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

[lastfanjoinparis]

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?

Oh. OP... after all that, there are people who still just don't care. Will nobody think of the supermarkets?

All that typing. For nothing.

Seriously though, this is just one of those many polarising questions leading to pretty much black and white opinions. That's ok, isn't it? We don't all have to think the same and nobody's making anybody else do anything or change their behaviour in any way, are they?

The thread's obviously interesting to get as many responses as it did so it's a subject that has some sort of strong opinions on both 'sides'.

One thing I've always liked about posting on MN is that you can hotly debate a topic on one side and posters disagree with you, and then happily be firmly on the same 'side' on another topic.

Nobody really thinks anything derogatory of a poster based on which side of an opinion they hold about something that isn't exactly going to set the world on fire, do they?

Eating in the street is something I would never do. Firstly, my gran(s) would have slapped my legs and, even though they've both gone now, I would fear a slapping from beyond... secondly, I would fall flat on my face, there's just no way I could co-ordinate walking and eating (or drinking).

Hope everyone had a nice Easter break.

, more

I do it from time to time.
And I really fail to see how it has any effect on other people. How does me doing this actually affect you? I don't eat crumbly messy things. I pay at the till. I am a bit at a loss as to why it bothers people so much.

Does it bother you what people buy in the supermarket? Does it bother you what meals others order when you are out for lunch?

Is eating in the street as bad as smoking in the street? Or going out in the street with wet hair? Is there a hierarchy of things we should and shouldn't do in the street?

Both R and UNR

It's not a big deal. As long as you pay there's no issue.

I don't get why people want to do this. I understand it if you have something like diabetes, or if you're in a tearing hurry - but in that case why not plan ahead? But if you have three normal meals a day, why do you need to graze when out shopping?

Is eating in the street as bad as smoking in the street? Or going out in the street with wet hair?
Smoking in the street is bad because inevitably someone will be stuck behind you, inhaling your fumes.
On a completely unrelated note, a woman came to my wedding with wet hair. I found that really strange.

Because on MN, Ici, it's compulsory to snack your way through the day. If you or your dc go longer than 10 minutes without a snack, terrible, terrible things will happen to you

Anna, thanks for explaining the theft thing for the millionth time; can't people read?

Manners is ettiquette. Yours are disgusting. Yes, I am better than people who eat in supermarkets and yes, I am judging you.
That's fucking hilarious. And no, as MrsDeVere kindly points out, manners and etiquette are not the same thing, and this post is a fantastic example of how someone can be well versed in etiquette and still display no manners at all.

Nobody's imposing anything, Anna on this thread

No online grocery shopping mrsfrumble! I feel your pain.

I don't use hand sanitiser or wash fruit and veg either (unless actual mud still attached). Kids are never ill.

I really don't think it matters as long as it's paid for. There are far more important things to get your knickers in a twist about.

I purchased some pick and mix nuts today. The ones where you scoop them from a 'bin' and pay at the check out. I thought of MN as I walked round the supermarket eating them and putting the empty packet on the conveyor belt with the rest of the groceries.

I wouldn't do it, it seems a bit disrespectful somehow. Stores have people employed to spot shoplifters and you'd be unnecessarily taking up their time if they had to worry about whether you were going to ditch the empty packaging before paying. (Which I realise some people might find an odd thing to worry about, btw.)

I don't think it is yours to eat until it is paid for.
You wouldn't go round Boots slavering your hands in handcream before you pay, or put on a pair of new socks in MandS before you pay for them - there really is no difference.

I think people allow their children to eat to keep them quiet in the shop. If there is genuine hunger, perhaps they could have a snack before entering the shop. If it is just boredom, well perhaps they just need to learn to sit in the trolley for 40 minutes - take a small toy for them to fiddle with instead. Regarding adults, there is absolutely no reason why any healthy adult cannot wait an hour for food or a drink.

Isn't it basic manners really? Not yours to eat until it is paid for.

The only time ive ever done it was when my eldest was 7mo & shed run out of juice and was thirsty. I opened the baby juice put it in her cup then put the empty juice bottle in the trolley! I was actually praised by a member of staff for not just dumping it. i wouldnt do it often - only if very necessary

The only thing I find disgusting here is a bunch of people getting wound up over such a silly thing.

Entertaining read, loving the sarcasm and the genuine replies!!

Personally, I have never done it myself, and think that adults (unless they have good reason) should be able to wait. I will buy something and eat it in the car, but not in the supermarket or before I have paid for it.

However, I don't have an issue with young children eating something. I have seen babies chewing on a breadstick on many occasions, and if it keeps them occupied then great. I have yet to experience shopping with young children, but I would probably give them a bit of bread to chew on if they were causing havoc. As pps have mentioned, I'm very wary of taking my own snacks, or even food items I have bought in another shop, into a supermarket. I have never been challenged about it, but I'm always a bit scared someone's going to confront me and I won't be able to prove it wasn't stolen!

Regarding the supermarket worker thanking you for putting your empty drink carton on the conveyor belt to pay - it just shows how low supermarkets expectations of customers are, doesn't it. I expect they have seen all kinds of horrible, anti-social behaviour, from outright stealing, to people dumping half eaten McDonalds around the store and half eaten products that they sell as well as empty packets. They are not surprised to find empty packets of goods consumers have eaten on the way round (?hich can only be described as theft). It surprises me that they don't have signs up saying 'please don't eat the produce until you have paid for it'.

I wonder if people who do this, would also do it whilst in a smaller shop or an independent supermarket? What would people tell their children about paying for goods before eating them?

I think it is a sign of declining standards socially - lots of people will laugh and say I am old fashioned and it doesn't mean this at all, but socially acceptable behaviour is made up of a variety of small behaviours and in my mind, this is one of them. The fact there is even a debate about it shows attitudes changing.

It's interesting isn't it - I bet very few of our grandparents or even parents would have done it, totally regardless of social class.

As someone who worked their way through uni on a supermarket till I think it's rude and greedy and setting a terrible example to your kids. There is no reason why you can't wait 20 mins until you have paid for said items.

I used to thoroughly judge anyone coming through my till giving me empty packets. You don't own it until you've paid for it. The same as people feeding their kids grapes as they go around the store. Absolute theft as they are a weighted item so you will not be paying for what you've eaten.

Have some decorum.

I've given very young toddlers something. I'm sure seeing them eat is preferable to listening to them scream bloody murder!

And I've had water before, when I thought I was about to faint from thirst. Otherwise I wouldn't, but I don't know if I'd care if others did.

I've always fed DS before we've gone shopping, or told him he can wait. Enforced this since he was a baby, and never had any problems.

Have some decorum.

Is it the eighteenth century?

Finally, I suppose if supermarkets are 'happy' to allow it to happen, then it is okay, in technical terms, if not socially the best.
Are there any supermarket workers on the thread, who can say what the official line on it is?

I guess no supermarket is going to publically advocate eating the produce before paying (and this in itself should make people consider what that is, and how that affects whether it is acceptable or not) but I assume that they accept it is an unfortunate thing they just have to allow these days. If it is a grey area, how does one judge the difference between eating a packet of crisps or a read stick, compared to eating 5 items on the way round?

I suspect I could eat a packet of crisps on my round the supermarket and no-one would accost me and accuse me of stealing - but I would feel uncomfortable and actually self indulgent. I don't think there is a need for me to indulge myself in this way, when I can eat the crisps in 45 minutes time, when they are actually mine. To my mind, eating going round is indicative of unnecessary self indulgence - but many people feel entirely entitled to indulge themselves in whatever they like,wherever they like. Perhaps they consider 'would the supermarket appreciate me doing this' but perhaps they don't.