I was picking up a few groceries when this lady stopped me and randomly asked if I was using WIC. I said no, but I figured she was asking because she needed help with her vouchers or something so I asked if I could help her find anything. She said no and then pointed to the Cheerios and juice in my cart and told me I shouldn’t buy those if I’m not using WIC because the vouchers can only be used for specific things and we should save them for those who need them. She gave me some suggestions to buy other brands/sizes or go to a store that doesn’t accept WIC.
The store was fully stocked. I couldn’t get a different brand because my son won’t eat it, and the large sizes that weren’t WIC ticketed were more than we need. I did go ahead and buy the items there because I was in a hurry, but now I’m wondering AITA taking food away from people in need?
Comments
^^^^AUTOMOD Thanks for posting! READ THIS COMMENT – DO NOT SKIM. This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. This comment is NOT accusing you of copying anything. Read this before contacting the mod team.
I was picking up a few groceries when this lady stopped me and randomly asked if I was using WIC. I said no, but I figured she was asking because she needed help with her vouchers or something so I asked if I could help her find anything. She said no and then pointed to the Cheerios and juice in my cart and told me I shouldn’t buy those if I’m not using WIC because the vouchers can only be used for specific things and we should save them for those who need them. She gave me some suggestions to buy other brands/sizes or go to a store that doesn’t accept WIC.
The store was fully stocked. I couldn’t get a different brand because my son won’t eat it, and the large sizes that weren’t WIC ticketed were more than we need. I did go ahead and buy the items there because I was in a hurry, but now I’m wondering AITA taking food away from people in need?
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
Welcome to /r/AmITheAsshole. Please view our voting guide here, and remember to use only one judgement in your comment.
OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> (1) what action you took that should be judged: Purchasing WIC ticketed items with cash.
(2) why that action might make you the asshole: I had the option to buy other items but people who have WIC don’t so I could have been taking it from them.
Help keep the sub engaging!
Don’t downvote assholes!
Do upvote interesting posts!
Click Here For Our Rules and Click Here For Our FAQ
Subreddit Announcements
Follow the link above to learn more
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.
Sounds like case of none of her business! Wow. Some people.
NTA
NTA – You are not depleting a supply from poor people. Her perspective is odd.
NTA. The WIC program is to help people afford food at their local store, it’s not a grocery store exclusively for people using WIC.
Out of their mind busybody NTA
NTA. She’s a moron. Cheerios and other WIC eligible items are nowhere near scarce. There’s no need to save them for anyone.
NTA, the food at the store is for everyone, and if it’s not the last thing on the shelf, it’s fair game. She’s just being weird.
[removed]
NTA. She might have had a point if you were literally taking the last ones off the shelf right before she tried to grab them, but otherwise she’s being nosy and her comment is uncalled for.
NTA
The store was stocked, so you didn’t take anything from her. The only way she would have had a case was if you were taking a limited stock, and even then, that’s pushing it.
That being said, I didn’t know about the brand/size restrictions with WIC until I lived with someone who used it. As such, I will often buy, for example, a different brand of milk to make sure plenty is there for WIC customers.
That is a really weird manifestation of some savior complex shit. I see where her heart was but her energy would be so much better spent actually DOING SOMETHING than giving you a hard time over plentiful Cheerios. You are N even remotely TA.
NTA. Grocery stores get stock deliveries every day. They’re unlikely to run out.
No this isn’t a thing. If there was some kind of shortage then maybe I would agree that you should give priority to someone using WIC, but the store was fully stocked. You buying those items doesn’t mean they won’t also be available for anyone else who needs them. NTA.
NTA. She is incorrect so NTA. Don’t worry about it.
Its actually the inverse!!!!
If ONLY WIC bought those items, they would not be made in the quantities sufficient enough to subsidize their purchase!!!!
The point of WIC/EBT/Stamps ALL of these programs where you buy goods from a retailer is so the retailer continues to buy supply, which keeps supplier making supply!
Now sure, if we were experiencing some event that reduced supplies maybe then, but if the supply chains are running, get the items WHICH SPOIL sold and into bellies or it get goes to landfills and eventually isn’t made!
Do not leave food for the hypothetical belly when yours is growling right there!
NTA
Lol, if that were the case, no one should ever use cash/credit to buy almost anything in any grocery store that accepts SNAP, because it’s the same principle. The WIC tag just means that the item is eligible to be purchased with WIC funds. That woman was either just really confused or really likes to police people. NTA.
Eta: In fact, if no one except WIC recipients ever purchased WIC-eligible grocery items, the store would probably have to stop carrying those items because they wouldn’t sell enough to make it worth keeping in stock.
