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AIBU?

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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:
Birdsgottafly · 19/08/2015 20:07

If your card is declined, or there's an issue with it, the Supermarkets give you 14 days to pay, it happens with petrol, regularly. If you communicate with them, they will give you longer.

I don't eat stuff before I pay for it, but I don't think it's rude, just not ideal, I hate getting a phone call just as I'm getting served, it's just common curtesy.

MyNewAccount · 19/08/2015 20:12

Definitely not rude and definitely not stealing.

I'll sometimes buy a drink and have a swig whilst I'm still shopping. I don't go through the the self scanner though Blush

TravellingToad · 19/08/2015 20:17

Why did PP say you shouldn't handle the card? I don't understand that comment. Why must th customer put it in the card reader themselves?

BoomBoomsCousin · 19/08/2015 20:23

Travelling part of the point of the new chip and pin set up for cards was so the card does not have to leave the customer's hand. Shop staff abusing their possession of cards was a significant source of credit card fraud.

UrethraFranklin1 · 19/08/2015 22:05

why would you be giving her change if she paid by card?
I'm afraid I'd have to file this bone under "things I couldn't possibly care about". I suggest you do the same.

TheImminentGin · 19/08/2015 22:20

This is pretty normal really. I would be very slightly worried on the customers behalf in case their card was declined but otherwise it's fine IMO.

I also don't think being on the phone is too bad if you acknowledge the assistant, make eye contact, make sorry faces etc.

CalleighDoodle · 19/08/2015 22:20

I do it all the time in asda. In fact my ds said he was cold in there last week, he was only in a tshirt as it was much warmer outside the store than in, so i got a jumper from childrens clothing, took the tags off and put the jumper on him. When i was doing self check out at the end i called a worker over and explained and apologised and she told me not to be silly and it was totally fine!

Next week im going to try opening the bottle of wine and enjoy a glass or two
As Im walking around. It might make the whole shopping with two small children experience a little easier.

dustarr73 · 19/08/2015 22:50

I remember when I worked on checkouts the security guard came over and gave a woman a few empty bags.She was feeding her toddler sausages and stuff from the deli and dumped the bags before the checkouts.So they picked them up and gave them back.But she had form.

MARTIN1 · 19/08/2015 23:25

People eat in restaurants all the time before paying, that isn't considered theft

iAmNicolaMurray · 19/08/2015 23:28

I think it's a bit rude to start eating them at the till in the middle of paying but have no problem with people eating or drinking (within reason) as they walk around a supermarket.

My view may be coloured by the fact that I have issues with my blood sugar and sometimes I need to have a sweet drink or some food to make it round the shop.

MammaTJ · 20/08/2015 06:47

Mmmm, chocolate buttons!

An exception should be made for this most irresistible of foods!

MistressMia · 20/08/2015 10:01

It is or was uncouth in a different era.

But times change and we're all much more casual & relaxed now.

For the younger generation it is as normal as the things we do that older generations consider unseemly.

The 16 year old too will be lamenting the lack of manners in the next generation, 20 years hence.

DontHaveAUsername · 20/08/2015 10:08

I don't actually see a problem with this because as long as they are going to pay for it it doesn't matter when they eat or drink it. A couple of weeks ago I went into Tesco to get a drink as I was incredibly thirsty and had drunk most of the bottle of water by the time I got to the checkouts and it actually caused an error (it was self service) because it was expecting that product to weigh heavier than what it did, but the staff member supervising the tills sorted it for me.

TheHouseOnTheLane · 20/08/2015 10:08

Mistress we're not "all" much more casual actually. I would frown on this and bring my DC up to wait patiently when in the shops...they're not allowed to scoff things like that.

I sometimes see it when in the chip shop....someone leaning over the counter to grab a chip from the bag the assistant is preparing for them...ok...it's their chip in a way but for goodness sake! Wait two minutes!

kali110 · 20/08/2015 13:22

I never liked it. Half the time people didnt actually pay for the items consumed.... I can understand diabetics but other people can wait until they've paid surely?
I get headaches if im a bit low on blood sugar but i still wait.

Katie2001 · 20/08/2015 13:26

Calleighdoodle - I wouldn't take the tags off, just in case between doing that and speaking to the supervisor you got spotted by a store detective.

I wouldn't start eating anything I haven't paid for, nor would I go on the phone at the checkout, I think the latter is rude.

Original poster
DieSchottin93 · 20/08/2015 17:40

Ooh didn't think there would be this many replies!! Grin Mostly because I either kill threads or get about two replies

For the people saying maybe she is diabetic, would it be unreasonable of me to think a quick explanation/apology would be polite in those circumstances? OK so someone with diabetes might not like to advertise the fact but surely a "sorry, I have to eat something for health reasons" would be polite? Or am I just being even more unreasonable because I find eating food in a shop before paying for it rude and annoying anyway? Grin

@ MARTIN1 I don't think you can really compare eating a meal in a restaurant to eating a packet of chocolate buttons in a shop, no idea why you chose that as a comparison Hmm
@ UrethraFranklin1 sorry I should have maybe been more clear here, people do the same thing when paying in cash - they hand over their money and sometimes start munching before I've even put the money in the till Shock

I think I will always find it rude but it has been interesting to read other peoples views :)

OP posts:
MuddlingMackem · 20/08/2015 19:34

YANBU. I think it's really rude too.

Maybe you should have asked for ages of respondents to see if there's an age split. If my kids are eating when we're out I make them wrap it up to go in a shop or make them wait outside to eat whilst I go in. I don't like kids eating in shops, way too messy.

Rhine · 20/08/2015 19:38

I really don't like it when people do this, but I can't really explain why. I suppose it shows a real lack of self control if you can't wait till you've actually left the shop before eating or drinking something.

TheSkiingGardener · 20/08/2015 19:52

I find it rude and uncouth. It's part of the instant gratification, must have it now culture which I abhor.

WhatamessIgotinto · 20/08/2015 19:58

I find it a bit rude, unless of course she had low blood sugars in which case its fine. Who knows.

honestpointofview · 20/08/2015 23:02

Hi Op

I think martin gave the example of a restaurant because some people were saying it was theft because your customer had not yet paid for the item. Also a couple of people said what would have happened if her card had been declined.

Martin was therefore just using the analogy of a restaurant to say it is not theft even though you eat the meal and then pay. Of course in a restaurant the principle (of not paying until after eating) is agreed in advance. The point about cards in a restaurant or in pub when having a tab open is the same though.

My view (having worked in retail for a very long time); honestly if the scheme of things it would not bother me at all. Don't think it is rude; i could list all the things i do think are!

Scarydinosaurs · 20/08/2015 23:09

I think it's so rude, eating whilst walking about is rude though, I always try and sit when I want to eat when out. Sometimes you can't avoid it, however I always feel guilty if I do.

WicksEnd · 20/08/2015 23:15

Just to clear up the diabetic angle! If she was diabetic, chocolate isn't a good hypo treatment as it doesn't raise blood glucose fast enough. If she was hypo, it's highly likely she'd have been feeling so rough and spaced out she'd have headed for the jelly babies in the corner until her levels were back up and not been capable of paying for them until she'd eaten them.

So, in short, not diabetic just lacking in manners!

23jumpstreet · 20/08/2015 23:16

Mine eat their way around the supermarket I pay for it all and always make sure I have cash it keeps th quite while I shop

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