If you're at the store and..
 

I thought this was an isolated incident during the pandemic, maybe it's a scam and I'm not in on it.

Let me ask you this, several times over the last year I've been in the self checkout or regular checkout, and a family can't pay. Card is declined, not enough cash, either. I pay for them. I've had people offer to "venmo" me or whatever the money later, but I don't have that stuff.

Stuff if Colorado is extremely expensive. I guess it is most places, but it's pretty bad here.

Would you buy another persons groceries?

Not for the fat asses I usually see at Kroger.

Have and will do again. I won't buy a cart load of stuff, but if it's basics, yes.

I don't necessary think because people are fat that they can't afford or not groceries.

Never had that happen to me.

I'm more of a generous person who reacts to those around him whom I feel are good people based on my observations.

I think I do a lot in that category.

As far as paying for someone's stuff in a grocery line.....it would really entirely depend on the situation.

If you are a charitable type this situation gives you a chance to directly help someone instead of sending $ to some charity which just absorbs the cash for internal use, like a payroll. You make a decision if the person seems to really need help and you get the good feeling you did something important in that little exchange. My wife recently helped a young mom buy 3 canisters of baby formula in a Dollar Store that doesn't take WIC cards. The girl was sobbing when she realized she couldn't get food for her baby and had to return the cans to the shelf. Sounds dramatic, but if you can help in a situation like that you have really done a good thing. What might be small change to you is near impossible to raise if you are really poor.

I did about six months ago. I felt sorry for the lady, having done a weekly shop then her card declined. It was a bit over $300. She said thanks and what is your bank account number and I'll credit the account when I get this sorted. Bless her, she did and gave an extra $10.

Depends..might if no booze in the basket.

I've never paid for the whole cart, but like most of us I imagine, there's been a few times where I've made up the difference.

I have a tap credit card. Makes it easy to pay for whatever....just tap the card.

I might if there’s booze in the basket and she’s a particularly hot milf in a clingy sun dress.

^^^ ditto
and I would be careful that no one else saw me do it.

Maybe I just live in a rich area, but I've never seen or noticed anyone at my local Frys not able to pay for something. With every single fast food place and convenience store accepting EBT now for any kind of junk food and all the fraud that goes along with that, I'm just not feeling that charitable.

Happened to me today at Starbucks. The girl in front of me ordered 2 fancy drinks with specific requests. She had 3 cards declined.

Why does a poor person need to get coffee at Starbucks? Nothing wrong with it, but I surely wouldn't pay for them.

Norman Chaney
 

I bought a Breakfast Jack for Chubsy Ubsy at the Jack In The Box in Castaic. It was a about 10:00am and this guy was going to die right there if he did not get his food fix. He was sweating away just praying for something to eat. He asked me for some change to eat. I said no money but if he wanted a sandwich I would get him one.

The look on his face was priceless and he scarfed that thing down like his blood sugar depended on it. Local kid he was about 15- 17 years old. The way he was dressed and kept he was not homeless just no money. He was a big boy topping 300 pounds.

I asked him his name and he said Norm Chaney. I responded thats a good joke.

Long time ago, back when working my way through college, I was the kid in the line at the grocery store who was a few dollars short on groceries. (I was always paying with cash back then, no credit cards, and had nothing really left in the bank that day.) The elderly gentleman behind me handed the cashier a few bills. I thanked him and asked if I could pay him back or come mow his lawn or something. He politely refused and asked that someday I do the same for someone else in need when I'm able.

I have many times. And I usually ask them to do the same.

I had a guy at the local Pilot gas station hit me up. He was heading to Fresno but had lost his wallet and needed gas. He offered me his 22k gold chain (worth approx $450) and I filled his tank to the tune of $125.

I'm taking the chain to the local pawn shop to recoup some of the cash. Wish me luck. :)

LOL! Do post again after visiting the pawn shop...

Slightly different story with the same end result. A few years ago around the end of December, my brother-in-law and I just got out of a Bruin's game at TD North Garden. It was a late game. We walked to the train station (north station), which is under the building, where there was this frantic young man who was asking for help. He was trying to get home to western Massachusetts for the holidays. He thought he was at the correct station to do that, but he wasn't. He was told he had to get to south station first and take the train from there. At this point he was crying and saying he didn't have enough money to do that. He walked over to several people showing them what he had for cash and saying what he needed above that. No one was helping, no one. He went and sat down on a bench and held his head in his hands and just cried.
So, I walked over to him and gave him a $20, which is more than he said he needed to get the ticket home. He lit up and just kept thanking me. After he left, my brother-in-law looked at me and said "sucker".
Maybe I was a sucker, but it doesn't matter if he scammed me or not, I am not even sure you can get a train out to Western Mass. What matters is I thought I was helping someone in need. Besides, what is $20 to me...nothing.

LOL... I've never had anyone in line not have the $$$, but I woud pay for them depending upon the circumstances....

Like above :)

edit: Thinking back... I have purchased food at a take-out for folks that asked... a couple of times in recent years.

When my wife was in for hip surgery, I was in the waiting room and watched a young woman trying to get money from the cash point machine so she could get her ticket to get out of the parking lot. I knew the machine wasn't going to work, as I had messed with it the night before. After a few minutes, I approached her with money, explaining the situation and suggested by way of payment, she could "pass it on " to someone else who needed a break.
Just another day. She didn't need more stress.

