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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:
OnlyLovers · 06/04/2015 19:33

just stand still at the counter

Why? Genuine question. What is the difference between picking up a sample and eating it standing still, and picking up a sample and walking a few steps as you eat it?

fakenamefornow · 06/04/2015 19:35

I'm sure I've seen signs in shops asking customers not to eat food before they've purchased it. Do the munchers ignore such signs?

blackheartsgirl · 06/04/2015 19:35

Well that did occur to me afterwards lyinwitch

we went round the corner and had freebie juice as well, it was great, we had lunch on the go..didn't have to feed the kids after all Grin

on a serious note though I wouldn't normally eat in the supermarket myself, I have let the dc on occasion but not when older, I have had a bottle of water though.

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake · 06/04/2015 19:40

In my local supermarket the free samples are given out at little temporary stands in the isles, not at the deli counter, I have never ever seen anyone standing still at the little stall to eat the samples, not one person. So obviously my entire local,population thinks it's ok to munch and shop, and I live somewhere quite posh!

Southeastdweller · 06/04/2015 19:43

Why do I eat samples by the counter? It's because I wasn't brought up to eat in inappropriate places. Supermarket shopping aisles and by the tills being two of them. I don't think it's nice to see, for some people, someone eating in this context.

ThursdayLast · 06/04/2015 19:44

I cannot believe this thread is still going!

I'm going to walk around with some popcorn and continue to enjoy it Wink

McColonel · 06/04/2015 19:44

fakenamefornow - no, if that was specifically asked by a shop i would respect their wishes. Never seen a sign like that in any of the supermarkets i go to though.

ThursdayLast · 06/04/2015 19:45

But samples are never more than one bite! Hardly time consuming!

frog51 · 06/04/2015 19:57

If it isn't paid for, it isn't yours to help yourself to in the first place.

OnlyLovers · 06/04/2015 20:06

If it isn't paid for, it isn't yours to help yourself to in the first place

For the love of God. Unless you're caught trying to walk out the shop without having paid, something that you've eaten but the packaging for which is in your trolley is not something you're trying to steal or 'not yours'.

Southeast, so by your definition supermarket aisles and by the tills are 'inappropriate places' to eat and you 'don't think it's nice to see ... someone eating in this context'.

That's purely subjective and your opinion based on how you were brought up. As PPs have said, it's just some vague notion of 'etiquette'. There's no concrete reason there for it not being OK to eat while walking round a shop.

workadurka · 06/04/2015 20:08

bloody disgusting

What, eating some crisps in public?

Hahahaaaa. This thread is hilarious.

I did this the other day. I was feeling really sick and there was a queue so had a few sips of my drink before scanning it on the self check out tills. Pretty sure no one noticed how uncouth I was.

Southeastdweller · 06/04/2015 20:33

I suppose it is subjective in a sense, but then the vast majority of supermarket shoppers manage not to eat whilst shopping so I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility to suggest that most other people feel the same and conform to this form of etiquette, which clearly isn't vague at all.

tobysmum77 · 06/04/2015 20:51

It's only theft if the owner of it considers it to be so.

I can't believe this is still going 'manage to not eat' warped attitude to food imo.

itsonlysubterfuge · 06/04/2015 20:52

Icimoi I think that Tesco can handle the few pence my daughter bites off the tip of the carrot. Yes she actually is thirsty, don't you get thirsty when you are eating? I think it's ridiculous to tell my daughter she can't have a drink because some person might think she's being uncouth.

lying Do you actually think all people who eat something around a store are greasy, dirty, shoplifters? I've seen loads of horrible people touching/licking/biting bread, and then putting it back on the shelf, is this better or worse than my daughter nicely eating a bread she's picked out,and then us paying for it when we are finished shopping?

There is a store I go to that actually leaves apples out for children to eat around the store while their parents are shopping. Imagine how disgusting that is, disgraceful. They aren't even washed but they are organic!

