I want to raise an issue with how cigarette sales are being handled at this Handy Mart Kitchen location. Under both federal law (Tobacco-21, FDA regulations) and North Carolina law (G.S. 14-313), stores are required to check ID to confirm that a purchaser is of legal age. However, the law does not require refusing a sale simply because a customer is accompanied by another person without ID—what matters is that the purchaser provides valid identification showing they are over 21.
On my recent visit, despite showing my valid ID, my purchase was denied because the friend with me did not have theirs. The cashier, a skinny to average build older woman insisted I was buying for someone else, which was not true.
What makes this especially concerning is the inconsistency. My friend, who is tall, bald, and bearded, often buys cigarettes here with the same person present, and the same cashier has sold to him many times without asking for ID or refusing the sale. Yet when I, a shorter person with a more feminine and meeker appearance, attempted the same purchase, the rules suddenly changed.
This selective enforcement feels discriminatory. Customers should be treated consistently under the law, not judged differently based on appearance.
Additionally Under federal law (Tobacco-21), stores are required to check ID for anyone under 30, but there is no legal requirement to card anyone 30 or older. North Carolina law similarly only requires ID verification if there is reason to believe someone is underage.
In this situation, I am 33 with some gray in my hair, and my bald friend is 39. Legally, neither of us needed to be carded. The fact that my purchase was refused—while my older friend has never been questioned at the same store—demonstrates inconsistent enforcement of the rules based on appearance, not legal requirement.
Because of this I can not recommend this location, and it's dilapidated ceiling.
Maybe I'll update my review one you show me the same courtesy you do other customer's.
Michael Smith
Horrible customer service.
Lee Bonar
Great service and staff. Prices are competitive with other stations and stores, very clean and discounts worth the sign up on fuel and store items.
bill canuette
Good simple country cooking
Dorine Beagle
Limited on items you can buy there they don’t carry much
Carroll Harrod, Realtor
Okay these people have THE BEST chicken poppers!! I stop by here every time I'm coming back from out of town and it's consistently good and well priced!
Aaron
Was great, I could stop in on my way to work or home, pick up a drink, maybe some food and straight tobacco pouches. I started getting them from here, got me off smoking, but now all of a sudden they dont have them. All other kinds of tobacco products except grizzly straight pouches. It ticks me off, honestly. Makes no sense that theyd lose a daily customer over a $7 can of pouch tobacco. But people can smoke and have loose tobacco stuck in their teeth all they want. Thanks Handy Mart
Cooper Stratton
I've never gotten prepared food there, but the staff are always friendly and smiling and the service is great!!
I want to raise an issue with how cigarette sales are being handled at this Handy Mart Kitchen location. Under both federal law (Tobacco-21, FDA regulations) and North Carolina law (G.S. 14-313), stores are required to check ID to confirm that a purchaser is of legal age. However, the law does not require refusing a sale simply because a customer is accompanied by another person without ID—what matters is that the purchaser provides valid identification showing they are over 21.
On my recent visit, despite showing my valid ID, my purchase was denied because the friend with me did not have theirs. The cashier, a skinny to average build older woman insisted I was buying for someone else, which was not true.
What makes this especially concerning is the inconsistency. My friend, who is tall, bald, and bearded, often buys cigarettes here with the same person present, and the same cashier has sold to him many times without asking for ID or refusing the sale. Yet when I, a shorter person with a more feminine and meeker appearance, attempted the same purchase, the rules suddenly changed.
This selective enforcement feels discriminatory. Customers should be treated consistently under the law, not judged differently based on appearance.
Additionally Under federal law (Tobacco-21), stores are required to check ID for anyone under 30, but there is no legal requirement to card anyone 30 or older. North Carolina law similarly only requires ID verification if there is reason to believe someone is underage.
In this situation, I am 33 with some gray in my hair, and my bald friend is 39. Legally, neither of us needed to be carded. The fact that my purchase was refused—while my older friend has never been questioned at the same store—demonstrates inconsistent enforcement of the rules based on appearance, not legal requirement.
Because of this I can not recommend this location, and it's dilapidated ceiling.
Maybe I'll update my review one you show me the same courtesy you do other customer's.
Horrible customer service.
Great service and staff. Prices are competitive with other stations and stores, very clean and discounts worth the sign up on fuel and store items.
Good simple country cooking
Limited on items you can buy there they don’t carry much
Okay these people have THE BEST chicken poppers!!
I stop by here every time I'm coming back from out of town and it's consistently good and well priced!
Was great, I could stop in on my way to work or home, pick up a drink, maybe some food and straight tobacco pouches. I started getting them from here, got me off smoking, but now all of a sudden they dont have them. All other kinds of tobacco products except grizzly straight pouches. It ticks me off, honestly. Makes no sense that theyd lose a daily customer over a $7 can of pouch tobacco. But people can smoke and have loose tobacco stuck in their teeth all they want. Thanks Handy Mart
I've never gotten prepared food there, but the staff are always friendly and smiling and the service is great!!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Love the pizza
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Loved this place. Awesome service and food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Staff are amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Handy Mart seems to have gotten very expensive amongst all the gas stations that did this sort of thing, speedway, circle k, etc...
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Good place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I ordered a white fish plate & it was worth the price. They didnt have any corn so I got mashed potatoes with mac n cheese for my 2 sides
Parking: It's extensive
Wheelchair accessibility: Sidewalk ramps
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Iam the Spree lady! My favorite candy, I love that they keep it stocked! Customer service is off the chain! Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Loading...