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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think eating products before you pay for them at the till is uncouth?

730 replies

lastfanjoinparis · 04/04/2015 21:46

OH and I disagree. He thinks eating a packet of crisps then handing the empty packet over at checkout to scan is perfectly acceptable but I think this is a no-no.

Where do you guys sit on this matter?

OP posts:
ThursdayLast · 05/04/2015 13:03

Dear god won't someone stop the CULTURE OF SNACKING ShockShockShock

Deriding folks for feeling hingry between meals is weird.

limitedperiodonly · 05/04/2015 13:04

I also while away the time at the busy checkout on a Saturday by flipping through my Daily Mail while it's on the conveyor belt.

This annoyed someone yesterday because he couldn't get his shopping on immediately.

He didn't say anything but he tutted and when I looked up, gave me a real Paddington hard stare.

comingintomyown · 05/04/2015 13:11

Actually that's true what checkout person wants to be handling food packing that's been slobbered over and warm to the touch - yuk

I agree with those saying it's indicative of an overall change of attitude in society , in years gone by you would never have seen someone crack open a pack of digestives and start handing them around their family. Funnily enough DC used to go around the shop perfectly happily without needing to be handed an endless stream of snacks like so many on here seem to be saying.

Sparklingbrook · 05/04/2015 13:16

You take the baguette out of the wrapper and place the wrapper in the bottom of the trolley. Give baby baguette to chew on.

No slobber for till person when pristine, cold wrapper is scanned.

Better still use the serve yourself tills with the conveyors and scan it yourself.

I have never seen a family crack open a packet of biscuits and hand them round. My 'endless snacking' was confined to a small DS chewing bread.

terrible I know. Grin

nochocolateformepleaseiwantgin · 05/04/2015 13:17

uncouth is my word of the day.

Yes I think it is vulgar walking around store eating. Can folk really not wait thirty minutes or so?

I worked in a supermarket for years. One position was on the hot chiclent counter. The occasional customer wouldt request extra napkins and for the label to be stuck on the back as they were eating it going around the store. I said no and that they needes to pay for their chicken first. many still did it going by the amount of discarded emptyt chicken bags in the shop

I don't do it. Would rather do a speed shop than saunter around nibbling at grapes.

Pointlessfan · 05/04/2015 13:20

It is uncouth plus those trolly handles are ridden with nasty germs - I saw a programme last year where they swabbed them and found faecal matter as well as that nasty bug from raw chicken. No way I'd eat whilst pushing the trolly!

Pointlessfan · 05/04/2015 13:22

Riddled not ridden!

limitedperiodonly · 05/04/2015 13:32

Never mind eating in supermarkets.

My dad pinpointed the breakdown in civilisation as we know it to 1934 when Clark Gable undressed in It Happened One Night and revealed he wasn't wearing a vest.

Overnight, young men threw off their vests, my dad included.

It's all been downhill since then.

CadMaryzCremeEggzAreASwizz · 05/04/2015 13:34

Oooh, vulgar Grin

Is that a step down up from uncouth?

ScotsWhaHae · 05/04/2015 13:38

Meh. Kids under 5, fine. Adults? Nah.

AGirlCalledBoB · 05/04/2015 13:51

Not really ever had to do it, it does not take us too long to shop and with toddler ds he always has one snack or more in his bag.

I have worked in a supermarket and opened packets for toddlers never used to bother us.

PunkrockerGirl · 05/04/2015 14:08

Some people take the product out of the packaging before giving it to their dc, Sparkling. Believe me,there's many who don't.

Justusemyname · 05/04/2015 14:10

I've only ever done it once and it was when I was pregnant and feeling very sick and dizzy. I figured they'd rather I ate first, paid later than collapsed on their floor. I told the till worker as soon as I got to the till and she seemed fine with it.

Binkybix · 05/04/2015 14:14

It probably is a bit uncouth for adults but I don't really care. If I really wanted to eat/drink something whilst there I would.

One of my happiest childhood memories is sitting in the trolley with my little chocolate milkshake whilst my mum shopped. No harm done.

EastMidsMummy · 05/04/2015 14:19

Uncouth is exactly the right word for it. Who needs to eat in a shop unless you have a medical emergency?

I also think it's a terrible lesson to teach a child: firstly, that you should guzzle something down before it's yours and you've paid for it and secondly, that if you make enough fuss and noise, you will be immediately indulged.

XLIX · 05/04/2015 14:21

Damn, you all have loads of time on your hands to be so concerned about what, where, when and how other eat and shop. I get in, buzz about the market and leave as fast as possible. Could not be bothered in the slightest if some person devoured an entire boiled dinner in the meats section.

Sparklingbrook · 05/04/2015 14:23

As I said upthread my one year old DS was allowed to nibble on a breadstick. He is now 15 and perfectly capable of waiting and doesn't make fuss and noise at all. So no harm done.

This thread is hilarious though. V entertaining for a Sunday afternoon.

Binkybix · 05/04/2015 14:35

I didn't make a fuss to get my chocolate milk when I was younger. My mum just did it as a little treat and it became something we did.

I manage to exercise some self control now - I don't snatch food off people in restaurants for example Grin

Sparklingbrook · 05/04/2015 14:40

Bet you do Binky, Shock Grin

Starlightbright1 · 05/04/2015 14:45

I have never noticed adults eating in supermarkets..however I can't say I bother looking either.

My Ds was given food when small. Not now he is old enough at 7 to wait.

shadowfax07 · 05/04/2015 14:46

Those of you who give your children grapes, etc, do you then take the fruit home and wash it? I've always wondered.

Dognado · 05/04/2015 14:48

I wonder exactly how many of the people that are happy to eat in the supermarket care about the Traumatised Women Against Thieved Snacks brigade? I estimate 0%.

OnlyLovers · 05/04/2015 14:53

Uncouth? Greedy? Ill mannered?

Hilarious.

I sometimes eat a bag of crisps on my way round the supermarket. No one has clutched their pearls or wept. Not in front of me anyway. Maybe they come home and talk about it on Mumsnet.

Stinkylinky · 05/04/2015 14:55

I've been known to do this with bottled water when in the supermarket if I start to feel a bit dehydrated, wouldn't do it with food though

chickenfuckingpox · 05/04/2015 14:59

nope i teach my children not to eat till its paid for i leave the aisle where they would get something till last and to be honest i dont care if the baby screams for something my card might be declined at the till which would make me a thief i might not have money to cover the purchases

they have to learn NO!