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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Food samples in supermarket

83 replies

Canshopwillshop · 10/02/2020 17:42

My local supermarket has a sushi counter and the guy who runs it regularly has a stand giving out samples. My DS loves it and the odd time he’s with me he usually asks if it’s ok to take one. I buy the boxes regularly and the sushi guy recognises me.

Tonight we were there after I’d picked DS up from school and DS asked for a sample and the guy was really off with us exclaiming that we should just buy some from the counter. I didn’t want any tonight as it’s usually something we have at weekends but I didn’t think it was a problem for DS to take a sample? Then I thought that maybe the samples are only meant for people who have never tried it before. I don’t think DS will ask again for a sample after tonight but I’m just interested to know if people think we were being cheeky and unreasonable?

OP posts:
Lifeisabeach09 · 10/02/2020 19:03

I don't see the big deal of your DS having a sample. Food samples are a good way to introduce new customers to items but are also great ways to encourage regular customers to keep buying.
The sushi counter chef was BU.

MyFamilyAndOtherAnimals1 · 10/02/2020 19:04

Nahh - he was being an unkind prat. I hate it when certain people have, oddly, too much power.

ultrablue · 10/02/2020 19:10

**36BlueJava

Personally I avoid the sample - how long have they been there, who else has sniffed over them! I think they are there though for people who want to try it for the first time, not just take a sample on the way round.

I used to do food sampling, you have to pass food hygiene to be able to do it. Food is prepared in small samples, so won't be out on display long, if someone got too close to anything on display I'd bin it. I used to clean my display continually for the 8 hours.

I miss that job

Maybe he had been pulled up over giving out too many samples (I don't see how) or perhaps he was being observed.

Sometimes it's outside companies who do the food sampling and not the actual supermarket so if they put a complaint in against him it could stop him being given work. You don't automatically get given jobs for sampling you have to apply against other people who work for the company, you are not always an employee but work on a self employed basis

AhoyMrBeaver · 10/02/2020 19:19

I think supermarket samples are intended for those who are wanting to taste something new, to promote new custom. It's perhaps a bit greedy to treat it as a snack stop.

GiveHerHellFromUs · 11/02/2020 06:44

I used to do food sampling, you have to pass food hygiene to be able to do it.

I did a food hygiene certificate when I worked at a place that hosted kids parties. It took me half an hour online and I had to watch some videos and answer multiple choice questions. It doesn't fill you with confidence.

samarrange · 11/02/2020 08:58

You weren't being cheeky! It's a supermarket and they can afford it. If it was a small struggling family business, I'd think you shouldnt.

Depending on the supermarket, the sushi counter might be a concession and so could indeed be a small struggling family business.

TheMemoryLingers · 11/02/2020 09:05

I see samples as being for new customers - I wouldn't turn up week after week to take one. That said, it sounds as though the man wasn't very tactful and he's probably lost himself a customer, so it certainly wasn't handled well.

CherryPavlova · 11/02/2020 09:12

We have assistants holding plates of chocolates outside a shop in our town. I always have one and only ever buy infrequently, as a present. It’s never a problem. I try cheese on cheese counters too with no intention of buying.
He was unnecessarily grumpy. It was a sample and didn’t have conditions attached.

PiratePetespajamas · 11/02/2020 09:13

Who cares who theyre actually intended for, it’s a right sourpuss who’d begrudge a child taking pleasure in their product. As you were, OP, I don’t think you have anything to feel bad about.

Jellycatfox · 11/02/2020 09:29

Are you my SIL? Her son keeps going to the shop with her to see if sushi guy is there
I find it 😖

Elouera · 11/02/2020 09:36

Unless the product is a child specific sample, surely its for a new, adult customer to try, considering that THEY are the ones going to pay for the product! Not someone who buys it every week!
I was disgusted seeing a woman specifically send her 4 kids over the samples person. Before the woman could move the tray away, it was a frenzy akin to seagulls and chips! Hands everywhere, food falling on the floor and the tray a complete mess!

