I (26F) went to my local Trader Joe’s this morning to do my weekly shopping. Every so often I ask the cashiers if I could have a couple lollipops since they keep them behind the register. I used to buy them but they were discontinued like a year ago.

Some Trader Joe’s (including the one by my dad’s house) have a big bucket of lollipops by the exit for people to just take. My local Trader Joe’s doesn’t have that but the handful of times I’ve asked for lollipops it’s never been an issue.

So today as I’m checking out I asked the cashier if I could have a lollipop. He tells me no and that it’s only for “sweepstakes winners”. I’m a little taken aback and say that I’ve asked for lollipops before and it’s never been an issue but I guess I’ll just ask someone else next time.

The other employee at the register bagging my groceries grabs the tray of lollipops and puts them in front of me without a word. I took one and said thank you, but I don’t know the energy just felt really hostile. Like why did that one cashier have a problem with giving me a lollipop when no one else has the past five or so times I’ve asked?

What’s the official Trader Joe’s policy on giving out lollipops? I’ve seen my local Trader Joe’s give them to kids before, who I doubt won some kind of sweepstakes. I know I’m an adult but I just really miss those lollipops! Like I know it’s not that important in the scheme of things. I just don’t understand why some Trader Joe’s would gatekeep the lollipops when others have buckets of them free for the taking.