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After going to the doctor for a potential complication, Nicole of @melancholynsex on Twitter purchased a pregnancy test from Walgreens per her doctor's orders.
However, after purchasing the pregnancy test Nicole received a surprising package at her home. It was a "Wonder Box" from the Enfamil baby product company, complete with several cans of formula, bottle nipple samples and other products.
Nicole took to Twitter to share her frustrations, including a picture of the box and its contents.
You can read the entire thread here:
\u201cDear @Walgreens I received this package today a week after purchasing a pregnancy test at your store. I was asked to take the test by my doctor despite having no Fallopian tubes. 1/X\u201d— Nicole (@Nicole) 1658028438
\u201cTHERE IS A FORMULA SHORTAGE, and yet @Enfamil is sending out formula all willy-nilly based on the data you clearly sold them. Shame on you @Enfamil 3/X\u201d— Nicole (@Nicole) 1658028438
\u201cTry this one on: I\u2019m in an abusive relationship and my partner intercepts this package. Well, now what?! @Enfamil 5/X\u201d— Nicole (@Nicole) 1658028438
\u201cAnd here\u2019s what the box says. REGIFTABLE?! Kiss off @Enfamil and @Walgreens from all the women who actually need this box that you are not helping.\u201d— Nicole (@Nicole) 1658028438
\u201cAnd just so everyone knows, I did post this in a local neighborhood group and gift it to a person in need.\u201d— Nicole (@Nicole) 1658028438
Nicole explained she didn't think Enfamil read the room very well.
"THERE IS A FORMULA SHORTAGE, and yet Enfamil is sending out formula all willy-nilly based on the data you (Walgreens) clearly sold them. Shame on you, Enfamil."
Not to mention other potential issues for customers who might receive these packages.
"Second, what if I were desperately trying to get pregnant and can’t? Wouldn’t this be a kick to the face?!"
"Try this one on: I’m in an abusive relationship and my partner intercepts this package. Well, now what?!"
"What do you say to the women in states where abortion is now illegal? Are you trying to make a political statement or is this just a big money grab?"
Fellow Twitter denizens were furious with Walgreens, Enfamil and just the situation as a whole.
\u201c@melancholynsex @Walgreens Between this and a Walgreens clerk refusing to sell condoms to a married couple, I think that we can cross them off our list of places to shop.\u201d— Nicole (@Nicole) 1658028438
\u201c@melancholynsex @Walgreens This is such a stupid, wasteful, unhelpful idea,@WalgreensNews.\n\nFFS, some women are glad when their tests she negative!!!\n\nThis is also a violation is privacy. Stop outing women who have taken pregnancy tests!\u201d— Nicole (@Nicole) 1658028438
\u201c@melancholynsex @AliAdair22 @Walgreens So now we have to use cash to buy pregnancy tests? This is what we have come to. If they sell your info to @enfamil, what is preventing them from giving it to the state in red states so they can monitor you?\u201d— Nicole (@Nicole) 1658028438
\u201c@melancholynsex @Walgreens My nine year old son goes to get the mail and comes in with a can of Baby formula. He then asks if there is something I\u2019m not telling him. That is how my son found out he was going to be a big brother. This was not how I planned on telling him.\u201d— Nicole (@Nicole) 1658028438
\u201c@melancholynsex @EfCovid19 @Walgreens Well, I'll never shop at @Walgreens again. I'm hearing they're also denying medications to people based on "religious beliefs," so @Walgreens is just not a safe place to ship at anymore AT ALL. Pro-forced birthers shouldn't be permitted in health care or pharmacy work.\u201d— Nicole (@Nicole) 1658028438
\u201c@melancholynsex @Walgreens I am now considering buying pregnancy tests once a month (or week) so I can donate formula to those who can't get it & need it. Let them send that box to this 62 yr old "fixed" woman. (I will donate the pregnancy tests too to those who don't want to be tracked).\u201d— Nicole (@Nicole) 1658028438
Nicole also responded to some concerns that showed up in the thread early on.
"I am aware that our data is bought and sold, especially through the use of rewards cards, but this is a lot bigger than sending me a coupon in the mail, so I thought it was worth noting."
"It was mentioned that another purchase not at Walgreens may have triggered this package. While I am open to that possibility, there are literally ZERO baby things in my life. There are not even KID things in my life."
"I will add, that I did pay using my iPhone with a Bank of America Visa."
"Also, some folks have no choice but to use these [rewards] cards as they are on a budget. Not everyone has the luxury of protecting their privacy."
"I’ve seen a lot of people talking about how this is pushing formula over breastfeeding. I can’t speak to that, but I will say I support feeding your baby in the best way possible, whatever that looks like for you. There is no formula-shaming here."
While privacy breaches and information being shared between companies are nothing new, they are still frustrating practices for consumers.
But this feels like a whole new level of problematic.
Just as Nicole pointed out, a person could be in an unsafe situation or even be struggling to have a child, so sending out a package like this would be wildly inappropriate for them.