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Original poster

Wish kids would stop opening stuff in shops

105 replies

notedbiscuits · 26/07/2026 16:13

It annoys me when kids - both when I worked in retail and when I am visiting shops - touch, muck about and play with stuff that they (or their parent(s)) going to buy.

I have seen kids opening the blind boxes and bags - think Lego figures, Pokémon.

Play with footballs

Then have seen evidence of multi packs opened with a bag of crisps taken. Sometimes it’s the parent that opened the multi pack and pay for the item as their DC was screaming and giving a bag of Quavers just to keep them quiet.

Look but don’t touch

OP posts:
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Original poster
notedbiscuits · 28/07/2026 06:57

OrangeKettle · 27/07/2026 22:25

I hate kids sitting in trolleys. Usually they’re old enough to walk and behave, so they should do so. If they’re younger, they can fit in the proper child’s seat.

I’ve seen a couple of trolleys topple over, once the child smacked their head when the trolley tipped. The second time I saw it, the child was ok, luckily.

I am not a perfect parent (my 15 year old is currently proving this 😂) but the trolley thing annoys me. And it’s not safe.

Mind you, I still enjoy going fast and holding on to the trolley, with legs off the floor down a quiet aisle. So I’m hardly one to talk!

The latest thing I’ve noticed is dogs in Aldi. When did that become a thing?

I have seen kids around 7 sitting in trolley part.

I believe that some parents who have to park as close to entrances as possible (usually illegally and/or dangerously - yellow zig zags outside schools) have created children that developed a reluctance towards walking pretty much anywhere. How can they cope with theme parks and airports???

I have seen plenty of children that stood up in the trolleys - both as a former supermarket worker and a customer , not understanding the laws of physics then, see the child landing head first with a loud thud then them crying their eyes out. One girl, guessing aged 3 had a big bleed, then threw up. She was concussed as well with her head injury.

Why are people taking dogs to a supermarket? I have seen people putting harnesses on their pet dogs with something about an assistance dog. Before entering supermarkets. These were not assistance dogs. They were not behaving like one. As noticed assistance dog harnesses for sale online. These should be banned from sale. Only to buy them from charities that train them and only if you have one of these dogs too

OP posts:
OrangeKettle · 27/07/2026 22:25

I hate kids sitting in trolleys. Usually they’re old enough to walk and behave, so they should do so. If they’re younger, they can fit in the proper child’s seat.

I’ve seen a couple of trolleys topple over, once the child smacked their head when the trolley tipped. The second time I saw it, the child was ok, luckily.

I am not a perfect parent (my 15 year old is currently proving this 😂) but the trolley thing annoys me. And it’s not safe.

Mind you, I still enjoy going fast and holding on to the trolley, with legs off the floor down a quiet aisle. So I’m hardly one to talk!

The latest thing I’ve noticed is dogs in Aldi. When did that become a thing?

OonaStubbs · 27/07/2026 22:04

Shoplifting needs to be cracked down upon and that includes people opening things in shops. Even if they do "intend to pay for them", they have not paid at that point and it is theft and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law, ie jail.

Needmorelego · 27/07/2026 21:56

Allseeingallknowing · 27/07/2026 21:35

And you’d probably get a two fingered salute!

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Yeah....but I would give one back or say something like "well aren't you charming".

Allseeingallknowing · 27/07/2026 21:35

Needmorelego · 27/07/2026 20:52

I would have said "Oi.... don't open all the packets. People want to buy those".
(and that would be as a member of the public...not a staff member)

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And you’d probably get a two fingered salute!

CheeseWisely · 27/07/2026 21:08

(2 year old) DS sometimes has a banana if he has to come with who ever is going the big supermarket shop. We do self-scan so weigh and scan it, usually stick the printed sticker to DS, then peel it for him. I suppose I could go pay for the single banana first and then return for the rest of the shop but why would I? Rather this way with proof of purchase than bringing something from home that could then give the appearance that we’ve stolen it.

Another local supermarket has a shelf of free fruit for kids to take a piece of during the shop but it’s usually apples and oranges that are both tricky for a young 2 year old to manage without cutting them up first.

beeble347 · 27/07/2026 21:03

Ratatatatatatouille · 26/07/2026 16:24

It's not something I've ever done myself but what's wrong with them having a pack of crisps from a multipack that they're going to buy anyway?

My parents used to do this 🤷🏻‍♀️ I've given my DS a banana from the bunch (around snack time if he was going to have one that day) then scanned and paid for the bunch.

OhThePotential · 27/07/2026 21:02

When I worked in M&S I often saw people of all ages just come in, pick something up off the shelves (could be anything, a quiche, a sandwich, a bag of doughnuts), walk around eating it, dump the packaging and then walk out. Astounding.

