Eating food at the grocery store before paying for it

[magicfan]

I'm just curious how everybody feels about this issue.

I was taught that you do not open up and eat anything at the grocery store until you have paid for it. Even if you plan to pay for it, I feel that if you haven't yet it is not yours to consume until you do.
I also feel that it would be setting a bad example to my kids if I let them do it, or if I open up a package for them and allow them to eat the food in it-- I feel that I would be teaching them that it is OK to eat or use something before we pay for it. And I would not want my kids to, later on down the road, just go up and open up packages and start eating whatever they want, before they have paid for it. I do not want them to think that is OK.

I also would not want to reward them for screaming by breaking any rules or laws. I would bring snacks from home to feed junior if he couldnt make it through the shopping trip, or, if he was in complete misery I might just have to leave the store now and finish the shopping later on.

I can't justify any exceptions to this rule (for myself).

If your child is hungry and you open up unpaid for food to satisfy them, then would it be okay to open up a bottle of medication in the store and give it to junior before it's paid for because his fever will go away sooner?

Or, if I'm having a major chocolate craving can I grab a candy bar, eat it, then put the empty wrapper on the conveyer beltand pay for it later on when I am ready to leave the store?

At my grocery store there is a deli and you can go there and pay for something NOW and eat or drink it. As long as you have your reciept to prove you paid for it, I see nothing wrong with that. Otherwise, I would have to bring food from home to get junior through the shopping trip. If I am out of his favorite snack, I'd bring another. Kids have to sacrifice sometimes.

So, how do you feel about this?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I feel the same way....but I have broken the rule when pregnant for myself .

I have never done this with items needing to be weighed.

 

[Christine]

I was raised the same way as you and I don't believe you should ever eat anything in the store without paying for it first. My goodness, can't we go for 45 minutes without eating something?

Having said that, I don't get too whizzed if I see someone scanning the wrapper of a previously eating item, or an empty water bottle or something. To each his own and it doesn't bother me.

What got me was this past Sunday, while in the produce section, a man ripped two bananas off a bunch and gave them to his kids to eat in the store while they shopped. Since bananas are sold by weight, I expect that he didn't pay for these.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

What got me was this past Sunday, while in the produce section, a man ripped two bananas off a bunch and gave them to his kids to eat in the store while they shopped. Since bananas are sold by weight, I expect that he didn't pay for these.

I loved it when they brought ME the banana peel. I'd go and weigh one of their bananas that they were purchasing, twice.

 

[Free4Life11]

My mom would always buy the bulk malted milk balls and snack on them when we were shopping . I also opened a box of crackers once and was munching on them while i was shopping. I was going to pay for them but I was starving

And when I was a kid, I used to sneak candy out of the bulk bin when no one was looking...

 

[Christine]

I loved it when they brought ME the banana peel. I'd go and weigh one of their bananas that they were purchasing, twice.

No, they didn't? Did they REALLY bring you the peels?

Well, I guess you've got to admire the honesty there.

 

[magicfan]

I never thought of the weight issue before.

Yea, I don't get all worked up over things I see---I see all kinds of things that I don't agree with, everyday, so I am used to it. We were all raised differently (or is that "different").

I was just wondering what the general population thought about this issue.


PS: When you are pregnant, you are exempt from all behavior!! J/K!

 

[mommytotwo]

I don't like it when I see people eatting in the store.
I have seen wrappers and half eatten items on the shelves since people just place it there. And once, there was this brother and sister in their 20s, that took doughnuts and put them in baggies. They both ate one doughnut each and at the counter, instead of paying for 3 doughnuts, they paid for 1. They have security cameras, but nothing happened and they just walked out of the store.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

This has been discussed on the shopping pet peeves thread and there doesn't seem to be agreement on the issue.

Personally, I rarely did this with my children. I can only remember one time for sure and I know that I made sure the box was closed so it wouldn't spill in the cart or when checking out. Normally my kids would get the free cookie that was given by the bakery and were fine to shop.

But I have no issue if a person does this as they pay for the item, take care that the open container does not spill, and do not eat food that has to be weighed. Amazing that someone would hand their kids bananas to eat. DUH!

