The other night, I was at Wal-Mart and, among other items, picked up a small can of Sta-Bil (the gasoline preservative).

The women at the checkout ask me my birth date. "What do you need that for?", I asked. "When I run the Sta-Bil through the scanner, the register insists that we enter your birth date." I paused. "Why?" "I don't know", she said "It just does." I declined to give my birth date. She declined to sell me the Sta-Bil.

I've bought Sta-Bil for years all over town and this is the first time I've ever been carded to purchase it. Can anyone tell what is going on here? Has anyone else had this experience at Wal-Mart?

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), May 06, 1999

Answers

Had the same type of experience with super-glue. It appears that anything that can be used as an inhalant requires a certain age to purchase it. The problem is, you had an ignorant checker. If they can tell by looking at you that you are over 18, they can override the system. Next time ask for a manager.

-- none (none@none.none), May 06, 1999.

Or tell the checker your birthdate is 01/01/00 and see what happens . . . :-)

-- David (David@BankPacman.com), May 07, 1999.

She did you a favor. PRI (Power Research Industries) has a commercial fuel stabilizer that's better and cheaper. It costs $25 per qt., but that treats over 500 gallons vs. the 80 gallons that a $9 qt of Sta-bil treats. Here's one supplier that shipped mine promptly. http://www.4unique.com/

Good luck and God bless, Ted http://www.y2klinks.net

-- Ted Derryberry (Ted@Y2KLinks.net), May 07, 1999.

Highland Traders sells PRI fuel presevative for $13.95 per quart! Shop around and save (save alot!!!!). Diane http://www.highlandtraders.com

-- Diane (prepare@highlandtraders.com), May 07, 1999.

David! That was/is/ the best answer! HA HA HA

I have had similar problems in the past for various 'age discriminate' purchases. Usually I manage to get a clerk that knows me and thus there is no problem. But a new clerk must follow procedure.

I guess it is my 'youthful good looks' that gets them. They seem to always get this strange look on their face when I reveal my age!

There are a lot of products now that require id to buy:

spray paint magic markers glue [as mentioned above]

just to name a few...

-- J (jart5@bellsouth.net), May 07, 1999.

Hey, ya just gotta love the war on drugs.

Let's see now - score so far

more people in jail than any other industialized country more money spent on drug interdiction than any other country laws that vary so widely from state to state - they are incredible the largest market in the world for marijuana - all totally illegal ditto for cocaine the only successful sustained attack on individual liberty in the US Interdiction of 20 to 30% of drug imports - in a real good year

The whole thing is done in the name of a FAILED program, to PROTECT people from themselves, to punish and prevent a VICTIMLESS crime. For those who support this program I ask one question - after all the pain and cost, is there any person in any town over 1000 in this country who does NOT know where to buy drugs or could not find out in a couple hours if they wanted to?

The anti drug effort in the US is just incredible. I cannot understand how people can find it in themselves to support it.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), May 07, 1999.

Right on, Mr. Davis.

Ignorance + stupidity + greed = U.S. drug policy

Haven't seen you post in a long while, Arnie. Is a welcome back in order?

Most check-out personnel are trained minimally & kept in the dark as to company policies such as the one you ran across. Don't forget the typical cashier makes less than $6 an hour. Management takes the problem-solving onus off bottom of the rung employees.

I've found that raising a stink (gracefully), preferably in the presence of other customers, brings a manager RUNNING to assist me. A good ploy is to withold paying for the items already scanned. This holds up the checkout line, enrages customers, creates panic in the cashier. Customer service managers are required to provide customer satisfaction (read: get the customer out the door) or their job is on the line. Take advantage of this fact.

Peace to All,

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), May 07, 1999.

Paul, this is downright scary. This is twice in as many days that I've found myself wholeheartedly agreeing with you.

Maybe we'll be able to run the railroads on peanut oil after all! :)

-- a (a@a.a), May 07, 1999.

I checked out Highland Traders since I might get some more PRI myself. They do have good prices on some things, but the PRI for $13.95 is for a PINT, not a QUART. Ted

-- Ted Derryberry (Ted@Y2KLinks.net), May 07, 1999.