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Honored Contributor
Posts: 26,461
Registered: ‎10-03-2011

My granddaughter and I are doing a craft today - Rudolph cookies on a stick.  I'll put the sticks in and dip everything in melted chocolate before she arrives.  She can do the faces and antlers - with help, of course.  I thought we might add a bow at the neck.  Since she's little and doesn't know how to tie, I thought green and red pipe cleaners would work.  

I was in Walmart's craft department lastnight looking for pipe cleaners.  I couldn't find them.  There was an employee nearby so I asked if she could tell me where to find pipe cleaners.  I hope you're sitting down.  She said, "in the hardware department" and motioned in that direction.   I changed my request and said that sometimes they're referred to as "chenille stems", that they're fuzzy wires and come in assorted colors.  She didn't even listen.  She asked, "But you want them to clean your pipes, right?".  I thanked her anyway and walked away shaking my head.🤦‍♀️  

 

I found some narrow metallic ribbon and I'll just tie the bows.  

Valued Contributor
Posts: 758
Registered: ‎02-13-2024

Oh my goodness 😳😂

 

Hope you and your granddaughter have a wonderful time today!! 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,924
Registered: ‎06-07-2010

I find it acceptable that she did not know what pipe cleaners were. At least she tried to help. What I find annoying is that cashiers do not know how to give change if you pay with cash. There have been many times I was given the wrong amount. 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,302
Registered: ‎08-19-2011

I guess chenille stems are more genteel pipe cleaners?  I wonder what was wrong with the original phrase.  Of course the pipes they originally cleaned weren't the type the sales associate assumed. 

Valued Contributor
Posts: 762
Registered: ‎01-16-2020

Michael's or Hobby Lobby would have them.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,693
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@JeanLouiseFinch 

The next time you need some, look for fuzzy sticks on Walmart's site for your location. It'll show what aisle they're in. Target carries them too.

 

fuzzy sticks.JPG

Honored Contributor
Posts: 68,086
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

I've gotten them on both Target's and Amazon's websites.


In my pantry with my cupcakes...
Honored Contributor
Posts: 46,786
Registered: ‎08-23-2010

@Janey2 wrote:

I find it acceptable that she did not know what pipe cleaners were. At least she tried to help. What I find annoying is that cashiers do not know how to give change if you pay with cash. There have been many times I was given the wrong amount. 


@Janey2 

 

I don't care if the computers do all the work. 

 

A cashier that can't make change is lacking a very important money skill. 

 

It's a little scary, IMO.  

 

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 26,461
Registered: ‎10-03-2011

Re: Pipe Cleaners

[ Edited ]

Thanks for the suggestions, but they aren't something I buy regularly.  It's not the pipe cleaners that was important.  I made a change of plans on the fly and got ribbon instead.  The essence of the story is that a grown woman didn't have a clue as to what a pipe cleaner is.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,100
Registered: ‎06-17-2015

@Janey2 wrote:

I find it acceptable that she did not know what pipe cleaners were. At least she tried to help. What I find annoying is that cashiers do not know how to give change if you pay with cash. There have been many times I was given the wrong amount. 


@Janey2  Considering they see the amount due back on the register 😄

 

Even more perplexing is giving them the change above the dollar amount.  Something costs $10.25, you hand a $20 bill and a quarter and it's like advanced calculus. 😂

"" Compassion is a verb."-Thich Nhat Hanh