My grocery receipt was a bit more "political" than usual.

[kpete]

I'd like these apples and your political viewpoints, please
Posted Dec 1, 2005, 3:58 PM ET by Adam Finley
Filed under: Print

While I was back in my homestate of Iowa over Thanksgiving, I was sent to the grocery store to pick up a few things. The Super Valu in my hometown hasn't really changed at all since I was a kid, but I did notice one difference. My grocery receipt was a bit more "political" than usual. Nestled among the prices was the phrase "IT'S A BABY NOT A CHOICE" (see pic on the right). I'm not sure whether this was put there by the Super Valu corporation or if it was placed there by the local owner, but it was the first time I had seen such a thing on a grocery receipt. Have I just been blind to it up to this point, or have grocery store owners used their receipts to broadcast their political views before? Frankly, I was very upset when I saw the receipt. I mean, $5.65 for a bag of softener salt? That's just insane.

http://www.adjab.com/2005/12/01/id-like-these-apples-and-your-political-viewpoints-please/

[eeyore]

1. Show them what CHOICE really means....

Tell them that you are CHOOSING to never shop there again.

[maveric]

2. I wouldnt shop there anymore!

Spoeak to the manager/owner and tell that person why you will not be taking your business to them anynore.

Its not a baby either.

[Broken_Hero]

6. yeah, i wouldn't shop there anymore either....

unless i had to....:(

[Sapphocrat]

3. OMG! I'm speechless. n/t

[Broken_Hero]

4. damn...

I have never seen anything like that on a reciept from a grocery store...awkward.

[renate]

5. I gasped out loud when I saw that receipt

But I honestly would have done the same if it was a pro-choice slogan... putting anything like that on a store receipt is inappropriate for one thing and just plain stupid business practice for another.


:eyes: Have these people never heard of BOUNDARIES?

[stop the bleeding]

19. agreed.

[Raine]

46. Really.

Politics from either side does not belong in a grocery store. A person should not have to deal with this kind of shit when you are buying groceries! :mad:

[Dem Agog]

7. The proper way to handle this kind of propoganda...

The proper way to have dealt with this was to go straight to the customer service desk, unload the sacks of groceries to return them, and demand repayment, being very clear the whole time that you're doing it because of the receipt.

[TahitiNut]

23. I agree. That's EXACTLY what I'd do.

Udamnedwellbetcha! :grr:

[depakid]

42. No question that's what I'd do

Aside from now knowing that the store was likely supporting fundies- that's just downright rude to the long-time customers.

[Debi]

8. Where in Iowa was this? n/t

[IA_Seth]

29. Yeah, where was that?? n/t

[Critters2]

43. Yeah, see we have towns in Iowa

so we know precisely where we are. You were probably in a town, or a city. Would you please name the specific community where this outrage took place? This is so not in keeping with some of our experiences in Iowa that we may be skeptical.

[Warpy]

9. I'd be tempted to spray paint their sign with a big fat

swastika, but a nasty note saying that they've lost my business forever and that I will be telling every friend in town about how they're pushing reproductive slavery along with their groceries would probably suffice.

I'm old and arthritic and can't run fast enough for vandalism.

[AZBlue]

10. That's low

Sorry - I'm sure that kpete and other Iowans are actually good people, it's just that I've personally met a LOT of people from there and so far not one was "good." As a matter of fact, they were downright "bad." So it's just a personal experience/opinion.

On edit: in honor of Debi, I'm amending my earlier post title. However, judge not what you don't know. I don't mean "bad" like lazy or chew their gum loudly - I mean "bad" like, um, how do I put this, murderous and career-ending (two separate situations). And, both times they went around talking about Iowa daily and saying things like, "this is the way we do it in Iowa" and "Iowans think ___" or "in Iowa people are ___." It's their representation of the state that turned me against it. So, I'm sorry if I don't plan on visiting soon, but if you knew the details, you'd understand. 'Nuff said.

[Debi]

15. Hi, I'm from Iowa and don't think I'm a bad person.

Maybe you just haven't met the right Iowans?

[AZBlue]

21. I probably haven't! Hi Debi!!

Nice to meet you!

Hey, I met a nice Iowan!!! Cool! :pals:

[Debi]

22. Happens all the time

:bounce: Just gotta hang out in the right places

[Hobarticus]

16. You should get out more...

More than likely you've met the wrong ones.

[Wickerman]

24. Wow

I am from Iowa, originally, and I can find a few handful of folks who think I'm an all right guy. But, ya, know, when I was in college (U of I, btw) there was this sucky guy from Arizona who went to school with me after flunking out of ASU - he got sent to Iowa 'cuz his Grandma lived in town and she was going to keep him on the straight and narrow. Anyway, he sucked big time. And now, I work with this woman who grew up in Arizona. She is lazy and dishonest. Yep, from my 25 year sample ALL AZ folks suck.

Jeebus.

[AZBlue]

30. I only live here...didn't say I liked it here.

[Wickerman]

32. whatever

just trying to show that a broad-brush is a silly tool but I can see that failed.

[Cats Against Frist]

26. The State of Iowa has one of the bluest counties in the Midwest

And Des Moines, the southeast and Mississippi regions supported Kerry, and are democratic strongholds. We have one Dem Senator and a Dem governor. This place will be BLUE, next time...:)

Seriously, I imagine some of Iowa is bad. But many parts are really cool. I'm from Seattle, and I bought a house here -- everything seems okay. My local bar, in a pop. 900 town, serves grilled ahi, arugula salad and Newcastle, if that tells you anything...

