A FS question - Page 2

[Fruitful4Him]

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/eligible.htm

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Here where I live you can buy things like rotisserie chicken and subs as long as they are cold. You can buy seafood from the seafood counter, but if you have them steam it or fry it (for free) it no longer counts and you have to pay cash. I once bought a lobster on my birthday and had it steamed and it wouldn't go through. (yes, I know, probably shouldn't be splurging on lobster with fs )

Some bars count, and really it depends on the store here. Some local deli's will accept fs for subs, but not if you have bacon (hot food) on your sandwich. It really ends up being such a frustration to figure out at first what is covered and what isn't.

And speaking of being discreet, at most of the grocery stores around here, when you slide your card, there is an option for "EBT", and you would think you could just hit that button and be all set, right? Nope. You have to announce that you are paying with fs so they can enter it into the system *before* you slide your card. It drives me freaking batty. You have to do the same thing for WIC as well. You can't just slide your card, you have to tell the cashier out loud. Yes, it is a bit more discreet than carrying paper food stamps, but it still seems like it could be handled a bit more sensitively.

[leavemealone]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_Pie

And speaking of being discreet, at most of the grocery stores around here, when you slide your card, there is an option for "EBT", and you would think you could just hit that button and be all set, right? Nope. You have to announce that you are paying with fs so they can enter it into the system *before* you slide your card. It drives me freaking batty. You have to do the same thing for WIC as well. You can't just slide your card, you have to tell the cashier out loud. Yes, it is a bit more discreet than carrying paper food stamps, but it still seems like it could be handled a bit more sensitively.

I was wondering about paying with food stamps. I just sent DH to sign up for them and we should get our card either Sat or Mon. I wondered if there was a special terminal for them or just the regular credit card terminal. I'll have to check into whether our stores require the cashier to know ahead of tiem.

You have WIC on a card? I have to use the paper checks and ring each one separately. I bought a bunch of WIC stuff last night and had to run five transactions. I had two milk/cereal combination, two boxes of brown rice and the fruit/veggie voucher. Total pain in the butt. I can understand not putting all the perishables on one check, but at least some of it could be combined, like the juice.

[shaywyn]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_Pie

And speaking of being discreet, at most of the grocery stores around here, when you slide your card, there is an option for "EBT", and you would think you could just hit that button and be all set, right? Nope. You have to announce that you are paying with fs so they can enter it into the system *before* you slide your card. It drives me freaking batty. You have to do the same thing for WIC as well. You can't just slide your card, you have to tell the cashier out loud. Yes, it is a bit more discreet than carrying paper food stamps, but it still seems like it could be handled a bit more sensitively.

The cashiers ask "what kind of card" is that and I just flash it for them to see. Most get that I am being discreet and therefore, so should they, but there's occasionally the one who just has to loudly confirm, "EBT?".

[Smithie]

"(yes, I know, probably shouldn't be splurging on lobster with fs)"

Proud Mainer and former checkout girl here, pointing out that I would far rather ring up a steamed lobster on FS than a bag of Doritos. And I'd rather ring up toilet paper than either of those.

[Norasmomma]

I have NEVER had to say I'm using an EBT card. Up until the other day I always did separate transactions for my household stuff, but the lady just ran it all through then the food came off, and I paid debit for the rest. I kinda don't like doing it that way though, I like keeping my receipts for different things.

In WA our WIC checks have milk, juice, cereal, tofu, cheese, eggs, etc all on one check. The only separate check is the fruit/veggie check.

[leavemealone]

Originally Posted by shaywyn

The cashiers ask "what kind of card" is that and I just flash it for them to see. Most get that I am being discreet and therefore, so should they, but there's occasionally the one who just has to loudly confirm, "EBT?".

I can just hear a few of the cashiers at the grocery store I go to the most saying "Ok, you're paying with FOOD STAMPS". Some of them wouldn't even use the term EBT.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Our card for WIC is just for fruits and veggies. It is a total pain in the butt. It is only $6 worth of produce each month. I have to use that, then the EBT card for food and then my debit for anything else occasionally. It really causes so much distress to some cashiers, I hate using it. I will often try to go when I know there won't be many people in the store just to avoid the stares. The rest of our WIC foods are still home delivery, which ROCKS.

[Polliwog]

You absolutely can get sushi and deli subs. They just have to be cold. You can also use them at Whole Foods, which is great for bulk items.

[waiting2bemommy]

I discovered, quite by accident, that slurpees are covered by fs. I couldn't believe it. ds had been waiting impatiently for like 3 weeks to get a slurpee (because he is sensitive to food colorings and stuff they didn't have any flavors he could have, and he wanted to try it) and the day we happened to go into 7-11 to use the bathroom, they had a white kind so I went to pay for it and totally mistakenly pulled out my EBT card and swiped it instead of my debit card. And....it went through! I didn't even realize I'd swiped the wrong card (I use the same PIN for everything) til I looked at the receipt.

The reason I was given (I had to ask, I couldn't believe it) is that it is considered a "prepared food" but not a "hot food," so it is acceptable. I also discovered that you can buy Izze sodas (again the only kind ds can have), cold prepared sushi from the deli, and clif/luna/tiger's milk bars with fs. However, our dye-free multivitamins and my fenugreek tea were not considered acceptable because they fall under the "supplements" category. Lipton's tea is ok though because it's a "real" food. . All this information from the incredibly informed cashiers at walmart.