Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to give dd food before paying for it?

735 replies

cantsleep · 29/07/2013 22:20

Went to shops today with dcs. Dd was a bit tired and hungry and I wanted to get in and out quickly and home.

She was very hungry and has health issues and needed to eat that minute so I picked something up and let her have it. I have not done this before but couldn't have gone and paid then given it to her and continued shopping as she needed to eat straight away. Usually I have a snack in my bag for her but she had already had that one and I was going to buy more snack bits for her from the shops to replenish the ones I carry for her.

I noticed that a shop assistant was watching us intently and kept seeing her as we went round the shop.

When we got to the till I took the packet off dd for the man to scan and gave it back to her. As we were leaving the member of staff who had been watching approached us with a security guard and asked had we paid for what dd had eaten round the shop. I replied yes we had but she asked to check the receipt which obviously was fine.

She then told me that in future we HAD to pay for food before consuming it. I explained to her that it was a one off as I had run out of snacks I usually carry and dd needed to eat immediately but the security guard said food has to be paid for first.

It wasn't like I do this all the time and tbh as long as the food is paid for does it really matter?

WIBU to have let dd eat her snack before we had paid for it?

OP posts:
BonaDea · 30/07/2013 14:35

To those saying consuming something in a shop is somehow bad manners, I just don't understand this!

I agree that eating a meal such as a sandwich or chips while walking along is not very nice, but cant believe it is considered unacceptable to pick up a nice cold drink on the way into the supermarket and drink it on the way round, paying at the end!

For goodness sake, provided you pay for it, what's the issue?

WorraLiberty · 30/07/2013 14:36

Food shopping for busy parents has never been easier since the birth of the internet.

midori, it teaches them that if they're bored they should have some food to 'occupy' them. If they're about to throw a tantrum they should have some food to 'calm down'. If they're sad they should have some food to cheer them up etc..

These are often habits that adults can't break in later years.

poppingin1 · 30/07/2013 14:36

And there is no obesity in my family thanks.

In fact, as I said, it is nearly impossible to get my DD to eat to begin with.

Also, grazing may not happen in Africa (what a generalisation to make about a whole continent) but people constantly eat on the go and that is very much a cultural norm in many African countries.

Look up Ghana's chop bar's as an example, or the fact that people sell food to passengers in moving cars in may African countries.

This is again because of low wages for long hours of work meaning many people don't have time to make it home or even to the office for set meals in a day.

littlemisswise · 30/07/2013 14:38

Sorry, I don't buy that it's hard to organise the weekly shop. I can't physically do mine on my own without dragging the kids and/or DH there so haven't done it in store for nigh on 9 years. I do mine online. I live in the arse end of nowhere, all major supermarkets deliver here.

poppingin1 · 30/07/2013 14:39

Worra I tried this and was constantly getting food that would go off within two days, or even sometimes one day.

Plus not everyone is computer literate and it is frustrating when people assume that everyone knows how to use a computer or navigate the internet.

Shock, horror, some people don't even own a computer.

HappyMummyOfOne · 30/07/2013 14:39

I never understand why people do it either. If you cant wait for food, then pop through self service or basket checkout and pay first and then do your other shopping at your leisure.

I wouldnt want to teach DS the lesson thats it ok to help yourself in the supermarket and pay at the end, what if the card system is down as it can be on occasions?

poppingin1 · 30/07/2013 14:41

Online shopping is not for everyone.

tittytittyhanghang · 30/07/2013 14:45

Online shopping sucks (for me). I enjoy walking round the supermarket and i grudge paying for delivery. Plus i like to browse the reduced section for bargains.

WorraLiberty · 30/07/2013 14:49

Well I'm guessing the majority on MN know their way round the internet popping

poppingin1 · 30/07/2013 14:52

Yes I'm sure Worra, but the comments up thread are not judging only memebers of MN. They are judging anyone who 'grazes'.

frissonpink · 30/07/2013 14:54

What's this obsession British people have with eating all the bloody time!!

For goodness sake. It's what, an HOUR in the supermarket?

People with kids are seriously incapable of either:

a. Taking their own food in with them

or

b. Letting their children not eat for an hour

YABVVVVU. And I say this as an ex supermarket checkout girl.

Let me tell you - it's a hard job sitting on a till for 6 hours a day. Made much much worse by idiots like you handing disgusting saliva ridden packets etc to me for scanning. Just ewww

You are all being unreasonable, anyone who also thinks this is ok !

midori1999 · 30/07/2013 14:56

Worra does it?! In the case of my children I feel it teaches them that if they're hungry in the supermarket and young enough to not be able to wait for food, they can have a snack. It's not always possible to time supermarket trips when they won't be hungry and as I see no problem with them eating a snack I intend to pay for in the supermarket, I don't overly worry about it.

Mitzyme · 30/07/2013 14:56

I agree with Midori. Surely we are talking about toddlers here.

tittytittyhanghang · 30/07/2013 14:57

Saliva ridden packets? Really? People actually drool over empty packets?

Although if I had to choose between a touching saliva ridden packet for a second or listening to a toddler whinge for an hour, I know which id pick :D

frissonpink · 30/07/2013 14:59

Grin Fine, but that's your child.

I don't want to have to choose thanks if I'm working on a till!

If you think your child is going to whinge all the way round, take your own food that you have actually paid for with you

Simples

Mitzyme · 30/07/2013 15:06

What about all those adults stuffing their faces with hot chicken or was it just the children you didn't approve of.

tittytittyhanghang · 30/07/2013 15:07

Well i wasn't specifically referring to my child, just in general.

FannyMcNally · 30/07/2013 15:10

Lol at being pregnant as an excuse to eat from the shelves! What happens if you get the same cravings going round Next? Do you have a quick gnaw on a pair of leggings?Grin

frissonpink · 30/07/2013 15:11

Oh, it's even worse to see the adults doing it!

Just unreasonable whoever it is Grin (but apparently I'm somewhat in the minority here for thinking this, so I'll go now!)

poppingin1 · 30/07/2013 15:13

Only if they are made from Organic Cotton Fanny.

countrymummy13 · 30/07/2013 15:17

That's terrible! I wouldn't go there again.

I do it all the time in Waitrose and its never, ever a problem.

Emilythornesbff · 30/07/2013 15:19

Good grief.
What an astonishing level of hysterical disapproval about someone else's child eating food when not sitting at a dining table.
It's a wonder anyone's got the energy left for their own business.
Truly.
Do it / don't droit. Find it useful / don't like the look of it.
Surly that's about as excited as anyone needs to become in either direction.
Peace.

Mitzyme · 30/07/2013 15:29

Quite right Emily but it has been fun. Right off to make a cuppa.

Emilythornesbff · 30/07/2013 15:31

Well FFS don't be having a bloody biscuit with it mitzyme
Wait for supper. Grin

Emilythornesbff · 30/07/2013 15:33

Shit. My spelling on that was awful.