Best
Les

i almost bought a lady gas a few years ago. i think she put a few dollars in
i still think about it and wish i did.
next time i wont hesitate to do it.

the right circumstances with out a doubt.
i could tell the lady above did not have money.

Haven't encountered it at the grocery store.

Several months ago I was buying tires at Discount Tire. I was out in the parking lot about to drive my car in and a young kid next to me was speaking with a store clerk. The clerk said all his tires were bald and he needed four news ones. They were, indeed, bald. The kid said he could only afford two tires.

I walked inside and paid for two more tires for him.

Hasn't happened to me either. I pay people to do my grocery shopping.

Ha, just kidding. I really pay people to bring me food that's already cooked.

There are a lot of "good people" on this board :)...

I can also recall just discretely slipping a "down & out person" a folding bill as I reached out to shake their hand... and they weren't asking. But I never given anything to the ones that are prevalent at many intersections now.

I trust my spidey senses.... and if I'm wrong... so what ;).

As JW sang.... "Life's been good to me so far..."

But I've never gone 185 :D

People at the store with a declined card and kids. I'm going to say that's a total scam. Does it / could it happen to good honest people, sure. Is it far more likely that someone brought in a card that they know doesn't work and their kids to setup a scam to get good honest people to pay for some groceries, yes, sadly, I think that's more likely.

I've had people try to scam me with a story like the following about half a dozen times. "My wife/husband and son/daughter are XXX miles away stranded with a broken down car. I'm almost out of gas and don't have any money for more gas"

I have in the past but it is rare here.

I do tip the fast food folks working the window, especially at the Honduran place that makes everything while you wait in the car. Incredible food.

It is no accident they have some of the nicest, cutest young ladies working the window:

Well, East Coast girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls, with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there

The Midwest farmers' daughters really make you feel all right
And the Northern girls, with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night

I wish they all could be Central
I wish they all could be Central
I wish they all could be Central American girls:cool:

And yes, I am an old lecher, eyeball liberty only...

I’ve done this on a couple of occasions, but…for a grocery cart full of Mountain Dew, ice cream, chips, cheese doodles and donuts? Not to mention the Bud Lights and cigarettes? I see this all too frequently at our local supermarket, and sadly the aforementioned grocery cart is, all too often, presided over by a young family…all of whom look unhealthy and over-stressed.

This breaks my heart…and I just want so desperately to call these parents to attention, and to lay out for them some of the healthy alternatives that, for the same money, they could be providing for themselves and their kids. Then again, I don’t want to get shot (seriously)!

When I was in my teens, I pulled into the gas station with my 240Z on empty and realized I did not have my wallet. A woman asked me how much I needed for gas and I said five dollars. She gave it to me and told me where she worked. I brought her the five dollars back the next day.

I’ve not been presented with the opportunity to pay for somebody’s groceries, etc. but have thought about it if it presents itself.

Back in the 80s, I was filling up my car and a guy asked for money for food. I gave him five or $10 and I said don’t go buy beer. As I continue to fill up, I watched him go right to the beer cooler and get beer. That was the last time.

Edit. One of our trade contractors had a worker that I had known for years. He asked for $100 to help him tide him over until payday. I gave it to him and took a picture of him holding the hundred dollar bill, laughing. I never saw him again.

This is why I don't give to panhandlers. They are in the situation they're in because of bad decisions. Even if this man had not bought beer with your money, your money would have made it possible for him to use other funds for buying schit he doesn't need. If my folks give me $1000 and say it's only to be spent on rent, great! That frees up the other money I was going to spend on rent to now spend on booze and smokes.

In Phoenix there are beggars on every single street corner and highway on/off ramp. It's worse than what I saw on my first visit to Juarez. They are there because they know people will continue to enable their bad decisions.

About 10 years ago, when I was working in an office with four others, a 20 yo or so came running into our office. He said he was late for work and ran out of gas...needed cash.
I had a $10 bill in my wallet and gave it to him.

The other workers just laughed and said I would never see that $10

About a month later, the same guy walked in and returned the money.
Generally...people are honest.

I used to help out folks…and it was almost always a scam. They are prevalent as Nigerian Princes with money to send you on the internet. I have met people that play that scam (where they are short on money every time they buy anything). They may not score every time…but trying is free and they don’t have to pay taxes on what they get.

knowing that you have truly helped a person out ...is worth losing money to a few swindlers.

I just don't get how it's truly helping a person out. Even if it does, you have no way of knowing it and just have to believe it to feel good.

^^^ post #32

I've been helped out in the past, and still try to do the same in small amounts.
These days I've become a bit more apprehensive.

Pay for a $300 cart of twinkies and gatoraide? Nope.

I've always appreciated free beer ...made me feel good too :D.

Other than buying a few meals (when asked), I have never given to anyone asking for $$$. When I slip someone a folded bill that wasn't expecting or asking for anything....

.... what Steve said :)

They call me Sucker II....

and that's OK.

^^^ same here...except I don't want any of that watery crap. I always ask for 'Dirty Bastard' at the bare mininum if they are buying. :D
'Backwoods Bastard' is better yet.

^^^^ Hey bartender... give this picky Bastard a beer!

Hey Rick... how many times have you bought a total stranger a beer without them asking ;)?

That's the way I see it....

"It's better to receive than to give" too .... who started that other lie :D?