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Original poster

Do you allow things to be eaten before paying?

532 replies

georgousbold · 21/03/2022 11:54

In a supermarket etc

When I walk around, I do open something to keep DS quiet. Works a treat.

Nobody has ever told me off or questioned me on it

Is this the done thing in the UK? Can think of a few countries it would be allowed in and nobody would say anything

But you could never do that in Japan for example, South Korea either

OP posts:
xsquared · 22/03/2022 20:53

Only in a restaurant but never in a supermarket.

I don't think we ever spent that long in a supermarket to require a snack.

Fedupsotired · 22/03/2022 20:57

No we never did this as it wasn't necessary. Neither of my children have additional needs though.

I do think the need to continually shove food in our children's mouths is a bit unnecessary and no wonder we have children unable to regulate their food intake but each to their own 🤷🏼‍♀️

Pinklimey · 22/03/2022 21:16

I think a wee bit of cheese to stop your toddler grabbing things off the shelves is hardly going to cause life-long problems.

VampireMoney · 22/03/2022 21:21

@HRTQueen

Ok it’s wasn’t a thing in my experience

We simply didn’t constantly snack like children do now. Some children may have but most didn’t

How on earth can you say 'most children'?? Did you personally know every single family in the country at the time??
HRTQueen · 22/03/2022 22:22

Because eating habits (and products sold) have changed …

There are lots of studies on this (easy to google)

TypicaIMe · 22/03/2022 22:32

Me too. Theft. Drives me mad seeing parents handing over an empty packet to be scanned.

How is it theft when they're paying for the item?

And why does this non-theft drive you mad, personally?

knowinglesseveryday · 22/03/2022 22:51

Some people need to learn to manage their anger better, or find more important things to get worked up about. A paid fir empty bag of crisps is surely not.

Booklover3 · 22/03/2022 22:57

No I’ve never done that

Grasping · 23/03/2022 06:50

Those of you calling it theft and getting all worked up. What do you do in restaurants?
I assuming you only eat in Nando’s or McD’s etc where you pay in advance.

LaWench · 23/03/2022 06:55

@SilverHairedCat

No and I hate to see it. But that's my opinion.
Same tbh. Kids can and should wait for 20 mins to get the shop done. If they were hungry, they should have been fed beforehand.
TolkiensFallow · 23/03/2022 07:03

It’s not something I’d do habitually as I don’t see the need, I would feed my child before going to the supermarket and I certainly wouldn’t feed an older child in the supermarket as I see it as part of my job to teach her how to behave in different situations.

However when DD was about 18 months I definitely gave her a packet of those veggie straws once when she was about to meltdown. It was from a multipack so I just gave the checkout lady the main bag and apologised for having opened it. It resolved the situation and I was able to do my shopping. I wouldn’t have given the lady a sticky mess though.eurgh.

Yayayaya20 · 23/03/2022 07:14

Doesn't bother me at all and don't see it often but I do find it strange. How can people not last the duration of a supermarket visit without a snack?

HotDiggityHot · 23/03/2022 07:21

Normally I would go in supermarkets after dc has had a good nap and hearty meal but a few times when there was a larger queue and we were waiting longer than expected or a meltdown because we are surrounded by choc and sweets or the fact that the toy section is literally opposite the detergent section, I have also given a packet of veggie straws or a packet of organix from a multipack to avoid further disruption by a creating a distraction.

RiverLily · 23/03/2022 07:59

No. It irritates me and another concern is what if for some reason I can't pay at the end? Like the card machine is offline and I don't have cash.

Justwingingit2005 · 23/03/2022 08:02

I worked in a supermarket during my uni years.
Couple of occasions people were caught for shoplifting by eating grapes round the store then weighing the few they had left at the till.

Cuddlybear5 · 23/03/2022 10:02

I bet a lot of these mums vehemently defending snacking in the supermarket before paying (as this is something they've done for 'generations') sometimes 'forget' to pay for some of the items that have been eaten.

TypicaIMe · 23/03/2022 10:05

@Cuddlybear5

I bet a lot of these mums vehemently defending snacking in the supermarket before paying (as this is something they've done for 'generations') sometimes 'forget' to pay for some of the items that have been eaten.
That sounds almost as if you're accusing people of stealing. Are you accusing people of stealing?
Cuddlybear5 · 23/03/2022 10:07

@TypicaIMe yes, I've seen it.

Wrapping chucked behind and parents looking on preteding to be too busy to notice. I've found empty wrapping on shelves, not very often, thankfully.

TypicaIMe · 23/03/2022 10:07

@Justwingingit2005

I worked in a supermarket during my uni years. Couple of occasions people were caught for shoplifting by eating grapes round the store then weighing the few they had left at the till.
The difference here is that they clearly never intended to pay for the item they'd eaten.

Contrary to what a PP believes, that's not what anyone on this thread has either done or condones.

stuntbubbles · 23/03/2022 10:34

@RiverLily

No. It irritates me and another concern is what if for some reason I can't pay at the end? Like the card machine is offline and I don't have cash.
The one card machine in the entire supermarket, where are you shopping, medieval Europe?
StooriMidori · 23/03/2022 10:44

Yes, done it with my DCs and have had the odd sandwich while doing my shopping myself. We've all managed to remain decent citizens despite our obvious depravity.

Can't see why anyone would get upset about it as long as the item gets paid for (I have never done it then not paid). When I worked on a checkout I couldn't have cared less if customers did this, it's really common.

VampireMoney · 23/03/2022 10:54

@Cuddlybear5

I bet a lot of these mums vehemently defending snacking in the supermarket before paying (as this is something they've done for 'generations') sometimes 'forget' to pay for some of the items that have been eaten.
Absolutely not. How dare you.
StooriMidori · 23/03/2022 11:04

@SausagePourHomme

can confirm - my mum let me eat crisps on the way round before paying and as a result I am now an armed robber and bigamist.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Somethingsnappy · 23/03/2022 11:10

You know in the olden days, way, way, way back before covid, they used to put little samples of bread and cheese etc on the deli counters to try? Were we OK to let our children nibble these or was that type of light snacking strictly adults only?

Yes, I know I've missed the payment point side of things, but a lot of the objections that posters have raised have nothing to do with the payment, and more to do with snacking in the supermarket...

andysgirl22 · 23/03/2022 11:27

@Zilla1 heartbreaking post. I have seen similar myself and gone up and asked the person if they were alright. I have seen some horrible instances of people on drugs/disabled vulnerable adults being treated badly like this. Sorry for a thread derail. I have sort of done it myself. Once in a very bad hypoglycaemic situation i went to get sweets my partner said just go straight to the till to pay for them and we paid then i started eating them whilst he did the rest of the shop. Didn't think to start eating them before paying but it would have saved some drama. X