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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:
molyholy · 04/04/2015 22:00

I have to admit that on a couple of occasions when I have been shopping and felt dehydrated with a hangover, I have opened some dom simon to guzzle and then handed a near empty bottle in when paying Blush. But I wouldn't do it with food.

tametempo · 04/04/2015 22:01

I'm surprised supermarkets don't implement a ban on it (although maybe awkward to enforce) because surely there is no guarantee you will pay for it. Card declined etc..

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2015 22:01

We used to let DS1 chew on a bread stick while he was sat in a trolley as we could do the shopping in peace.
On balance I would rather see a happy baby chewing on bread then a screechy one.

But they are teens now and there is no need for it.

shouldnthavesaid · 04/04/2015 22:01

Done it once during a very heavy period in mid summer - had a bottle of lucozade - wouldnt usually as it just seems odd.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 04/04/2015 22:02

Generally I would avoid doing it, but I've also had the blood sugar incident and had somewhat inelegantly bite open a packet of Fruit Pastilles before I hit the floor. The manager was lovely and sat me down in the cafe with a nice cup of tea and took care of my shopping whilst I recovered.

The woman on the check out said she'd noticed me a few minutes before and recognised the signs, made me think it's not a particularly rare occurrence.

Anyway, yes to letting children read comics before getting the till, no to food. Generally speaking anyway. As ever, there will be reasonable exceptions.

Alisvolatpropiis · 04/04/2015 22:02

YANBU.

Salmotrutta · 04/04/2015 22:02

I don't quite grasp why anyone would think this was okay (diabetic emergencies aside) and I don't think I've ever observed this in a supermarket Confused.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 04/04/2015 22:04

Toddlers fine, but not adults. Yonks ago, I saw a very posh-voiced woman in M&S get accosted by the security guard who politely asked her to pay first (presumably they'd had people nicking things), and she went ballistic. It was all very amusing (if you live a sad and empty life, as I do).

Plateofcrumbs · 04/04/2015 22:06

Our Waitrose has a little seating area at the back where you can hang out and drink your free coffee and read your free newspaper - I often grab a snack to eat with it and then present the packaging at the till.

I've only eaten anything just wandering round the store on a couple of occasions when I was really wobbly with hunger.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 04/04/2015 22:10

Shouldnthavesaid... I'm boggling at the relevance of the Lucozade bottle. Confused

Re: diabetics, all the ones I'm aware of know they are diabetic and made provision for that. I really don't think it's an excuse and I bet they aren't the ones scoffing their way around the shop.

lomega · 04/04/2015 22:10

All this aside, it's not good for your bank balance to go shopping when you're hungry Grin

daffsandtulips · 04/04/2015 22:11

Sounds like the OP is either an arse and believes such a thing or is being a goady cow Grin

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 04/04/2015 22:12

Why is OP an arse? It's a valid question and she's not the one being unreasonable and I'd rather be a goady cow than a greedy one. Wink

MamaLazarou · 04/04/2015 22:13

Not something I would usually do unless in an emergency. I did once open a bottle of water and swig from it when I was heavily pregnant and there was a very long queue.

I don't feel strongly enough about it to disapprove of others doing it, though.

tobytoes · 04/04/2015 22:14

Wow can't believe all the comments. What's the big deal? My daughter is 2 and we end up opening something on every single shopping trip. Can't see the problem really

Original poster
lastfanjoinparis · 04/04/2015 22:16

I think its important to teach kids to wait for their food, that there is a system in place. Its part of their education, surely?

Or bring your own snacks

OP posts:
JeanneDeMontbaston · 04/04/2015 22:16

That's a bit like saying, sometimes I slip my shopping into my pockets as I go instead of taking a carrier basket - I know I plan to pay for it in the end so why shouldn't I?

Nanny0gg · 04/04/2015 22:16

Now there are self-service tills I have been known to quickly go and pay for a bottle of water or something there if I've been desperately thirsty sometimes.

No need to drink/eat first and pay later.

usualsuspect333 · 04/04/2015 22:17

As long as you pay for it I don't really care.

18yearstooold · 04/04/2015 22:17

I did with a drink when I had morning sickness -they let me have it for free after I threw up in the aisle, sorry morrisons staff

But when I was working in a checkout many moons ago, someone did it with a tube of Pringles and then his card was declined

I believe that's called theft

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2015 22:18

DS at age one wouldn't know whether the bread stick he was chewing on was brought from home or not.

He's 15 now and seems ok waiting for food so no harm done there. Grin

gamerchick · 04/04/2015 22:18

I'm a no. Not even for a child. Take some food in for them if they're prone ffs!

usualsuspect333 · 04/04/2015 22:18

I've drank a bottle of water in the supermarket when I've been hungover thirsty.

Sparklingbrook · 04/04/2015 22:20

Taking your own snacks into a supermarket could go a bit wrong couldn't it? You could be accused of not paying for them for a start. Confused

Rainicorn · 04/04/2015 22:20

Depends, are we talking unweighed grapes?