Only1scoop · 06/04/2015 20:55

The new breed of trolley troughers....does it still count if it's an organic carrot Grin

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 06/04/2015 21:03

itsonly... I don't see a need for it, previous disclaimer excepted. 'Trolley Troughers' is a good term (coined by Only1scoop). I've already said ^^ what I don't like about it.

As for the touching/licking/biting/putting it back on the shelf, it's not a race to the bottom and I'm sure you don't care what other people think of your daughter quietly eating bread. I wouldn't comment, tut, eye-roll or anything else but I still don't think supermarket-scoffing is something to encourage. Bread roll -v- hot deli foods, young children -v- adults; not really the same thing.

The not washing of fruit thing is more of concern as to what's on it rather than anything else.

Chill...

Fullpleatherjacket · 06/04/2015 21:26

Hot greasy chicken wings are now deemed acceptable browsing fodder?

Lordy, this thread takes ever grimmer turns Shock

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 06/04/2015 21:33

I've eaten in a supermarket - those little samples of cheese on a stick/dessert in a tiny pot with an equally tiny spoon etc given out on the stands....so that doesn't count as eating then? That isn't considered uncouth? Surely this blatant eating in the supermarket is being encouraged by the supermarket!
Will no-one speak to them and put a stop to this horror! Ye gods!

Having read this thread I am so tempted to munch my way round the whole supermarket next time...wonder if I could do 3 courses...perhaps some antipasti, main course could be difficult - what's good cold? I suppose I could make a sandwich? all ideas welcome - ready made dessert so that's ok...quite looking forward to it actually Grin

I won't have any grapes though because I won't be able to get rid of all the germs and bacteria unless I run them for 3 seconds under some cold tap water Smile

AwakeCantSleep · 06/04/2015 21:41

Haven't read the entire thread but I did this while I was on a very high dose of corticosteroids. I have never experienced hunger/food craves like this, before or since. Despite having eaten a large breakfast, snack, big lunch, early afternoon snack, and mid afternoon snack I wasn't able to make it to the till with my food shopping (for dinner) without eating a croissant for example. I felt very ashamed. The checkout assistants didn't seem to mind.

By the time I got home I was usually ready to eat a large dinner.

It's a miracle I only put on 6kg over 3 months.

EastMidsMummy · 06/04/2015 21:52

sDeVere Mon 06-Apr-15 17:38:30
I don't need an excuse. I am an adult, with money and if I want to eat whilst shopping I will. It's not against the law and it doesn't impact on others, no more than someone wearing a hideous outfit impacts on me. I might be offended by your dreadful taste in clothes but its none of my business what you wear.

Saying that people who do this eat with their mouths open and drop food etc IS saying ' I am better than people who eat in suoermarkets'. It is creating a picture of slovenly, thoughtless people to fit the idea.
What bollocks.
I can eat in a perfectly polite and clean way whilst going at a normal speed
Then there is this assumption that food us not paid for. Of course it is!
And the Lack of Self Control crap.
I am in control. I have decided to eat now instead of later.
I have tons of self control. I used to fast on a regular basis. My DD used to be nil by mouth every few weeks and until she could eat, I wouldn't have anything. Often that was all day.

This issue isn't about manners. It's about etiquette and outdated social conventions. If you wish to follow them, please do, but don't force them on others pretending it's anything other than personal preference*

Manners is ettiquette. Yours are disgusting. Yes, I am better than people who eat in supermarkets and yes, I am judging you.

IdkickJilliansass · 06/04/2015 21:56

Oh just...who cares?? Life is way too short

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake · 06/04/2015 21:57

I judge people who judge.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 06/04/2015 21:57

Chomping away going around a supermarket is as bad as chomping away in the street - uncouth and not something I would ever do.

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake · 06/04/2015 22:00

Are we not supposed to eat in the street either??

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake · 06/04/2015 22:01

What about on the bus? Surely everyone loves a sandwich on the bus?

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