Giving a kid a packet of multipack crisps when kid and multipack are both in the trolley and you’re going to pay for the food is different and I think mums have done that since the beginning of self-serve supermarkets.

Needmorelego · 27/07/2026 20:52

LandSsmum · 27/07/2026 19:28

I saw them doing it

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I would have said "Oi.... don't open all the packets. People want to buy those".
(and that would be as a member of the public...not a staff member)

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/07/2026 20:48

Quartzfairy · 26/07/2026 18:50

Why is this an issue if you pay for the crisps with the rest of your shopping? It’s not the same as opening a toy and not buying it!

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I well remember giving baby dd1 at 8:months or so, a chocolate biscuit from a packet I later paid for, to keep her quietly and very messily occupied while I went round the supermarket.

SmellyNelliey · 27/07/2026 20:27

I dont allow my children to do this and never have but in our local tesco they do offer fruit.

Jackiepumpkinhead · 27/07/2026 20:13

Breadlegs · 26/07/2026 17:58

I see no difference to a child kicking a ball once and someone sitting in a car at a car showroom. Obviously don't kick it about like you're playing a game but checking how good the ball is, how heavy etc is part of shopping surely?

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Yeah, exactly the same thing 🙄

LandSsmum · 27/07/2026 19:28

Needmorelego · 26/07/2026 18:09

How do you know it was kids?

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I saw them doing it

Allseeingallknowing · 26/07/2026 22:42

drspouse · 26/07/2026 22:37

Baking them would be lower in fat.

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Can’t manage a whole one!

yuaoa · 26/07/2026 22:42

Yanbu, I work in retail, I don't want to be handed some sticky half-eaten packet to scan, but also so many packets half-eaten around the store, people don't give a fuck, its both adults and kids.

drspouse · 26/07/2026 22:37

Ratatatatatatouille · 26/07/2026 18:40

Gosh I hope they fry them after breading them.

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Baking them would be lower in fat.

Original poster
notedbiscuits · 26/07/2026 20:41

The supermarket I worked at didn't have a hot chicken counter. Ask anyone who has worked in a store with one. They can tell you they have found chicken bones sometimes tossed in the bag dumped everywhere.

They were not paid for....

OP posts:
Smartiepants79 · 26/07/2026 20:37

If it is something that they the go on to purchase then I don’t see the big deal. If they put half of it back without paying that is crap and illegal behaviour.

Livinthedrama · 26/07/2026 20:34

Adults do this too.

TY78910 · 26/07/2026 19:50

Ratatatatatatouille · 26/07/2026 16:24

It's not something I've ever done myself but what's wrong with them having a pack of crisps from a multipack that they're going to buy anyway?

I scan and go and will give a pack of something to my toddler just so I can focus for 10 fucking minutes. I really don’t understand why the other half of MN thinks that’s the worst parenting ever 🙄

ACR7 · 26/07/2026 19:42

Allseeingallknowing · 26/07/2026 19:36

I don’t think it’s right to do this though. Presumably the children have been fed before going to the supermarket, so they’re not ravenous. Some parents just don’t like to say no, and it’s just easier to give in.

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Occasionally it is. If you’re a good parent who sets boundaries and does say no most of the time then surely we all have the odd day when you just don’t have the energy, especially with a toddler. I have a 2 year old and I like to think I’m a good and engaged mam. I try my best to set boundaries and stick to them but I also work full time so if one time every now and again I just do something to make that task a little easier then I’m ok with that. There’s just so much judgment when most of us are good parents trying our best.

Needmorelego · 26/07/2026 19:40

BoredZelda · 26/07/2026 19:25

I am in supermarkets regularly and have never seen any of this.

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You are lucky.

Allseeingallknowing · 26/07/2026 19:36

ACR7 · 26/07/2026 19:17

I worked on the checkouts and this is a none issue. Asda didn’t give a crap if you gave your kids something and just paid for it at the end. Damage and stealing are different obviously but me scanning an empty packet of crisps and even putting it in the bin for someone didn’t bother me one jot. A lot of perfect parents on here.

I don’t think it’s right to do this though. Presumably the children have been fed before going to the supermarket, so they’re not ravenous. Some parents just don’t like to say no, and it’s just easier to give in.

SouthLondonMum22 · 26/07/2026 19:35

Allseeingallknowing · 26/07/2026 19:32

Never seen bird poo on them! I have seen plenty of toddlers sitting in them and not on the seat on the trolley

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They are often outside. Even if you've never seen things like bird poo on them, surely you know they are hardly clean even without toddlers sitting in them.

Allseeingallknowing · 26/07/2026 19:32

SouthLondonMum22 · 26/07/2026 19:13

The same trolleys which are often outside exposed to bird poo etc? They are hardly going to be very clean anyway and most food has packaging.

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Never seen bird poo on them! I have seen plenty of toddlers sitting in them and not on the seat on the trolley