Be honest, zero judgment - how often do you steal from supermarket self-checkouts?

[Alwaysthelastone]

My theory is, “decent, up-standing” people do it a lot more than they’d ever admit. Let’s try to stop this thread descending into judgement and criticism of people who are just answering the question honestly. Otherwise they just won’t be honest. No judgement from me, as long as we’re talking large chain supermarkets only. I’ll admit that I sometimes forget to weigh fruit & veg, get to the till and can’t be bothered going back so don’t bother paying. Occasionally in the past when money’s been tight I haven’t paid for a few of the more expensive items like laundry detergent, nappies, the odd bottle of wine. But we’re talking 3 or 4 times I year. I’m not some sort of serial shoplifter and I consider myself a decent person (although I’m sure I’ll swiftly be told I’m not on here 🤣) anyway, would be interested to hear how often the mostly upstanding, middle-class MN population really does it…

Well I’d probably go to Selfridges to be fair 😂

Never.

One time I got flagged for my whole shop to be scanned/checked and the assistant missed a bottle of nail varnish at the bottom of the bag. I didn't correct her but other than that, I always scan everything.

Never, obviously

Never. I would have a neon sign flash above my head saying thief.

Where were you self scanning 25 years ago?

Never have, and likely never will. You, however, are a disgusting thief. People like you are part of the reason prices go up.

Never. I don’t want my DC to grow up to be thieves so i model that behaviour by not being a thief.

Never

Never!!!

Deliberately never but by error twice when rushing - once the card payment didn't go through and I didn't notice and once accidently packed some stuff that hadn't been scanned. Considered going back both times but didn't - first time though was couple of weeks later when realised it wasn't on credit card statement but felt worse about the last one even though it was worth less as I actually did notice in the car park so should have gone straight back

Never. Even if the entire supermarket was unmanned it just isn’t in me to steal. If it was literally life or death who knows what you’re driven to if truly desperate, but for some kind of ‘kick’ never.

I have never done this. Although I once stole a candle from H&M. Was in mooching around the home section with my then toddler. She must’ve picked it up and put it under the buggy because I found it there when I got back home. Couldn’t face the trek back into town with a grizzly toddler so didn’t take it back. Felt a bit guilty though!

Only when I don't have any money.

Never - I’d get struck off for stealing anything! If I go through the checkout and don’t notice a packet of biscuits at the bottom of the trolley, I go to customer services and offer to pay for it! Actually, they laughed and let me have it!

Never; apart from
once 15ish years ago, I realised when I was looking at my Sainsbury’s receipt at home they there was an item I had not scanned. It was a mistake. I held the bar code to the scanner and didn’t realise it hadn’t worked.

For me it's the opposite, I have seen people go above and beyond to make things right or to make things fair, to my amazement. So I do believe people when they said they wouldn't steal. There are many people who just are not capable of it.

Deliberately ; never. I have worked hard enough for long enough to be in a financial position where I don’t need to steal groceries. So I don’t. But I completely understand why others who are financially struggling might make a different choice and I wouldn’t judge them.

Accidentally ; yes it does happen. I somehow took a melon from Sainsbury’s without paying for it last week & only realised when I got home. Did I take it back? Of course not. Because big supermarkets factor such losses into their calculations of how much money self service checkouts save them on staff costs.

I accidentally stole a bar of chocolate once. I put my card in and everything but subsequently the transaction never showed up.

That’s my entire thieving history.

Never. You OP are a serial shoplifter by your own admission.

Never

I've done it by accident a couple of times.

Never - I even pay for bags 😁

One of the many problems with society today is that we’ve demonised judgment . But what holds people in check, especially if they haven’t been raised to know the basics of morality and common decency? And no, I don’t steal; I can’t imagine how gross it would make me feel.

It has literally never occurred to me to. I buy what I can afford which luckily for me, most of the time, means whatever food we want. And if it's a tight week well I don't get wine/steak/treats. Stealing has never entered my mind. Aren't there cameras everywhere now anyway? Do people truly get away with this and is it worth the risk just for an extra packet of something?!

Last week I stole a packet of milk buttons. I let my 6 year old scan two packets and a kitkat. Turns out he only scanned one pack successfully. It was busy and I didn't realise until after I'd tapped my card and the amount out that popped up on my phone seemed suspiciously low. Whoops. Next time, I'll be checking his scanning a little more closely.