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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:
MoniJitchell · 21/03/2022 13:34

I don't but only because I would be scared I got to the till and realised I've forgotten my card or something and i can't pay and they've already eaten it. That would be theft or shoplifting and I'd be mortified. So it's snacks from home.

Rosehugger · 21/03/2022 13:34

I never did it and I hate seeing it

Can't say as I ever really notice what small children or their parents are doing these days, now we are long past that phase.

MonkeyPuddle · 21/03/2022 13:34

Maybe I should explain to my 16mo that she can’t have a snack in the trolley, paid for or not, or brought from home, and she better not kick off as people don’t like that either 😂

FreestyleInTrance · 21/03/2022 13:34

I haven't done it with food, but did once open a tube of Dentinox whilst in the checkout queue with a screaming, teething baby! (I usually always carried a tube in the change bag, but I suspect my husband took it out and didn't replace it, so an emergency stop at Sainsbury's was required).

But I worked in Tesco for 3 years and scanning empty packets didn't bother me! Only weighed items were a problem.

whynotwhatknot · 21/03/2022 13:34

A lot of years ago there used to be signs in tesco saying please pay for goods before opening cant remember when they disappeared

Then before covid they used to have a free fruit basket which i thought was good

IHateWasps · 21/03/2022 13:35

It really is - but then again it is MN, and people on here have very strong opinions about things I do love a good MN froth, it’s better than any drama on telly.

It isn't just a Mumsnet thing. I've seen this discussed on a lot of forums and a quick Google shows that there are America, Canadian, South African and New Zealand message boards and even shows that have discussed it. No doubt there'll be others.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 21/03/2022 13:35

@WibbleWobbleWibble

I never did it and I hate seeing it.
How creepy you notice
Goldbar · 21/03/2022 13:35

No, I don't. Strictly speaking, you don't own the item you're buying until you check it out at the till so it's technically stealing.

IHateWasps · 21/03/2022 13:38

How creepy you notice

Assuming that you aren't visually impaired, Do you walk around with your eyes closed when you pass other shoppers when you pass them for fear of invading their privacy? It's perfectly normal to notice other people. Especially if they're doing something you don't see every day well I don't, like eating in store.

Fatgalslim · 21/03/2022 13:38

My dad did this when we were kids, he'd buy a French stick and me and my brother would gnaw at the ends whilst we were in the trolley

IHateWasps · 21/03/2022 13:38

Excuse the typos.

ShirleyPhallus · 21/03/2022 13:39

@kittycat01

Absolutely not! My daughter lost her dummy in the supermarket the other day so I went to the dummy aisle, chose one and went to pay for it at customer services and then opened it in front of them, gave her it and continued with my shopping. I would never have opened it (or let her eaten any of the shopping) prior to paying for it!
YOU GIVE YOUR CHILD A DUMMY???? ShockShockWink
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 21/03/2022 13:39

@IHateWasps

How creepy you notice

Assuming that you aren't visually impaired, Do you walk around with your eyes closed when you pass other shoppers when you pass them for fear of invading their privacy? It's perfectly normal to notice other people. Especially if they're doing something you don't see every day well I don't, like eating in store.

I don't wander round noticing if people are giving their kids food out of packets off the shelves or out of their bags.

Very odd if it's a common occurrence that you 'notice' these things. Just get on with your own life

RicherThanYew · 21/03/2022 13:40

@Donra Out of curiosity, do you think that a diabetic should plan to have a blood sugar crash at a convenient location so as not to eat a sandwich/glucose tablet in public and offend your delicate sensibilities? You're a tool.

ShirleyPhallus · 21/03/2022 13:40

I actually think it’s fine, I always give my toddler a swig of the vodka from the trolley. Just a small sip but we pay for the bottle at the end so it’s not stealing or anything.

IHateWasps · 21/03/2022 13:41

Very odd if it's a common occurrence that you 'notice' these things. Just get on with your own life

To be fair to you, when you have your head up your arse. it does make it considerably more difficult to see,

LizBennet · 21/03/2022 13:42

ShirleyPhallus

😭😂

theveryhungrycatapillar · 21/03/2022 13:42

@icedancerlenny

No. What sort of example does this set? It’s disgusting and it’s disrespectful to the supermarket staff.
How is it disrespectful to supermarket staff?

Can't see any staff members feeling disrespected because I opened the multi bag of quavers and let DC have a bag while walking around the shop?

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 21/03/2022 13:43

@IHateWasps

Very odd if it's a common occurrence that you 'notice' these things. Just get on with your own life

To be fair to you, when you have your head up your arse. it does make it considerably more difficult to see,

Brilliant 🤣 what a thing to get offended by.

I have to look down a lot if you must know as I am crippled with arthritis, but even when I'm stood I don't have enough care to notice a child eating in a trolley

Get a grip my dear!

Favourodds · 21/03/2022 13:45

@ShirleyPhallus Absolutely fantastic argument, you've skewered us all there. You're right, my goodness, it is the same giving them the end of the baguette and a sip of vodka. These are completely equivalent and your logic is flawless.

Zilla1 · 21/03/2022 13:46

Have checked and apparently it's mandatory. Some PPs will have to look for something else about which to work themselves into a sexual judgmental frenzy.

RichTeaRichTea · 21/03/2022 13:46

@IHateWasps

Very odd if it's a common occurrence that you 'notice' these things. Just get on with your own life

To be fair to you, when you have your head up your arse. it does make it considerably more difficult to see,

Excellent frothing! Keep going!
MRex · 21/03/2022 13:46

I've never felt the need to give DS anything, it only takes half an hour to whizz round the shop so he can easily cope without food, he might have sips from his water bottle if he didn't have any outside after the walk/ scooter there. The only exception was having water myself once in a queue when I'd run out, I was so dehydrated that I was feeling really dizzy and the queue was taking forever to make people's coffee; once I'd started drinking it anyway I figured that I may as well finish so I handed over one empty and one full water bottle by the time I got to the till.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 21/03/2022 13:48

@RichTeaRichTea it's brilliant isn't it 🤣 what people can get wound up about and then actually try to insult someone. MN all over

IHateWasps · 21/03/2022 13:49

Get a grip my dear!

I would but you're clearly in far more dire need of them than I and with there being such a limited supply in your neck of the woods, I figure that you need all that you can get. Here's a packet of Kleenex too for all that frothing at the mouth you're doing.

Also, I haven't even said what I think of eating in the supermarket, only that I don't find it surprising that some people notice something if it's a little out of the ordinary. Just as if someone has 200 oranges in their basket and nothing else.I'm more likely to notice that than your average weekly shop.