And no, I would not eat a candy bar and then hand the cashier the wrapper. I've never opened a bottle of water before paying. I can't imagine doing any of these things for myself.

 

[Keli]

I don't do it but I don't have a problem with others doing that as long as the store doesn't mind. It just wouldn't occur to me to open something I haven't paid for yet.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yep, a pet peeve of mine too. I keep thinking of those grubby little hands that probably reached into the bulk bin without the aid of a scoop or tongs.

 

[C.Ann]

The first time I saw someone do this my jaw literally dropped to the floor..

It's not mine to eat or drink until I have paid for it and I wouldn't dream of walking around the store chomping on food I haven't purchased..

 

[Tigger&Belle]

PS: When you are pregnant, you are exempt from all behavior!! J/K!

I know that you were probably half joking, but a pregnant adult could just as easily bring food from home to snack on as a mom juggling a couple of kids. I have much more sympathy for the mom shopping with her young children and I tried to avoid even bringing my kids when they were little.

ETA, I now see the j/k on your post and know that you really were joking.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I've done it before with bananas. And yes, I brought the peels to the cashier and she laughed and just weighed another banana from my bunch twice. It's not a big deal, and it's not like we stole them. I have a 3 year old and a four year old, and for some reason they act awful in a store. I do what I can to keep them happy and quite, because I coupon shop and it takes me at least an hour or so. If giving them a banana or a couple of crackers keeps them from driving me and the rest of the store crazy, then I don't see the harm in it. I'm sure a lot of the same people that would complain about me doing so would be the same ones who give me the dirty looks and disapproving stares when my kids are acting like animals in the store.

 

[KimR]

When my DDs were little I used to do this all the time. I really didn't think anything of it since I did pay for the food when we checked out. As long as it isn't something sold by weight, I don't see anything wrong with it. My middle DD was a fussy shopper (actually, she was just plain fussy period) and it kept her quiet and happy while I shopped.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've done it before with bananas. And yes, I brought the peels to the cashier and she laughed and just weighed another banana from my bunch twice.

So YOU were the one who let the kids eat the bananas!!! At least you did pay for them!

 

[magicfan]

This has been discussed on the shopping pet peeves thread and there doesn't seem to be agreement on the issue.

Personally, I rarely did this with my children. I can only remember one time for sure and I know that I made sure the box was closed so it wouldn't spill in the cart or when checking out. Normally my kids would get the free cookie that was given by the bakery and were fine to shop.

But I have no issue if a person does this as they pay for the item, take care that the open container does not spill, and do not eat food that has to be weighed. Amazing that someone would hand their kids bananas to eat. DUH!

And no, I would not eat a candy bar and then hand the cashier the wrapper. I've never opened a bottle of water before paying. I can't imagine doing any of these things for myself.

My question was not meant to offend anyone that posted that they do this on the other thread (sorry if you thought so). It just got me thinking and wondering how many people actually do this.

We also go to the bakery to get the free cookie infact, my DD would never let me forget to stop by there. That's the best part of her shopping trip!

Oh, and we love going to Costco to get all the free samples. Your kids can leave with full tummy's there (and us adults).

 

[LoraJ]

You all eat at restaurants before you pay right? Is that stealing?

i don't have a problem with people snacking on items in grocery stores as long as the item isn't sold by weight.

When I was a kid, my mom used to give my brother and I each a box of animal crackers to snack on while she shopped. Then we would have the cashier ring out the boxes.

Now I don't snack on anything before I pay unless the line is really long and i am about to pass out from hunger.

 

[lulugirl]

As long as you pay for the item at checkout and clean up any mess you might have made I don't see what the big deal is.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I have done it and will do it again.
Examples:
Open a box of animal crackers for DD to eat while shopping.
Open an individual chocolate milk for her.
My Mom used to buy me a donut from the grocery store bakery. They would put it in a bag with the price written on the bag. I ate it and showed the bag to the cashier when we checked out.
I'm pretty sure I opened a box of Nilla wafers when I was PG and ate almost the whole thing.
Dh will give DD slices of cheese form the deli after they slice it and put it in a bag for us. Some times they give her one for FREE!

I must be going to hell!