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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's really rude when customers do this?

65 replies

DieSchottin93 · 19/08/2015 18:29

At the moment I'm working in a small-ish convenience store, and while working today I served a girl, probably about 16. She bought a fizzy drink and a packet of chocolate buttons, I scanned everything, told her how much it was and she gave me her card to put into the card reader. However just as I was putting her card into the reader she opened her packet of chocolate buttons and started eating them!! Is it just me who finds it really rude when customers start eating their purchases before you've even given them their change? It happens quite frequently where I work, are they seriously so hungry that they can't wait another few seconds?!? Angry

OP posts:
happymummyone · 19/08/2015 18:31

I wouldn't do it.

GarminGirl · 19/08/2015 18:32

You shouldn't be handling her card! She needs to put it in the reader herself

beachdays · 19/08/2015 18:34

It wouldn't bother me at all, I genuinely can't see what's rude about this!

Bearsbeets · 19/08/2015 18:35

I wouldn't do it and I do wonder what would happen if there was an issue with the card/reader where the payment couldn't be processed!

DextersMistress · 19/08/2015 18:36

Well, considering they're weren't paid for she shouldn't be doing it. Wouldn't say it was rude as such.

FenellaFellorick · 19/08/2015 18:38

I suppose you could not hand them over when scanned but put them in a bag and hold onto them until the transaction is complete, If it bothers you?

DeeWe · 19/08/2015 18:41

Not something I would worry too much on.

Penfold007 · 19/08/2015 18:41

Technically what she did is theft. She hadn't actually paid for the goods and neither of you actually knew the payment would go through and legally she can't assume you are actually prepared to sell the goods.

That said yes it's a lack of manners but I wouldn't get het up about it.

Fluffyears · 19/08/2015 18:43

DP does this with drinks. The best laugh was in M&S he went through self checkout and the bottle weight was wrong as he'd drank some and there was no assistant to reset machine. I just left him to it.

80sMum · 19/08/2015 18:47

I used to have a friend who would grab a bag of crisps as soon as she got into the supermarket, open the bag and give it to her toddler DS in the trolley seat, to keep him occupied munching crisps while she shopped! At the checkout, she would hand over the empty (and usually slightly spitty) packet to be scanned, explaining that DS had already eaten them!

tametempo · 19/08/2015 18:48

There was a thread like this recently about people eating while they go round the supermarket before they've paid for it.
I'm with you OP, YANBU! Grin

temperato · 19/08/2015 18:52

Maybe she was diabetic and her blood sugar level was low

Sazzle41 · 19/08/2015 18:55

I don't see that it matters as long as they can pay for it. The customer is always right is what i was taught growing up. I see people wandering round all the time eating stuff before paying and doing with whingeing kids what 80smum said. I've never done it but i have been ravenous and opened stuff the minute i walked away from the till.

Hamishandthefoxes · 19/08/2015 18:56

I don't think it's really rude. Possibly a bug less than ideal behaviour, but not something I'd get judgy about.

TeenAndTween · 19/08/2015 19:00

I was brought up that you don't eat in shops, full stop. actually that you don't eat on the streets either, but I ignore that

If my DD's are having a snack whilst out, I always make sure they have finished it or put it away before letting them into shops.

I am always Shock at some parents who even let kids wander round whilst eating things like ice creams!

helenahandbag · 19/08/2015 19:29

My friend's mum (who is like my second mum) eats bags of sweets as she walks around the supermarket and hands over the packet to be scanned. It's bad enough doing this for your child but a grown woman doing it is quite another!

Bellebella · 19/08/2015 19:34

Not really sure on this one, I worked in a supermarket for 5 years and most of the staff never minded being handed a empty packet if a child had been eating around the store. However at 16, and as a adult I would always wait until I paid for the shopping.

scarletforya · 19/08/2015 19:35

No it's not rude. I can't see the problem.

BreadPitt · 19/08/2015 19:37

I have a relation who works security for a supermarket. One week they had a lady fill a bag with grapes ( not the pre packed ones) and eat them as she went round. She was somewhat shocked when she got to the till and was handed another full bag of grapes to be weighed to counter what she'd eaten.

She was told in no uncertain terms that should she be caught doing it again she would be detained for theft.

Spilose · 19/08/2015 19:38

My OH is diabetic and one day stupidly DIDNT do this. He passed out and knocked himself out on the counter.

Typically it is rude though

DoJo · 19/08/2015 19:42

I probably wouldn't do it, but I don't see how it's rude.

GirlOverboard · 19/08/2015 19:56

Technically what she did is theft.

I don't think you can commit theft until you've left the premises can you? Plus she wasn't intentionally trying to deprive the shop of the goods - she was fully intending to pay for them. But yes it is rude and I wonder what would happen if her card had been declined. My debit card is always playing up on me.

fuzzywuzzy · 19/08/2015 20:02

Does consuming goods on the premises count as still being on the premises?

fuzzywuzzy · 19/08/2015 20:02

Count as in the goods do they count as still being on the premises?

mamasilla · 19/08/2015 20:04

Not rude