Food Lion - No card .... no help .... no sale

[mysticme]

OK, I'm still alittle angry about my trip to Food lion this evening.

I am a rep that services a few different Food lions every week. I normally leave my purse in my car but I carry a few dollars with me. Tonight I had just spent an hour in the store doing my job and decided to get a few things before I left. I wanted to buy a drink and a few of the free candy bars . I told the cashier I had left my MVP card in the car and she asked for my phone number to enter. Unfortunately it didn't come up. Then I asked if she would let me use her store card (they normally do not mind doing this at all) She refused. The lady behind me offered to let me use hers.. the cashier refused. She said she had strict orders not to allow use the store card or allow anyone to use someone else's card. The line behind me continued to grow longer and longer and she continued to refuse my plea to just scan her card. So I told her I was not going to walk all the way out to the car to get mine and that if I couldn't use her card she just lost a sale for Food Lion and walked out.

Has anyone else has this problem? Or did I just get an overly rude cashier? I am in this store every week and I don't want to cause trouble but I will report her to the manager.

[thompson589741]

I think you just had a rude cashier. I have run into them not having one on them. but I have also let someone else scan my card for their small order because they didn't have their keys. and it wasn't refused. I would say if it happens again(with a different cashier), then it could be the strict orders of the store from the managers. sorry you had a crappy experience. if anything you could mention it to the manager, and let them know that you would like to continue shopping at this store, but if you are going to be treated like this then you will find somewhere else to spend your hard earned money. that normally works, if I run into something like this

[Lmnde]

Huh - I often forget my card - and never have probs with them using the courtesy card. On the few occasions when they didn't have one on the cash register, I'd go and get a new card from the table by the entrance. In her case - if she wanted to play hardball, I would have made her wait while I casually sashay to my car to get my card...

[bugweena]

I have seen people use the store card if they didn't have one and I have offered (or been asked) mine for their use if they didn't have one. I think maybe you just got a crappy cashier!

[jmcgovern]

I work for FL - they are cracking down on this now that you can look it up by phone number. I see the point - there is a reason for MVP cards - it's all about marketing, etc....but she could have offered you a new card. Then you could fill out the application with a current phone number. I don't know what other retailers do when a customer "forgets" their card, but FL has been the most easy going one I've seen. I know it seems harsh what she did, but as a cashier I can honestly say it seems like one in every 4 customer "forgets" their MVP card - I mean come on??? We are certainly NOT allowed to use ours, and the store card is 1 on the front manager - imagine calling her for every 4th customer???? I have used other customers cards, but a lot of time coupons, cats, and stuff are related to activity on your card - so using someone elses really isn't a good idea.

[Theresat]

My store is very hard core about this too. But my cashiers are young and nice and usually scan their card.

[Supergirl9801]

My store has always been easy going about this. I wonder if they're just now cracking down on this b/c of all these cats that are spitting out and no one can really put their fingers on why. For ex. I just bought a smart options pizza and a bag of FL cheese curls and got a cat for a free gallon of milk and a cat for $2 off diapers. I can also see that people would purposely think "ah...I don't need my card, they'll just scan the one at the register for me" too. So...I don't know.

Next time, just run out to your car and get it or ask them to sign you up for a new one! It sucks she was rude about it though....no reason for that.

[SouthernBelle5]

I've never had a problem. The couple of times I've forgotten they've let me use theirs or another customers. I've also let people use mine.

[Lori63]

I work about 50 yards from a Food Lion, and during the school year tend to stop in at least twice a week. They know me well, and still will not let me shop without my card.

[ashleeblair]

My cashier said the other day that if they used the store card they didn't get reimbursed by the manufacturer so they couldn't use the store card anymore but they do usually have their cards up there to use for people who forget.