AIBU to “steal” this?

[AmiABadPersonn]

Hello everyone I just want your opinions on this as today I’ve been in a heated argument with my friend as to wether I am unreasonable or not.

I am off work on maternity leave so the funds are tight at minute. There is a man who lives near me I believe he is drug user, he sells half price stuff and also takes orders on what you want for half price. He knocks on my house about 1 or 2 times a week with a bag of half price goods. I always buy washing detergent and softeners from him because you can get a whole weeks laundry of the nice brands for around £10. Money is tight as I have just had a baby and I have 2 other children with my husband also. i also sometimes get baby milk formula from him if I’m running low because it’s cheap.

I feel like this is not wrong because if I didn’t buy it other people would. Even if no one bought it he would steal it anyway in hopes someone would buy it eventually.

Today my friend was at my house when he came so I offered her to have a look what he had. She immediately asked him where he got this stuff from and he replied “shop”. She didn’t say much after but when I finished buying my items she started shouting about how I’m funding his drugs addiction and I shouldn’t support it because I am now stealing too. I told her to relax it’s fine it’s only a couple of items. She didn’t say much and finished her coffee and left quick.

So am I morally wrong for this? Or would you do the same?

I've been held up at work by a smack needle wielding addict. Threatened with knives and hammers. Had bottles thrown at me. I've had to lock us in and close early and wait for the police because groups of them were threatening myself and my staff. Another time I had to lock some kids in with us and call their parents and the police to keep them safe from the local addicts. Someone from the next shop down got stabbed. It's disgusting. You and everyone who does that are supporting this behaviour. Putting innocent people in danger every day.

More than anything else, why would you buy baby milk off this person??? It could be tampered with , fillers used or whatever ...they do it to medications/perfumes why not baby milk. For that alone I think you are absolutely off your rocker !

How surprising there's been a no show from the OP 🙄

Seriously? Do you actually believe that load of rubbish you just posted?!

The old "Well someone will buy it so why not me" excuse really does not stand up to any sort of moral scrutiny

That's the same excuse some women trot out when they are sleeping with someone else's husband - "if he isn't sleeping with me he will be sleeping with someone else".

Well it's safe to assume that the baby in this case was conceived after the CoL crisis began to bite...

Nothing is ever guaranteed! I lived through 15% interest rates. We bought our first home years before we had our first child, and moved to yes, that 4 bedroom home, when we were contemplating having our second. We planned our third according to affordability too. It's called being responsible. Yes, we could have both lost our jobs and ended up in dire poverty but we didn't.

I've had times in life like most when money was not plentiful but I have never, ever, stooped so low as to buy household goods from a drug dealer!

I don’t think I said this before but other users are saying if I don’t buy from him he won’t steal, but he will there’s weeks were I don’t buy stuff he still has a bag full the next time. The £10 a week is on laundry pods, softener , stain remover and laundry scent balls from persil or lenor. The balls alone are £8 in Asda. As for the baby milk it’s always sealed so I know he hasn’t contaminated it and I know others locally that buy from him too.

Regardless of how much in obscene bonuses CEOs of supermarkets receive it still doesn't justify buying stolen goods that have been shoplifted.

Shoplifting just increases the prices for all of us, so I don't understand why some posters think it is OK to defend shoplifting. It doesn't hurt the CEO's pockets, it hurts the shopper's pockets.

Of course it's wrong

@AmiABadPersonn 11 pages of most ppl thinking you are wrong and you justify it by others do it! Ridiculous

It's not "an insane reach" in the least. Someone who thinks it's ok to buy stolen goods has very poor morals.

I am very 'shades of grey' but I cannot and will not condone theft!

Right back at you lady.

Love how your not acknowledging the people who have told you about the trauma aggressive shoplifters cause to staff 🙄

She's not acknowledged anything - she hasn't replied at all!!

exactly, I didn’t cause this man’s addiction and there’s plenty of people in the area that buy from him. They give him whole shopping lists I don’t do that. Just stuff that’s actually expensive so I can spend more on food in the week! I believe he steals from b and m and Asda I wouldn’t accept it if it’s from the local corner shop or something because that’s someone’s livelyhood, a big corporation shop like them won’t miss it.

You do not need scent balls or softener they are not a necessasity!!! no need ro steal them !!!!!. stain remover aldi do a big version of vanish you need one scoop it should last you ages.
the mind boggles

The £10 a week is on laundry pods, softener, stain remover and laundry scent balls from persil or lenor

Just go to Aldi and buy some biological washing powder. You don't need all the stuff you currently buy, and you will save a fortune.

Your "excuses" to justify buying shoplifted goods to fund a drug habit are pathetic snd show that you have no moral compass.

And you are being fleeced.

@Runnerinthenight she's replied twice

Are you just replying to the posters who agree with you, OP? Because as others have pointed out, retail staff are often attacked by drug addicted shop lifters and the big corporates ALWAYS protect their bottom line. In this case, by putting prices up so people who don't want to buy stolen goods are hit in the pocket. Just because others do it, doesn't make your actions OK.

Dear god, how do you justify that?!! Just because other people buy from him doesn't give you carte blanche to do the same! WTF would you buy baby milk from someone like this? Oh you are so moral, not "accept[ing] it" if it wasn't from Asda or B&M!!

Don't delude yourself, People like you cost the rest of us honest people hhigher prices. Your behaviour is disgraceful. Fine example you are to your children! Disgusting!! This is not a victimless crime, don't fucking kid yourself!

The argument of he'd still go out and steal whether I buy from him or not. FFS no wonder people despair.

I was in san francisco over 2 years ago. all shops nearly have everything behind lock and key. or behind the counter. you have to get a shop assistant to open q case to get toothpaste. its all vecause if actions like yoir dealer. that's what will be our future of supermarkets

It's like this is being argued by a 10 year old.

I didn't cause his addiction either but I have to suffer through him coming to my workplace 3 times a week and abusing my team and ransacking our inventory.

Well not your addict.
But several of thousands. There's at least 1 a day.

Alright. By your logic, how do you know it isn't from a corner shop?