That this does not constitute stealing?

[6079SmithW]

We recently enjoyed a self catering holiday. On the way we decided to break up the journey by stopping for breakfast at a well known chain pub/restaurant/hotel.
The menu was very complicated with only certain things being available to hotel guests rather than others.
My partner and I ordered a cooked breakfast, the DC just wanted something simple so I ordered them a bacon sandwich. I enquired about the small boxes of cereal on display as that was what the DC really wanted. I was told it was part of the hotel guests only breakfast and if DC wanted it it would br £6 each (£12). I ordered that too. My bill was over £30!
The hotel guests additional breakfast was basically the small boxes of cereals plus bread/crumpets to toast. The DC ate a box of cereal and one crumpet each.
Feeling aggrieved that I had spent over £30 on breakfast, and mindful that we were going on a self catering break, I decided to get my monies worth by taking with us a few additional individual portions of jam and Nutella (about 10-12) total. My partner accused me of stealing! WIBU?

Depends.
If it was an "all you can eat" breakfast - not stealing.
If you ordered cooked breakfast and the Nutellas didn't come with it - stealing.

If you are given or take more than you are going to usetechnically it could be classed as stealing. However I think most people would take them away. I think it's policy that if they are taken from a table that has been used they have to throw them away anyway. So why not take them with you?

No YANBU that is daylight robbery what they charged you for and they were not even transparent with you BEFORE you ordered. I'd have kicked up a fuss with the manager and not have paid the amount that for the prices not made clear before ordering.

Of course it's technically stealing - but I, and probably many others, don't blame you - if I get scr*wed over by big companies I'm often inclined to try to get my own back 😂😂

Think if you have to ask if it’s theft then, it is. 👎

YABU, it’s theft.

Yep, that's stealing, you're stealing from a business, the business will have to pay for these, they don't get them free. If this was your business would you like it if people took the watchers of jam etc... plus you're being greedy.

Satchets*

Don't worry about it. You were charged a stupid amount and took some of the jam/Nutella packets.
I'd have laughed at my partner if he said that. I used to work in cafe and it was pretty common for people to take packets of ketchup, vinegar, etc. I never thought oh look at that thief, better call the police

@Bambinee

No YANBU that is daylight robbery what they charged you for and they were not even transparent with you BEFORE you ordered. I'd have kicked up a fuss with the manager and not have paid the amount that for the prices not made clear before ordering.

I feel like I've missed something here. What were they not open about?

Of course it’s not stealing! Goodness me. You paid £30 for the food; for that £30 you have yourself a few additional condiments.

From a personal conscience point of view I'd have no qualms when they've charged those kinds of prices. From a strict interpretation of your actions, it looks like stealing to me.

It's technically stealing, because if they charge £6 for a box of mini cereal they probably sell the jams for about £2.

But luckily their gross overcharging means they will have no problem replacing the stolen items.

All's well that ends well.

@Onelovelyone

Of course it’s not stealing! Goodness me. You paid £30 for the food; for that £30 you have yourself a few additional condiments.

How do you actually believe that to be morally right?

Last time I went out, I had a starter for about £10, a pasta dish for £30 and a dessert for £10-12. I didn't swipe an extra bread basket on the way out for next days breakfast though feeling aggrieved we spent well over £100 for two.

Yes, it’s theft. The theft act describes stealing as dishonestly appropriating property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it. Criminal defence solicitor here! 🙋🏻‍♀️

It doesn't matter if it's 1-2 or 20, it's the principle.

I go into a cafe, I order toast, it arrives on a plate. I decide I want it later instead. I take it away with me. Is that stealing?

My two questions would be:

1. Have you paid for it? I.e. did you pay for toast and crumpets with unlimited nutella and jam? So could you have eaten that inside the restaurant?
2. Are you allowed to take food away from the restaurant?

The cost of the cereals or anything else is irrelevant. The fact you mention them though looks like you're trying to justify it which hints that you do view it as stealing!

I'm torn on it, really. I wouldn't do it myself as I'd feel weird about it.

Clearly no one has watched the episode of friends when Ross is in Vermont…. Anything goes… except the salt shakers… salt inside it… you can take. Tv remote… no… but the batteries 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ps everyone does it… travelodge last week the family in front of me took 6 teabags each and all the uht milks…. I think they must have had a bad stay too

I'm going to assume here that the £6 was the price of a complete buffet breakfast for kids, but OP's kids only wanted cereal and a crumpet. As those items aren't priced separately she paid the £6 in order to access them.

Taking extra stuff from a buffet for later is not part of the deal in the majority of places, and while hotel or restaurant staff may turn a blind eye, they will think that you're cheap and a CF.

A buffet isn't intended to be 'eat all you can / take all you can carry'. It's a wide choice of foods for you to choose from and help yourself to during the one meal you're there to eat.

To the PP who suggested the waitress was waiting to help herself, you've never worked as a waitress have you?

To answer the OP's original question it's not technically right to have taken stuff you weren't eating then away, but if you'd paid for a full buffet and only had a small bit then I wouldn't begrudge you it.

@PwySyddYma

But didn't you pay £6 per child for them to have access to the jams/Nutella crumpets and cereal? In which case you already paid for the jam in the £6 each.

There was no limit specified was there of on jam per child? So no don't think you did steal them.

I agree. You paid extra for the same breakfast as the hotel guests had, therefore you are entitled to the same. I always take a pastry and banana with me because once I have touched them they will be binned. You should have gone to Macdonald's though, half the price 😂

Is it stealing? Yes

Is it a big deal? Not really

That's fine. I wouldn't worry about that.

No, they were toppings for the toast/crumpets you paid for.

Swear I saw you at the premiere inn on Monday morning! Was a woman with two kids encouraging them to stuff jam and Nutella packets in to their pockets
They even contemplated a yoghurt or two at one point!

I was wondering if the OP was related to the family we saw at a Premier Inn last week - the man went up again and again and got about 12 cups of coffee which he emptied furtively into 3 flasks!

But the OP can't have gone to a Premier Inn because in no way can their breakfast menu be described as 'complicated'. Two prices, one for all inclusive one for continental and they don't offer bacon rolls as far as I know.

Personally I don't consider £30 for breakfast for 4 to be excessive.
And yes, taking the jam and Nutella does constitute stealing in my book.