[IA_Seth]

28. Hey! Visit the Iowa Forum sometime!

If you haven't checked it out lately you should...lots of great people and good conversations goin on, AND we even talk about local politics.

[IA_Seth]

31. The wrath of Iowa..

I will spare you the chiding, as it appears you've already had some..lol.

But really, please don't bash the Iowans. We are a very well educated and very productive state, with some of the most blue counties in this country.

Let me guess...you met people from Western Iowa? More batshit crazies out there than over here in Eastern Iowa.

[haroldgiowa]

40. No, I don't believe I would understand.

You judge a whole state by two separate experiences. Shame on you.

[Critters2]

41. I had PRECISELY the opposite experience

after getting royally screwed at a job in Illinois, I moved to Iowa and found it a great place of healing and kindness and generosity. The most wonderful people I've ever known. I am a native Iowan, but life has taken me back and forth across the Mississippi. Right now, I'm on the wrong side again, and looking for a chance to move back to Iowa--and stay there this time!!

I'm PROUD to be a native Iowan!

[Sydnie]

11. I would write a letter to the editor and to Planned Parenthood

Wonder how they would like a little picket line at their store to alert the home office of this behavior?

I shouldn't be surprised by the things that business owners now feel it is safe to do ... I shouldn't be ... but I still am.

[Not Me]

12. I am always amazed when businesses post political statements

and signs.

There is a restaurant nearby that hung *ush signs in their window during the campaign.

And a car dealer that had Mel Martinez signs posted.

What are they thinking?? They can never make up enough business with like minded people to cover the business they lose from people who are of a different mind.

Any good businessperson separates personal opinion from business practice.

(btw, the restaurant recently closed. Don't know what the reason is/was.)

[melissinha]

13. Where in Iowa?

I'm with Debi, where was that?


I sure hope it wasn't near my hometown, we have a Super Valu.... (Decorah)

thats just CRAZY!

[AX10]

14. The smart business owners will separate...

their business from their personal political views.

Show them "choice" by not shopping there anymore.

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. Amen

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. I would have found the manager/owner, taken my $23.53 worth of groceries

and dumped them on his feet and told him/her to shove his political receit up his ass and then tell him/her that he/she only cares about those "babies" UNTIL their born and then he/she votes to starve them, have them live on the streets, go to shitty ass schools and not be able to see a doctor for lack of health care. :grr: And then I'd inform him/her that I will never shop in that store again.:grr:

[liberalitch]

20. I would have marched right back into that store....

taken all of my purchases back saying I didn't want to spend my money in a place that favors killing women over medical technology.

My parting shot would have been: "Make sure y'all stock up on coathangers!"

[Neil Lisst]

25. I'd take it back, demand a refund, and tell them why.

Tell them "I'm not having your views on abortion marketed with your products."

I would have made a scene right then and there, but that's the kind of guy I am.

[Captain Hilts]

27. I hope you complained about it! nt

[Straight Shooter]

33. I would have just mailed the receipt back and attached a note which says:

It's a fetus and it's none of your business.

[Karenina]

34. And NO consideration

to those fetuses in Iraq who have NO CHOICE thanks to y'all but to be born into war and a poisoned enviroment... :puke:

[Yollam]

35. How obnoxious.

As a business owner, why would you want to alienate half of your customers by foisting your opinions on EITHER side of a very divisive issue on them?

I suppose you could get away with it in a rural area, or a place where there are few stores to choose from, but those people have some gall.

[Arkana]

36. Write "War Stops A Beating Heart Too, Dipshits" and hand it to a manager.

[dkofos]

37. Next time write on your money, IT'S MY CHOICE

Maybe it will get someones attention

[bluedawg12]

38. It's a uterus- not a religious icon!

How about that for an alternative slogan on a grocery reciept?

because, these RW *ss holes have turned a womans choice of when to reproduce--or not-- into a religious war, and the uterus and the ever popular "baby" into icons.

In the meantime- little is said about unwanted children, suffering from hunger and disease through out the world.

[Crunchy Frog]

39. Get a bunch of little stickers with snappy pro-choice slogans on them

and go and slap them on a bunch of cereal boxes, etc. Alienate, or confuse, a bunch of their anti-choice customers too.:evilgrin:

The other thing you could do, is go in there and purchase $200.00 worth of stuff, and then when you get the offending reciept again, angrily return it all and demand your money back. Maybe get several people to do that. Maybe they'll get the message that way.

Also, notify Planned Parenthood and NARAL.

[Zynx]

44. Technically I think it is legal to do this, but it is despicable.

I would boycott any store that tried to push their political views, left or right, because I simply don't think it is proper to do that. Buying things at a store is an essential function, particularly a grocery store, and shoppers have the right, in my judgement, not to be bombarded by such advertisements.

[Critters2]

45. Still curious

Does your home town have a name?

[Deja Q]

47. Super Valu corporation owns the chain of CUB FOODS stores in Minnesota.

[pitohui]

48. to be honest

if that had appeared on my receipt i would have gone immediately to customer service desk and returned my groceries for a full refund

i live in louisiana (catholic) & i've never seen that on a grocery receipt

that is just totally inappropriate

but if a grocery store is against women, and a woman's right to choose, then why should i as a woman shop there

that is just wrong on too many levels