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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think meat should not be sold full price on it's "use by" date?

82 replies

oopslateagain · 02/07/2023 16:28

I bought a pork roasting joint in Morrisons on Friday afternoon, around 3pm. It was in the normal meat section, not in the reduced section, and didn't have a yellow sticker. I normally do check the dates on things but for some reason I didn't look at this one.

I just opened it for our Sunday dinner and it's minging. Checked the date and it was dated Friday. It's too late to take it back today anyway, so I've wrapped it up in about 20 layers of cling film and stuck it back in the fridge.

AIBU to take it back tomorrow and ask for a refund? Or is it my own stupid fault for not checking the date before I bought it?

OP posts:
Solmum1964 · 02/07/2023 17:32

I think meat (and most other products) with a use by date of today are always reduced in the supermarkets I use.
It usually starts with a small reduction first thing and then it is reduced further during the day.
I would certainly try taking it back if you have the packaging and receipt. Be polite but explain that you'd bought it Friday for Sunday lunch not realising it was short dated as it hadn't been reduced.

Dacadactyl · 02/07/2023 17:32

YeahIsaidit · 02/07/2023 16:47

You'd look like a loony complaining that meat 2 days past it's sell by date was off and demanding a refund on that basis

Show quote history

There's no harm going back and being truthful about the situation. As I said, whether they'd give you a refund or not is another matter. But I'd certainly try.

RoseAndRose · 02/07/2023 17:33

It's on you for not checking

xsquared · 02/07/2023 17:35

Have anyone ever done this before on here? There seems to be a fair few saying they'd take it back 2 days after the use by date and in OP's casein would be 3 days afterthought day of purchase.

Seems like a lot of effort just for the sake of a few pounds.

veryfluffyfluff · 02/07/2023 17:36

oopslateagain · 02/07/2023 17:21

Right, point taken, it's gone in the bin! You lot do get straight to the point, don't you 😂

I was hoping the MN jury would think it was reasonable to return it, but obviously is totally on me that I didn't check the date.

For those saying they'd eat it, trust me - not with that smell, it was vile.

You wanted to return a piece of meat you opened two days AFTER the use by date which was indicated by the date printed on it. And complain it was out of date?

YeahIsaidit · 02/07/2023 17:47

Dacadactyl · 02/07/2023 17:32

There's no harm going back and being truthful about the situation. As I said, whether they'd give you a refund or not is another matter. But I'd certainly try.

Show quote history

Fair enough but I think it'd be quite cheeky to ask for a refund because you didn't check the date

Original poster
oopslateagain · 02/07/2023 17:47

@veryfluffyfluff I wanted to return a piece of meat that was sold on its use by date, so only fit for cooking on that day. Obviously I was wrong, it was completely on me to have checked the date on it when I bought it.

OP posts:
Testina · 02/07/2023 17:51

Don’t be a dick 🤣
The more wastage a company they have, the more the price goes up.
If they can sell that full price to someone who wants to cook it same day, or is happy to do it next day, or who is happy to freeze it… then of course they’re going to do that.
And even if their own policy is to reduce and they made a mistake or were short staffed, it’s still on you!
It’s pathetic how grown adults want to blame anyone else but themselves 🙄

veryfluffyfluff · 02/07/2023 18:03

oopslateagain · 02/07/2023 17:47

@veryfluffyfluff I wanted to return a piece of meat that was sold on its use by date, so only fit for cooking on that day. Obviously I was wrong, it was completely on me to have checked the date on it when I bought it.

Ah right. Nah they're allowed to sell it full price up til they remove it from sale if they really want

itsapalaver · 02/07/2023 18:25

Tbh I would also expect anything to have a yellow sticker if it's going out of date the day you buy it. Whether they will refund you on it though who knows, technically they're within their rights to sell it normally on that day.

EmeraldFox · 02/07/2023 20:41

Testina · 02/07/2023 17:51

Don’t be a dick 🤣
The more wastage a company they have, the more the price goes up.
If they can sell that full price to someone who wants to cook it same day, or is happy to do it next day, or who is happy to freeze it… then of course they’re going to do that.
And even if their own policy is to reduce and they made a mistake or were short staffed, it’s still on you!
It’s pathetic how grown adults want to blame anyone else but themselves 🙄

Wouldn't it reduce wastage to reduce the price so that someone is more likely to snap it up to cook that night or for the freezer? Otherwise most people would reach for a better date even if doing the above. Sometimes food isn't at it's best on the use by and you are better off with a better date on it to be sure.

