell, grocery stores could even mark, as they do with WIC, what items food stamps can buy and what they can't.

But fast food, convenience items, pre-packaged foods? Is it too much to expect people on food stamps to learn to cook?

 

[bononos]

...........

Some people might just be jealous that you use cash. Times are tough right now, I'm careful of where I pull my money out. If I ever go grocery shopping in Detroit (which is often because the food is cheap). I take enough money to cover whatever I am going to buy and nothing extra. I also don't just pull out a wad of cash at the register.

People notice and I've been asked a lot outside of a store if I could spare some change because people notice you have money. I don't look down on these people...even if some of them are the scum of the Earth. The worst thing to be is stuck up.

Why don't you just use a card instead of being afraid of having to pull out a clip of benjamins if you're afraid of flashing cash?

 

[peonyu]

Do you think its professional to mock a customer at a store you're supposed to be managing? Maybe it shouldnt be in the news..but this woman doesn't deserve to be made fun of in the store either. Welfare or not, people need to learn to be professional.

Some lady at work chewed me out today because she hates that the new machine we got for her has Windows 7 on it, she insisted that we put her back on "Windows 10". That doesn't exist! And when I tried to explain she was probably talking about Vista, she lost her damn mind. She also had a problem pulling her emails from Outlook because it was prompting her for a password. She continued to put in th e password for her computer and not her email account on the server. I insisted that it wasnt right, she got pissy and told me it was. I told her to write down her email password. It did not match the one she had in outlook... She was being rude to me but I was nice to her the whole time. I could have mocked her but that would have made me look like an ass.

Professionalism.




Interesting Tidbit



That's interesting.

I know that type of person to. The ones that irk me are the folks who complain that "My email doesn't work on this computer what did you do!!", and the funny [well sad] part of it is...They are typing in [my words here] dumbass@aol.com in the address bar on the browser and then put thier password a spacebar press later on the same address bar.

 

[thraashman]

Sounds similar to my experience. I saw an obviously obese couple with a child who was well on the way to matching their weight buying a cart full of food with food stamps...

Well unfortunately unhealthy foods are much cheaper than healthy foods. So someone who is on food assistance could buy healthy foods, but they'd get a lot less. So they may lose weight but part of that would be from starvation.

 

[xBiffx]

Well unfortunately unhealthy foods are much cheaper than healthy foods. So someone who is on food assistance could buy healthy foods, but they'd get a lot less. So they may lose weight but part of that would be from starvation.

Think you need a little background on what starvation is before making blanket statements like that. No one is going to starve on food assistance, even if the chose to purchase healthier choices. They may lose weight, they may want to have more food, but it would be far from starvation.

 

[OutHouse]

Wrong. The TAXPAYER pays for the food stamps, how dare you suggest the people on food stamps pay the salaries. This is a complete spit in the face of honest hard working Americans who pay taxes

my company does a lot of business with the feds which means the majority of my salary comes from our fed contracts. so when i buy food is the taxpayer paying the salaries of the manager?