Learn the rules Target.

Posted Sun December 19, 2010 4:13 pm, by amanda r. written to Target

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To whom it concerns

I was shopping at the Brick,NJ Target store today, December 19th 2010.

I was buying groceries using an EBT(food stamp)card. 3 of the items did not ring up correctly.

They were 3 of the small flavored ground coffees in the holiday dollar section. It is listed on the brochure you get when issued the card, that ground coffee and instant coffee are both allowable purchases with EBT benefits.

The manager whose name I cannot recall,kept trying to tell me that coffee is not allowed. Rather than argue further, since everyone was looking because the manager kept talking about the stamps in a very loud voice, I paid the difference with a gift card I had given to me for Christmas. My husband was with me, and is so embarrassed, he's afraid to go back to the store for fear that everyone in town knows our financial situation. EBT gets a bad enough stigma, but to have it escalate to a loud manager scolding us about what can and can't be purchased...well...let me say I felt like 2 inches tall at that moment.

I have never had this happen at any other store I've been to. Even Walmart allows the purchase of ground coffee. But I don't shop there often because I absolutely love Target and recommend your Archer Farms products to everyone I know.

I'd like you to retrain your cashiers and management staff on what can and cannot be purchased with EBT benefits. Also coach these people on how to treat a customer like a person...not like some uneducated idiot who is trying to pull a fast one. I hate to not be welcome back to this store, as it is a favorite of mine as I said. I would like to feel that my business is still welcome. Also, I will be taking this issue up with the appropriate state agencies tomorrow morning.

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I just looked at the receipt. It rang up as coffee liquor by dottiejean28 Posted Tue December 21, 2010 @ 11:39 AM which makes sense, since liquor is not allowed obviously...but there was no liquor in them at all. Just a brand name. And by that token, why do Shoprite and A&P and every other store allow you to purchase the Bailey's flavored international delight? It has a name of a liquor on it too. I think it even says it on the receipts. Cashiers and managers need to think outside the box. Reply Re: Learn the rules Target. by CrazyRedHead Posted Mon December 20, 2010 @ 6:25 AM I would go back and find the brochure that says that this type of coffee is allowed, and the next time you go back to Target you should show it to them, if you buy coffee and to give them a chance to correct this. Mainly so it doesn't happen again to you or anyone else. Chances are that only regular coffee is allowed, not special holiday coffee. I was on food stamps on and off for the past 6 years and although regular coffee is allowed (I used to get it), I don't know about special holiday coffee. Reply Re: Learn the rules Target. by Retail Veteran Posted Sun December 19, 2010 @ 6:42 PM I don't know for certain but the problem could have been because the coffee was not regular flavor but special holiday flavored coffee? I could see where limited time only holiday flavored coffee would not be allowed with an EBT card. Reply Chances are it's allowed, but not in the system by The Original Nethead Sun December 19, 2010 @ 11:04 PM