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AIBU?

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Original poster

People eating food they haven't paid for....

946 replies

maddiemookins16mum · 24/09/2016 23:02

....It just really bugs me. To the point of utter revulsion.
In a supermarket, grown adults opening a pack of 4 pork pies and happily munching their way around the shop, only to toss the empty pack to be scanned as their shopping goes through. Why do people do that, have you ever, and why??? (DD had to wait until the car for her gingerbreadman biscuit from Waitrose).

OP posts:
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5
malificent7 · 25/09/2016 07:35

Typos sorry

StealthPolarBear · 25/09/2016 07:36

I agree I'd love to know if people would openly do this in very small independent food shops. No one has answered yet...

QuodPeriitPeriit · 25/09/2016 07:37

It's like saying you can put in an offer to buy a house, then just move on in before you pay for it.

Yes, and that's not a stupid argument at all! Cos eating a couple of biscuits out of a pack you pay for 5 minutes later is exactly like that.

BertrandRussell · 25/09/2016 07:39

"I agree I'd love to know if people would openly do this in very small independent food shops. No one has answered yet..."

If it was a choice between a screaming child and a quiet one then yes of course I would. Why does it matter what sort of shop?

enolagayits0815 · 25/09/2016 07:39

Grinat the thought of the gingerbread people in wankingmonkey's local bakery, the poor things clearly can't get up to any of the activity that the monkeys can.

Mummyshortlegz · 25/09/2016 07:42

My issue with it is from a checkout operator point of view. I spent years working on tills and it was horrible scanning people's open packets and getting covered in crumbs and grease. Having to explain to them that they've eaten an item that should be weighed was also an issue. I've also had to try and put my children in trolleys covered in crumbs and detritus from previous people's children's and it's just not nice.

GahBuggerit · 25/09/2016 07:42

i dont do it in small shops because ususlly the kids arent with me and if they are were not in there long enough for them to make it a nightmare

malificent7 · 25/09/2016 07:44

Also... why not bring a snack from home to keep them quiet? Alternatively teach them that goods must be paid for before we consume them... if thats a bunch of grapes or a pair of trainers.
Its all part of the instant gratification, i must not say no to the kids culture.

MerchantofVenice · 25/09/2016 07:46

A few of the more stupid things that I've just seen on this thread:

1)'I don't want other people's saliva on food I'm going to buy '

2)'It might be ok for a very small baby.'

  1. This was unheard of 30 years ago.

So...

  1. Whaaaat? Do you think people are licking all the food, or salivating like a feral dog with their face right next to the fresh bread? Get a grip! I'm always baffled by the 'boak' thing about, say, someone touching (whisper it) a pork pie and then touching a fucking trolley. It's as if these people don't ever go into the actual real world, where there are loads of genuinely revolting things - dog shit in the street, bird poo on (yes!) trolleys, kids picking their noses... and you're all upset about some pastry? ?

  2. Err, small babies don't eat solid food. You are, of course, allowed to bf them... is that 'boak' too?

  3. it definitely did happen 30 years ago. Difference is MNetters couldn't get all weird about it.

Don't get me wrong - I generally don't do it, but I am baffled that people can actually be disgusted by it. It doesn't even make it onto my radar.

dailyarsewipe · 25/09/2016 07:46

Can't we keep kids happy and quiet without food?

If they're hungry, feed them before you go. If they're bored, talk to them, play a game, give them a 'job' - delete according to age of child.

It's not rocket science surely?

Mozfan1 · 25/09/2016 07:48

My grandad used to take me to Safeway(!) when I was a child, he used to pick up a bag of grapes at the beginning of the shop and I used to eat a few on the way round. Scandalous!!!!

BertrandRussell · 25/09/2016 07:49

Because I'd much rather see a child eating a satsuma than being performance parented.

southeastdweller · 25/09/2016 07:49

It's just awful and yes I judge anyone I see doing it. Why can't people wait to get outside to eat?

We had this discussion last year, by the way - I'll try to dig up the thread after I get caffeinated.

StealthPolarBear · 25/09/2016 07:50

I take the point about the length of time you're in the shop but I find it really difficult to believe you'd wander into a bakery, pick up a gingerbread man, eat half and then offer to pay. It's just manners imo.

Mozfan1 · 25/09/2016 07:50

Yes Bertrand!

malificent7 · 25/09/2016 07:52

The peoole defending eating in supermarkets are more het uo tgan op.
Id much rather see a child eating a satsuma than tantruming but said satsuma would be from home... and already paid for... because thats thenormal thing to do
Also the restaraunt analogy dosnt wash. They are a completely different set up.

Nokidslovesitethough · 25/09/2016 07:53

I'm with you op, it's gross and the checkout staff hate it too (I know) it shows a lack of self control and/or the inability to instill patience in kids.

malificent7 · 25/09/2016 07:53

And definately manners. Teaching kids manners is an important part of parenting.

Mozfan1 · 25/09/2016 07:54

Eating a grape or a satsuma is gross?! LOL.

squiggleirl · 25/09/2016 07:54

I've never really seen adults eating whilst in the supermarket. Kids oof an age where they can sit in trollies, all the time!

Here though, it is perfectly acceptable. No comments, not muttterings, or visible judging. In fact, I've had more than one older woman suggest as a good distraction whilst going around the supermarket.

Mine were/are all partial to some freshly-baked rolls, Goodies rice cakes, or Alphabet biscuits. Not a biggie.

The supermarket also don't seem to mind, given the manager one day got aforementioned rice cakes off the shelf for me and commented his little fella loved them on a trip round the supermarket too.

This is one of those times when I do wonder why people get so invested in the benign practices of other people. Grand if you think I'm chav, uncouth, or whatever. I'll still think you're bat shit crazy.

malificent7 · 25/09/2016 07:54

More het up than op.. agggggr typos!

Phalenopsisgirl · 25/09/2016 07:55

Can't believe how many think it ok to do this, a supermarket is not a restaurant ( the law has completely different rules regarding goods re services for a start) so it's no comparison. It it totally inappropriate to teach kids that it ok to snack on goods not yet paid for! I don't thinks it's ok to allow a kid to eat anything in a shop, wait until you get to your own car where you are responsible for clearing up their crumbs. It isn't ok to eat stuff until it is your property, end of.

Mozfan1 · 25/09/2016 07:57

Describing it as disgusting though?

Shitting in the street is vile, disgusting...

But eating a piece of fruit or opening a bottle of water isn't disgusting... Surely?!

dailyarsewipe · 25/09/2016 07:58

You do realise that it's possible to do those things in a quiet and discreet way without even impacting on the people around you? You know, like most people do, every day, and have done for years.

I'm not talking about top of your voice 'Henry, lets recite the words of Shakespeare' I'm talking about giving the child each item to put in the trolley (as long as it's not breakable), so they have something to do, or if they're younger tickling their tummy, saying hello, singing daft songs.

Only on Mumsnet can talking to your child be described as performance parenting Hmm

123MothergotafleA · 25/09/2016 07:58

Uuuuuu, so we shop at Waitrose, do we!