NTA The woman sounds like she maybe is struggling with some mental health challenges. WIC items are common and very popular items and the store stocks MORE than enough.
Wild guess – WIC is a national acronym? It would be helpful if you wrote this out for those of us who aren’t from the USA.
NTA. By that logic nobody should buy bread because food stamps exist. Lady was unhinged.
NTA. That’s not a thing
That was something to consider during the worst of the pandemic, when stores were out of so many things , or during natural disasters , but right now? No, you’re fine.
NTA
NTA. You didn’t take food away from people in need. You merely chose food items that they might also choose. The woman who complained might be the sort who looks for something to complain about. For example, if you got some fancy granola, she probably would’ve said something like “must be nice to buy the expensive stuff.”
The best thing you can do around people like that is just be glad that you aren’t one of them.
NTA, that lady is a dumb…you know.
She’s got too much time on her hands looking in other people’s carts
NTA. As someone who is on WIC, I would never expect you to consider labeled items as reserved for WIC recipients. One exception could be when there are formula shortages, since WIC often only covers 1 or 2 options of the dozens available and formula is expensive, but such shortages are typically well-publicized, so it’s not something to worry about on an ordinary day.
NTA. This is one of the stupidest things I’ve read today. There isn’t a Cheerios shortage. I’m assuming she was building up to scam you at some point. Tip: don’t engage with strangers.
Definitely NTA, there’s no reason to ‘save’ Cheerios for WIC people, the store is not going to run out.
This is pure idiocy. Are people really that entitled that they have to complain about everything? Hoping this is fake.
For one thing, how do you even know what she was saying is true? How does she know if people using WIC even shop at that store? And unless you got the very last box of cheerios, no, you were not depriving another shopper of anything.
NTA. Next time, ignore people like that.
NTA one of these days that busybody is gonna stick her nose in the wrong persons cart and she’s gonna get a really unpleasant reality check.
Nta. When I was using WIC the only thing that I ever had a problem with being out of stock was the Sarah Lee 100% whole wheat bread, but it came in two different sizes (the 1 lb was more expensive than the larger size, and I think that was because it was the WIC item.)
NTA. next time just tell them to mind their own business. You are nicer than me because I would have just walked away from her and not entertained that conversation.
WIC covers a wide variety of staples. Just because something is WIC eligible, doesn’t mean it’s only available to people with WIC. That woman that complained is ignorant.
NTA. These are absolutely not reserved for WIC recipients and if other people didn’t buy the products as well it wouldn’t make sense for a store to stock them.
This is complete idiocy, and of course not. NTA
I worked in a grocery store for many years and this just isn’t a thing, there are no items reserved for anybody. If you paid for it, it’s yours.
That lady is talking nonsense. NTA
NTA
The shelf stickers are there to make it easier for those using WIC to find the particular items allowed, not to stop others from purchasing them.
NTA. She’s trying to be a good Samaritan but she’s confused. Sometimes when you live in a food desert, supplies of WIC eligible items is low. If that’s not the case where you live then don’t worry about it. She probably heard something on NPR and figured she could score a few Good Person Points.
No your absolutely fine and allowed to purchase as you please… she is NOT the grocery police🙄🙄🙄
NTA
It’s none of her business what you’re buying or how you’re paying for it.
Nope – stores that accept WIC offer other options. I could understand if you were buying 2 cases of something or the last container of WIC approved formula. My guess is she’s been burned previously by supply chain issues during COVID/post-COVID but that is straightened out.
NTA. Everyone is allowed to buy OJ and Cheerios. Excluding Covid times, I’ve never seen those not in stock.
It’s not your problem. You’re not taking food from anyone. Nta. Def Nta for using your own money to buy what you want
NTA. Cheerios aren’t fucking endangered they got cases in the back
I’ve literally never heard someone say this. The woman is insane and you are NTA.
NAH
As you say, the store was stocked. Yet, as long as she was polite about it? I’d put it down to fear and not twattery. The last months has been one of the longest decades I have experienced so far in life. For someone on WIC? I can’t imagine the stress that is going on for them.
What? That’s wild. NTA. You’re not taking food away from anybody.
“So we shouldn’t buy milk or eggs either?”
She needs to get a grip. NTA
nta no, she was out of line. People can buy whatever they want.
NTA. That woman is ridiculous. Isn’t milk, eggs and bread also WIC approved? If so, using her logic, no one paying cash should ever purchase these staple items.
You are not taking food away from people in need. The food at the stores for anyone to buy. There’s not some shortage on Cheerios. Or orange juice. Or any other item that people can buy with the WIC program.
NTA
NTA. Does she not know how capitalism works?