to think that things in your supermarket trolley aren't yours until you have paid for them

[jandymaccomesback]

This morning in Tesco we kept passing a womanwith a child in a trolley. We first saw her in fruit and veg, as she peeled a banana and handed it to the child. Next time we saw her the child was eating from a packet of cheese strings. Finally we saw her opening a carton of juice. All of these things came off the shelf. DH was so enraged he wanted to tell the staff, but I persuaded him not to. To me this is wrong, even if you intend to pay,and definitely gives a message to the child that she can help herslf. AIBU?

[MsScarlettInTheLibrary]

well technically they aren't, no. But most supermarkets don't mind at all. Ask them. There are lots and lots of things we consume before paying for - and if for some reason you cannot then pay there are arrangements which can be made for you to do so. It is not the end of the world.

On the other hand, things in your stomach are yours whether you ever intended to pay for them or not

[HeadfirstForHocusPocus]

"so enraged"

Seriously, he needs to get a grip.

[reelingintheyears]

Bloody hell...call the Police?!

[TheOriginalFAB]

As long as you pay, it is fine. I was told they would rather I ate something and then paid than struggled on and fainted while pregnant.

If the bananas are pay by weight she was stealing though.

[Arion]

Oh, and it's self preservation for me to a certain extent, twice I've got to the checkout and found no purse in my bag ( and that was pre-pregnancies! )

Just no hope for me really

[reelingintheyears]

Thingumy....were you in the trolley being pushed home after a night out?

And,no,it wouldn't surprise me!

[LadyEvilEyes]

My ex used to do this. It didn't bother me TBH though I've never done it myself.
Your DH being enraged is a bigger problem.
How does he behave when something serious happens?

[AisforAcorn]

It probably is wrong.

But really,in the grand scheme of things, does it actually matter?

[ednurse]

I think it's fine for things in packets/multipacks if you scan the empty pack at the checkout. However I think its wrong to be eating weighed items before paying.

[CheeseandGherkins]

"Strong set of morals" and "bananas" wouldn't usually feature in the same sentence for me.

[Thingumy]

hahahaha @ cheese

[Roseflower]

Depends what you plan to do with the banana doesn't it cheese?

[Sirzy]

Generally I take things for ds, sometimes I forget. This week he was thirsty, I was buying a pack of the my5 drinks so I gave him one. Still paid for it at the end and it was much better than people having to listen to a screaming 23 month old!

[akaemmafrost]

You and your dh should mind your own business. Your dh sounds like a nutter tbh. Did he have a bright red furious face because he was so "enraged"? What a tool.

[Hungrydragon]

I have been known to give dd a packet of raisins or biscuits out multipacks on a big shop, however I am very paranoid so always check I've got enough money in my wallet to cover it, just in case.

I think if your dh was actually enraged you should really leave him at home when you shop

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Oh honestly... I can just about get that a child might be quieter with something stuffed in its mouth... but an adult who can't get through a shop without eating? Really? If they're that 'starving', wouldn't they eat before they go?

It's the people who trough their way around the shop (possibly in pyjamas and dirty slippers) who spoil it for the delicate grazers, maybe...

[goinggetstough]

I had a friend who was a supermarket manager and he said they lost thousands of pounds through "grazing" (yes there is a technical term for it!).

Sorry I am in the camp that agrees with the OP's husband. Children can learn that you don't eat it unless you have paid for an item in a shop.

[reelingintheyears]

'What a tool'...i love that expression!

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Eeek... that was supposed to be [grin ] not

[mrsscoob]

Do you have children yourself OP?

If your DH had told the staff they wouldn't have done anything and just thought him a bit of a twat I suspect! They wouldn't do anything as long as the items are paid for.

[HeadfirstForHocusPocus]

Also it must have taken some time to eat the banana, then the cheese strings, then the juice, was your dh stalking the poor woman in an enraged state?

Did she give the child an after eight to finish off the meal?

[LadyEvilEyes]

at Lying witch.
I did wonder about the gin.

[TheControversialJessie]

Not really something to be enraged about, unless perhaps the banana was from a bunch that would have been sold by weight!

Before you ask, I've only ever opened food once without having already paid for it, and I made sure it was something that wasn't sold by weight. Amusingly enough, when the absolute bastards in front holding up the queue had finally been served, the check-out assistant didn't realise it was me who had opened the multi-pack and offered to change it! I owned up, and she looked at me in a rather puzzled manner.

[CheeseandGherkins]

Roseflower I'm not sure I want to consider anything else that you'd do with a banana :o

[BoffinMum]

Actually, it's not a crime unless the person doing it intends to deprive the store of payment, so the police couldn'd do anything.

Nor does it matter in the slightest unless the store loses money.