On Monday, January 22, I stopped by Bruce's Foodland at Ider to purchase a gallon of milk and attempted to pay using my Cigna Healthy Today VISA card, but my VISA was declined.
My visit to Bruce's Foodland was prompted by a detour from Walmart in Ft. Payne, as I had forgotten to buy milk. I had just spent $76.51 at Walmart where I was just another face in the crowd. I was on the South end of town (near Walmart). My decision to shop at Walmart was based entirely upon convenience.
The card I was using has a $300 quarterly allowance to cover expenses for healthy groceries and utility services. The allowance can be utilized for purchasing items like dairy products, meats, bread/grains, fresh/canned fruits, and vegetables at participating retailers. I still had over $250 on my VISA and had just used the card at Walmart, successfully. So I never dreamed the card would not be good everywhere. I never carry a lot of cash so I was really surprised when my card was declined.
The cashier informed me that they did not accept these cards. As I had no cash, she offered to return the milk to the cooler. I thanked her and walked out; but as I got into my vehicle, the grocery bagger approached me with the same gallon of milk I had left at the checkout and told me that the young lady had paid for it.
I expressed my gratitude to him and asked him to tell her that I appreciated it. I remember thinking that it would save me a trip back out that evening with cash and I really had planned on enjoying the milk with the cereal I had just bought at Walmart, so I accepted the milk. I don't know if he really didn't remember the young lady's name or if she just wanted to remain anonymous. I feel she paid for my milk out of the goodness of her heart, not to get credit or recognition for it; I will return today to personally "thank" her and repay her for the gallon of milk.
Her gesture showcased the kind of people who work at Bruce's Foodland in Ider. I speculate that the young lady may have felt empathy for me and simply wanted to extend a kind gesture, but being 71 years old, this experience left a lasting impression on me.
In reflection, I thought about the kind of people you will find at Bruce's Foodland in Ider, compared to the kind of people I had just dealt with at Walmart. Where else would someone spontaneously offer and pay for a stranger's groceries? I will not give credit to Bruce's Foodland for the kind and generous nature of this young lady; I suspect this came from her family's upbringing as well as her overall respect for the elderly and others. However, I will give credit to Bruce's Foodland for the for the wisdom to hire good people to work for them. I hope the Management and Owners of Bruce's Foodland realize the kind of employee they have with this young lady as she reflects well on all of their stores.
The bottom line is this:
Bruce's Foodland consistently provides competitive prices; there stores are clean and well stocked. I live on a fixed income and believe the personal touch and consideration from Bruce's Foodland is worth prioritizing over sheer convenience. From now on I plan to make Bruce's Foodland my go-to grocery store, even if it is a few minutes out of my way and I have to drive a little longer to their store.
So don't expect your Cigna VISA to work at your Ider Foodland; just bring cash, Food Stamps, or your debit/credit cards to pay. The first class service you will receive there is well worth any inconvenience you might have if you try to use your Cigna...
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