FinallyHere · 02/07/2023 20:51

Where would it end ?

The straightforward solution seems to me for the supermarket to provide a sell by date, so whoever buys it can judge whether there is sufficient time for the product to be used.

I'd expect to check the date, and may j in deed but something which is only just in date if I'm planning to cook it the same day.

Simples.

KrisAkabusi · 02/07/2023 22:07

FinallyHere · 02/07/2023 20:51

Where would it end ?

The straightforward solution seems to me for the supermarket to provide a sell by date, so whoever buys it can judge whether there is sufficient time for the product to be used.

I'd expect to check the date, and may j in deed but something which is only just in date if I'm planning to cook it the same day.

Simples.

No. Sell by dates are terrible and are almost completely phased out now. Because people think the sell by date is the same as a use by date and won't buy it, leading to massive food waste.

veryfluffyfluff · 02/07/2023 22:08

itsapalaver · 02/07/2023 18:25

Tbh I would also expect anything to have a yellow sticker if it's going out of date the day you buy it. Whether they will refund you on it though who knows, technically they're within their rights to sell it normally on that day.

It's not even a "technically" issue. They aren't doing any thing even remotely wrong by not reducing it.

Swrigh1234 · 02/07/2023 22:20

Is this thread for real? How do people like tho a get through life?

Buying something that’s perfectly within date, not using it in time and then expecting a refund. Do take it back, and expect to be added to a long list of wacky customer stories told by supermarket staff.

malmi · 02/07/2023 22:39

OP I think you are getting a hard time here. Although the store can legally sell food on its use by date, it would be worth asking whether there is a store policy and whether it has been followed in this case. No reason to think they wouldn't have refunded you if the policy is that they shouldn't sell food on the use by date without offering a discount.

A lot of people are deliberately misinterpreting what your complaint would be about (or they are hard of thinking).

Original poster
oopslateagain · 02/07/2023 22:51

@malmi getting roasted is par for the course in AIBU Grin

I'm on good terms with the customer service staff in our local Morrisons, I'm popping in there tomorrow and just going to ask what their policy is on reducing meat on its use by date - I'm NOT going to demand a refund! I just thought as it was already 3pm when I shopped, anything needing to be used that day would already be reduced and have a very obvious yellow sticker. I don't want to be caught out again. I'm definitely going to be much more careful to check dates.

OP posts:
xsquared · 02/07/2023 22:57

A lot of people are deliberately misinterpreting what your complaint would be about (or they are hard of thinking).

And I think you imagining what the op's complain would be about. OP's AIBU is literally would she be U to take the meat back and ask for a refund.

Little room for misinterpretation there. There is nothing in her OP to suggest she'll enquire about the store policy on reducing the price of meat on its use by date.

Crinkle77 · 02/07/2023 23:23

Morrisons is terrible for not checking the dates on things. I was after some cottage cheese a while and there were a few there that were 2 weeks out of days. My sister had a similar experience too recently but can't remember what it was. To be fair I would expect meat to have a couple of days use by and if it was 3pm that day it should have been reduced in my opinion.

Leapintothelightning · 02/07/2023 23:45

I worked customer service in a supermarket. There is no way I'd be refunding you for something being off on Sunday with a use by date of Friday. You should have checked the date.

Lacucuracha · 02/07/2023 23:45

YANBU, I have taken it back in this situation and got a refund.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 02/07/2023 23:50

This happened to me once with a large roating joint from m and s. Bought it at 9pm from an airport shop I think and then the next day realised the date was up the same day I bought it. I contacted them saying I thought it was a bit poor that it hadnt been reduced as no one is going to start doing a roast at bedtime before it goes off. They just said it was on me and they had sold it in date and i should have checked the date.

In general though surely fresher meat has a higher 'value'?

Swrigh1234 · 03/07/2023 00:24

Lacucuracha · 02/07/2023 23:45

YANBU, I have taken it back in this situation and got a refund.

Got a refund? How? Reached over the counter and taken money out of the till?

Swrigh1234 · 03/07/2023 00:25

malmi · 02/07/2023 22:39

OP I think you are getting a hard time here. Although the store can legally sell food on its use by date, it would be worth asking whether there is a store policy and whether it has been followed in this case. No reason to think they wouldn't have refunded you if the policy is that they shouldn't sell food on the use by date without offering a discount.

A lot of people are deliberately misinterpreting what your complaint would be about (or they are hard of thinking).

What does a store policy have to do with this situation. The store policy could be anything for internal purposes, it doesn’t mean they will make themselves liable for refunds on perfectly legal sales.

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