JosefKeller · 11/02/2020 09:41

If the samples are out and ready as "samples", perfectly fine to ask for one.

If you had asked to "make" a sample, that would be a bit much. It wasn't the case.

Pretty sure my local supermarkets have a note in the deli section advising to ask for samples. It's less waste to cut them on request than offering them on a regular basis.

Many shops give a small bite of something to young customers, it's just being nice.

HeronLanyon · 11/02/2020 09:43

I have never taken a free sample in a supermarket.
Think have only ever taken a sample at a cheese counter - supermarket or market in order to check what I’m about to buy loads of.
Stands in aisles - never even look at what the product is. Rarely anything I want and even so I think I have deep seated aversion from childhood to having unwanted random food from stranger in potentially unhygienic set up. Think I may have ‘issues’! Grin

Reginabambina · 11/02/2020 09:45

Well he really screwed up didn’t he. The point of giving customers free stuff is to build good will. Given free samples to existing customers is actually good practice because it reinforces existing good will which is much easier than creating new good will. I can’t imagine being a business owner and directing my staff to tell off repeat customers. Clearly a lot of people don’t understand that though judging by this thread.

peachescariad · 11/02/2020 09:52

YABVU - If you buy boxes regularly then you don't need to take a sample do you?? - you musty be pretty familiar with the product by now.
I think asking for a sample is really cheeky. The guy can't just keep handing out out samples to your DS just because you happen to be passing the counter...sushi isn't cheap.

JosefKeller · 11/02/2020 09:53

sushi isn't cheap

if it's something like the Sainsbury's sushi counter, actually it is very cheap for the shop

whyamidoingthis · 11/02/2020 10:02

Samples have two purposes: 1). Entice new customers by letting them try before buying. 2). Remind existing customers that you are there and encourage them to buy on the day. This also creates a feeling of loyalty and obligation in the customer, meaning they are more likely to buy again, even if not today.

Really poor business decision on the part of the sushi man. Losing a regular customer by denying them a sample is very shortsighted.

OlaEliza · 11/02/2020 10:20

when I worked in Sainsburys, we were under strict instructions not to allow people to take more than one, and you'd be marked down for giving samples to regular people

How would they know?

Imo samples are for whoever is passing. What if they put them out and no new people came in the shop? Would they rather throw it all in the bin? Ridiculous.

What if you were a regular with no intention of buying sushi that day but you had a sample and decided to buy some?

Redyoyo · 11/02/2020 10:57

What supermarkets do you all go to? None of the supermarkets around here ever do samples!

GrumpyHoonMain · 11/02/2020 11:05

I wonder how many kids eat Sushi at this supermarket? Maybe if they don’t them your DS is memorable and the assistant thinks you are taking the piss.

user18463585026 · 11/02/2020 11:14

Wow, who knew so many people would be this stressy about supermarket food samples!

I have only ever seen tiny little morsels of food being given out as samples. The way some people are reacting maybe the samples elsewhere are full meals?

I thought supermarkets were very keen to encourage repeat customers and play on psychological factors to get people buying more. I doubt samples are purely aimed exclusively at brand new custom.

If he had been taking multiple samples of the same thing during one visit that would be different.

bruffin · 11/02/2020 11:17

,What supermarkets do you all go to? None of the supermarkets around here ever do samples
Waitrose does sample Sushi and m&S usually has a sample stall

BlackCatSleeping · 11/02/2020 11:23

I disagree that samples are just for new customers. Sometimes when I sample something I've already tried before, it does inspire me to buy it again.

He sounds a misery guts. He has probably lost a good customer.

BlackCatSleeping · 11/02/2020 11:25

I also love Costco for all the free samples. Especially the cheesecake ones.

dumbledoresAhhhmy · 11/02/2020 11:25

How rude! The samples aren't coming out of his wages, he needs to stop being such a moaner and let your son enjoy his free bite of sushi.

I can't understand people who are saying YABU- what spoilsports.

It's a shame because it would put me off buying sushi there if I were you, and I know how good the Waitrose sushi counter is Grin

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