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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:
SoonToBeSix · 05/04/2015 02:04

Yabu op, you just come across as a snob.

slithytove · 05/04/2015 02:14

I work in retail
Our rule for dealing with shoplifters is its only theft once they've left without paying.

I am one of the uncouth ones giving a toddler a banana

AmIthatHot · 05/04/2015 02:15

YA so NBU. I love the word uncouth.

A "snob" is something totally different

Mumsnet has regular threads about this, but I think the majority agree with you

soapboxqueen · 05/04/2015 02:33

I personally wouldn't eat before paying but my 2 year old has her biscuit from the bakery counter and we pay at the end.

I felt bad doing it initially because it's so ingrained that you don't eat in the supermarket. Then I thought, I can't take my eldest to the supermarket because he's autistic. My dd has to go, even if she's tired and ratty etc because everything revolves around ds. There are things she doesn't get to do or has to put up with that I can't do much about.

So if she wants to eat a fucking Easter biscuit in the supermarket she can.

She also has the counter staff at the bakery very well trained. They know to put her biscuit in a separate paper bag and to put the price label on the back so it's s easier to scan Grin

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 05/04/2015 03:35

Never done It for myself. But I have for dd when she's been little.
You know those moments when you've been working all day. You're tired. They're mithering. I'm hungry. I'm thirsty. Can I have. CAn I wAnt. Half the time it's the only way to get round the shops in peace.
I take the easy way out, so sue me.

Athrawes · 05/04/2015 04:15

Seriously! I can't believe how uptight you all are. I would never eat something like a banana or grapes which depend on weight, but a hot cross bun from a six pack when I have been teaching without break all day and have picked up my child and am doing the shopping on the way home, yes I will. I'd never eat the pick and mix.
My kid will eat a capsicum on the way round the shop, I show them the stalk at the end and pay.

RL20 · 05/04/2015 04:28

I remember doing this with sweets when I was a kid, whoops!
The only similar thing I have done in adulthood was just the other week doing the food shop in Asda (whilst around 36 weeks pregnant) I started to feel a bit ill and dizzy and knew I needed a drink so I had one of the cans that I had in my trolley.
I did still scan the empty can at the end though! A lot of people wouldn't have! Grin

Mrsstarlord · 05/04/2015 05:37

I still think that its uncouth and if the only comeback people have is that people who think this are snobs or have a rod up their arse, frankly it confirms the point perfectly.
It's on a par with throwing MacDonalds rubbish out of a car window IMHO. Demonstrates a fuck everyone else, I'm more important / more cool than you attitude because I can't be arsed with social convention.

Gralick · 05/04/2015 05:55

I think it's uncouth and I do it Grin I have very unstable energy levels and fairly often need to eat something immediately. If I can get through checkout without eating it, I will but then I eat it outside, which is also uncouth.

It's not the same as chucking rubbish out of the car, starlord! That creates an environmental problem for others to clear up. My chomping on a mini pie might offend your sensibilities, but doesn't cause any damage.

Bifflepants · 05/04/2015 06:00

I think it's absolutely fine and I have no idea why anyone would get their knickers in a twist about it. Who gives a shit if some people think it's uncouth? And why would they? As long as you pay for it, all good.

comingintomyown · 05/04/2015 06:06

YANBU it's fine on paper but when I actually see people opening packets of stuff to eat I think it looks unattractive

Mrsstarlord · 05/04/2015 06:41

I realise the environmental impact, that's not what I was referring to. I was referring to the mindset that it's ok to do whatever you want immediately rather than wait. That sense of immediate gratification and lack of awareness or consideration of social convention.
People do have to clean up after people who eat before paying in supermarkets too though. Not one person has been brave enough to admit it on here but there are people who eat fruit and leave the waste, eat packets of crisps and leave the empty packet, eat chicken and leave the bloody bones! But even if the waste left isn't that obvious, I've yet to meet anyone who can eat French bread without leaving crumbs everywhere. It's indicative of a wider fuck you, I'm more important mentality, and it is uncouth.
With the obvious disclaimer that unless there is a genuine medical emergency (not my blood sugar's a bit low because I didn't think to eat anything before I came out)

Gralick · 05/04/2015 06:54

Thanks for your reply, starlord. So you're saying it's inconsiderate because you don't like to see evidence of my animalistic, uncontrolled appetite for a pork pie in the supermarket?

I never realised I was such a wild thing.

Lovemylittlebear · 05/04/2015 07:00

It's uncouth but I would do it anyway if my toddler was hungry and I was out of options. As long as you make sure you pay and try not to give something messy....

doobeedee · 05/04/2015 08:09

Why do so many people think this is ok. Until you've paid, the food is NOT YOURS!!!

tobysmum77 · 05/04/2015 08:13

People think it is ok because the supermarkets (whose food it is prior to buying it) don't object.

Yes, I do it with my toddler sometimes. Its generally to avoid treating the whole store to tantrums over sitting in the trolley. So shoot me.

I wouldn't do it as an adult but it isn't a big deal either.

tobysmum77 · 05/04/2015 08:16

haha 'take some food in' well we've run out, that's why I'm in the supermarket Grin

bimandbam · 05/04/2015 08:25

My 15 month old ds thinks Tescos is a buffet.

Cereal bar from a box on the baby food aisle.

Brioche from a multipack on the bread aisle.

Maybe half a banana or a pouch if its a really big shop.

I don't care what anyone else thinks. It's all paid for at the end (except maybe the banana if it weigh ones rather than a pack) but I am sure that Tescos would rather continue to receive my custom at the tune of £120 a week than arrest me for shoplifting.

Artandco · 05/04/2015 08:26

People on here should try online shopping more often. Then you can stuff as much as you like from the comfort of your home

gamerchick · 05/04/2015 08:29

Instant gratification! That's what I was trying to think of last night. It's interesting to see which side is doing the name calling. . Kinda sums up this sort of 'and yes I agree' fuck you attitude people have. Teaching kids that they can help themselves to stuff off a shelf because you do it every time you go shopping is just the message you want to teach.

Mousefinkle · 05/04/2015 08:34

I've done it with a bottle of water a couple of times. Once on a really hot day, I was also seven months pregnant if that helps Wink. The other time when I was about to have a panic attack and for whatever reason water always calmed me down.

When I was a child my mum always used to buy this little net of different cheeses and give my DB and I one each to eat as we went around the supermarket doing our weekly shop so we didn't bug her. I've given my DC an apple for the same purpose before now. I can't say I've ever had an urge to eat walking around the store as an adult though, it can always wait until you get home or at least outside... So yes, uncouth.

Bowlersarm · 05/04/2015 08:43

YANBU, it is uncouth.

That's not to say I haven't done it when my dc were toddlers though. I probably would have called it necessary then Easter Smile

Gralick · 05/04/2015 08:44

Instant gratification Shock What is the world coming to?! We must put a lid on this, or women will be going without corsets before you know it and even consenting to sex before marriage! Then where will we be? The fabric of society's tearing apart, I tell you!

tobysmum77 · 05/04/2015 08:45

gamer helping yourself to stuff off the shelf is exactly what everyone does in the supermarket surely?

I don't understand the name calling comments.

Gralick · 05/04/2015 08:48

helping yourself to stuff off the shelf is exactly what everyone does in the supermarket surely?

I was a bit fuddled by that. I concluded gamer probably shops somewhere with counter service, or sends out the butler.