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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taking advantage of self-scan at supermarket

631 replies

Ace56 · 08/12/2023 15:55

Being 100% honest, have you ever not scanned an item on purpose when doing the self-scan at a supermarket? Or if it’s a fruit/veg/pastry that needs to be weighed, selected a cheaper item instead?

Conversation with a colleague the other day who reckons everyone has done this at some point. And that supermarkets are aware of this so have increased their prices since self-scans became more prominent, in order to account for a percentage of goods that’s inevitably stolen. I’m not so sure, I think that obviously some people do steal but probably not most?

OP posts:
KatBurglar · 08/12/2023 15:57

No, because I’m not an asshole.

CointreauVersial · 08/12/2023 15:58

No, never on purpose! I'm too honest. I've had a couple of random checks and I'm always nervous I've missed something.

FatFatMary · 08/12/2023 15:58

How can you though ? It’s weighed

Nannyfannybanny · 08/12/2023 15:58

No way! I'm not a thief.

beccahamlet · 08/12/2023 15:58

No, I don't. It's stealing.

Finteq · 08/12/2023 15:58

Never

LoveTheDarts · 08/12/2023 15:59

Absolutely not unless I've inadvertently made an error. It's stealing.

Greenshake · 08/12/2023 15:59

No. It’s stealing, plain and simple.

Original poster
Ace56 · 08/12/2023 16:00

Also I realise that in saying this the colleague is basically admitting that he’s done so himself!

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 08/12/2023 16:00

No I never have.

Chasingsquirrels · 08/12/2023 16:01

FatFatMary · 08/12/2023 15:58

How can you though ? It’s weighed

Self scanning with the mobile handsets isn't weighed.

Marmite27 · 08/12/2023 16:01

I forgot to scan an item once, and it was part of an offer. When it was re-scanned, it cost less.

VanityDiesHard · 08/12/2023 16:02

It depends on if the store has a manned checkout option (and actually has enough staff on) So my local Waitrose has enough staff and the self checkouts are truly optional, so I usually go through the manned ones and when I don't, I am scrupulously honest. My local Marks, on the other hand, has no manned checkouts and I am angry with myself if I don't at the very least put through a carrier bag without paying. If it is busy enough there, I also put pastries through as something cheaper, ditto bread.

Floralnomad · 08/12/2023 16:02

I use self scan all the time and I’ve never done this because I’m honest and don’t steal .

SignoraItaliana · 08/12/2023 16:02

I don't steal, so no. I work with someone who brags about buying birthday cards and scanning several through as one item, another woman who walked into the foyer of Asda and walked out with a Christmas tree. I'm not sure that kind of behaviour is anything to be proud of.

muddyford · 08/12/2023 16:02

No, never.

SinnerBoy · 08/12/2023 16:02

No, I've never done that.

AgnesX · 08/12/2023 16:03

Are you looking for people to affirm your rationale for petty thievery?

What then happens is that prices go up and that we all have to pay in the long run.

Edit: and no I haven't.

Chasingsquirrels · 08/12/2023 16:03

I've never purposely done this, and I wouldn't consider it.I'm not saying that I've never put something in accidentally (or more likely that a small dc has), been undercharged due to an error and not realised until later and then done about it etc.But definitely not purposely.

54isanopendoor · 08/12/2023 16:05

I don't as it is stealing. I'd also be far too embarrassed to be caught.
I cannot say I've never made a mistake when tired but I would go back to the shop if I did.
I dislike self service machines & used a staffed till whereever possibl.e

Uzicorn · 08/12/2023 16:05

Taking advantage of self-scan at supermarket

Is ‘taking advantage’ the new euphemism for stealing?

I’ve never stolen or selected a cheaper item or even stolen a bag for life.

What I have done:

  • if, say, 3 identical bags of broccoli are yellow stickered and two are priced at 40p and one is priced at 50p, I’ll scan them all at 40p each
  • if a clothing item is withdrawn from sale, I’ll scan an item of the same price, bag up and take home the withdrawn item and leave behind the unwanted item
  • if I buy something in the sale and it’s cheaper the next week, I’ll buy the cheaper one and I’ll return the expensive item

Does this make me awful or thrifty?

JaneKatSuttonGoals · 08/12/2023 16:06

No, but then I got worried earlier in case I got random checked coz I scanned orange pepper barcode instead of yellow coz there wasn't one for yellow so I'm probably not your target audience.

pinkspeakers · 08/12/2023 16:07

No. never

Ffsnotaconference · 08/12/2023 16:07

It’s not taking advantage. It’s theft.

You work with someone who admits they steal. How can they not realise they shared that with colleagues.

I wouldn’t be leaving anything within reach of this person. In case they ‘took advantage’ of you and opportunity.

WotNoUserName · 08/12/2023 16:08

No. The only thing I did do once was scan the same item twice as I was buying two,but picked up the wrong flavour so when it came to a service check they had to rescan the whole shop as I hadn't scanned it. My own fault for not checking the packaging - they are almost identical and were together on the shelf so I thought they were the same. That was mortifying enough!