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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

That this does not constitute stealing?

349 replies

6079SmithW · 19/08/2021 16:03

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?

OP posts:
Bitofachinwag · 19/08/2021 16:39

@itsgettingwierd

For all those saying she didn't pay for them - she did!

She paid for all you can eat cereal/toast etc.

All you can eat whilst sitting there. Not all you can eat for the rest of the holiday.
UndercoverBosss · 19/08/2021 16:41

@memberofthewedding

Re the hospitality lady who stated that hotels allowed for this. If the hotel has a buffet I often quite openly take a couple of rolls, jam, butter etc for later. Last time I was in an Italian hotel the waitress brought me a bag for them. If the buffet is included in the price of the room then per se you have already paid for it.

Some years ago I was on a group course at a residential college and the university paid for a buffet style lunch for us. Some of us took fruit, cheese and so on for the journey back. The waitress got a bit snippy with one girl she saw doing this. I was pretty quick to remind her that our employer had paid for the meal on our behalf and we were free to eat as much or as little as we wished. On the way out I complained to the manager who asked if we would like bags for what we had taken. No doubt the waitress intended to help herself to what was left as part of her perks!

No wonder she got snippy! You were all being beyond cheeky!
Knittedfairies · 19/08/2021 16:43

If they know guests are going to pinch the Nutella and jam, could that be the reason the cereal was eye-wateringly expensive? They are recouping the cost of all that smuggled stuff...

Chloemol · 19/08/2021 16:44

Yes you stole. 1 for each child as part of the breakfast fine, 10 to 12 that’s stealing

Wimowehwimowehwimowehwimoweh · 19/08/2021 16:46

@itsgettingwierd

For all those saying she didn't pay for them - she did!

She paid for all you can eat cereal/toast etc.

Where does it say they offered all you can eat?
DurhamDurham · 19/08/2021 16:46

I think taking some Nutella and jam was ok but taking 10/12 was maybe a bit cheeky, I think taking what you could have eaten is ok but any more than that is a bit greedy.

Not the worst crime though so definitely don't give it another thought xxxxx

DurhamDurham · 19/08/2021 16:46

Oh god sorry about the kisses, I'm busy texting my kids at the same time Grin

itsgettingwierd · 19/08/2021 16:46

Wim the OP said it.

£6 for the cereal breakfast that also meant you can have toast and crumpets etc.

Wimowehwimowehwimowehwimoweh · 19/08/2021 16:48

No doubt the waitress intended to help herself to what was left as part of her perks!

Yeah, no.
No waiting staff I’ve ever work with would eat off the guest buffet table 🤢😂

Wimowehwimowehwimowehwimoweh · 19/08/2021 16:49

@itsgettingwierd but not “all you can eat”, just that you could choose from the items there & definitely not fill your pockets & handbag.

UnsuitableHat · 19/08/2021 16:49

This may have technically been stealing, but I don't think I'd lose any sleep over it.

JhsLs · 19/08/2021 16:50

No way - your kids could have eaten them on site as part of their breakfast (which sounds extortionately expensive for cereal and crumpets btw). I always take away extras from buffet type breakfasts - you paid for it!

caughtinanet · 19/08/2021 16:52

@Hemingwaycat

Nah, I’d say they were the thieves charging you £6 for a tiny box of Kellogg’s cereal.
They can charge what they like, I can't believe any one with even a fraction of a brain would pay it though Grin

If you took something that wasn't included in the prize you paid then it's stealing, I don't know why you'd need to ask the internet about that, surely that's pretty much universal knowledge

You probably need to check with the place what their policy is if you need to be sure though

AlfonsoTheMango · 19/08/2021 16:52

It was stealing.

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 19/08/2021 16:54

@JhsLs

No way - your kids could have eaten them on site as part of their breakfast (which sounds extortionately expensive for cereal and crumpets btw). I always take away extras from buffet type breakfasts - you paid for it!
She paid for what they could fill their little tummies with whilst in the restaurant. Not the rest of the day and certainly not the rest of their self-catered holiday.

Honestly, I can't believe people think this is normal and acceptable behaviour 😂

Ellmau · 19/08/2021 16:54

Very tacky.

Babyroobs · 19/08/2021 16:55

@DeflatedGinDrinker

I'd not class that as stealing as I do that too. Love taking fruit/pastries etc for later. You've paid more than what it costs.
What kid of logic is this - paying more than it costs !! you do realize places have overheads, staff wages to pay etc? I do agree that £6 for a small packet of cereal and a crumpet is extortionate though.
NinaBallerinaShoes · 19/08/2021 16:56

You stole from the restaurant. Theft is defined as "dishonestly appropriating property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it."

Apparently.

Babyroobs · 19/08/2021 16:56

@Chloemol

Yes you stole. 1 for each child as part of the breakfast fine, 10 to 12 that’s stealing
This.
DrManhattan · 19/08/2021 16:58

Why spend £30 on breakfast. No one made you.

TSSDNCOP · 19/08/2021 17:00

Having lost my mind to the extent of paying 12 EARTH POUNDS! for 2 mini boxes of cereal I'd have exited with a table and a few chairs Grin

NoProblem123 · 19/08/2021 17:01

It’s stealing.

I couldn’t be bothered with it.

You decided to pay £30 for a breakfast - that was your monies worth.

ancientgran · 19/08/2021 17:02

I think if you take things you are entitled to, topping for the kids, and they don't eat them it is better to take them as either they will be thrown away or returned for other diners to have them which isn't great with covid.

Terhou · 19/08/2021 17:04

@arethereanyleftatall

Of course it was stealing. Stealing means you hadn't paid the price the establishment requested for them. You hadn't. The cost for other items is completely irrelevant.
Where does it say the hotel had requested any price for these? Usually they just put these out to be taken freely. Unless they put a limit on the number people can take, I can't see how OP was stealing.
sweeneytoddsrazor · 19/08/2021 17:06

Also wondering why you felt so aggrieved. Breakfast would have been £18 for the 4 of you if you hadn't decided to buy extra. If you didn't want to spend that much you didn't need to dc had bacon rolls no need for cereal and crumpets as well