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?

@AmiABadPersonn - yes I belive you are.

On a par with the crackhead

a big corporation shop like them won’t miss it.

Of course they do. They know that stuff goes missing. Stock control is automated and stock is checked in and out by bar code readers, so they know at the press of a button exactly what is going missing.

So they increase the prices to all the shoppers. Sneaking from big organisations isn't the faceless crime people like you think it is.

You are utterly deluded. If you can't afford to feed the children you already have I would ensure that you get watertight contraception.

Of course it's wrong. You really don't see that?

*believe even!

Why don't you buy basic laundry products from a shop and live with a clear conscience?

Quite apart from the moral aspect, all those extra softeners and scented balls are bad for your health.

Sorry, I feel like I'm scolding, but I've been so shocked that you feel this is ok.

I'd think it must be very difficult to steal laundry detergent, baby milk and such like off shelf. He is perhaps being supplied by an insider - by drivers/staff/security.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. It's awful to think of people for whom the only way they'll eat is if they steal. So no judgement from me.

You know what would worry me? having this guy coming to your house and you paying him in cash, what's to stop him coming back and trying to break in at a later date and steal from you? When people are heavily into drug use they lose all scruples and will do anything to get money for drugs. He won't exempt you just because you are one of his customers.

So everyone you know is a thief?
Nice crowd.

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

So you'd use a lot more than this in a month? 🥴

@SloaneStreetVandal In the BM near me the shoplifters just walk in with a trolley, fill it and go back to the entrance wait for someone to come in then leave when the door opens for the person coming in, just walking no urgency because the staff won't do anything (I don't blame the staff) , Sainsbury's the local crack head walks through the self serve tills , doesn't even pretend to pay and out the door

She's getting stolen fabric softener and laundry scent balls. She's not stealing stealing a loaf of bread to feed her starving children. And the bloke is doing it to fund a habit.

I’ve actually lived in a country with nationalised “supermarkets”. Somehow I doubt PP knows what they're talking about. Shortages, a generally limited offer and long queues were the reality of shopping at those places.
I much prefer the “greedy capitalist” ones, thanks vey much.

I'm actually shaking my head in wonder at your attitude and can't say anything that hasn't already been said! Wow....just wow!!!!!!

Surely this is a wind up? You cannot have that little morals and values that you think this is okay. Wtaf.

YABU for using 'scent balls' or high-end laundry pods or whatever in the first place. Why not use more eco-friendly products? You have 3 children and your ridiculous laundry habit is just trashing the planet even further.

I wouldn't have a problem with you walking into the supermarket and lifting either washing piwder or baby formula for yourself.

I do think there's a moral dilemma in exploiting someone's drug addiction in this way - you pay him to take the legal risk and this results in him taking more smack/ whatever, risking his health and wellbeing, enriching his dealers and causing a whole lot of other humans to be abused along the way...

Stores don't lose out from theft - we do as customers! Everything in store is priced to account for the amount the store loses in theft. Stores are not going to just suck it up when they have goods stolen - it's all passed on to the customers

I get the impression it means she's not left short for buying food.

And yes I imagine for the chap in question it IS to fund an addiction.

I thought of something to say...... Will you be a proud mommy when your darling children grow up and only steal from supermarkets to fund their drug addiction?!?

Kudos to you for getting it right, I'm so glad that you've never felt the need to stoop so low as to buy stolen goods from a drug user (his drug dealer probably doesn't need to sell stolen goods as he'll be making enough money from selling drugs). Is your scorn towards those who are too poor to have children aimed only at people within the UK? Or does it extend to include people across the world? When including every person on the globe, the poor in the UK are still like some of the richest people in the world..

Surely baby milk is sealed though. Used to have like a giant metal ring pull underneath the plastic cap from what I remember

Sorry but in my book you're a thief and our friendship would be over

I don't think this is entirely true. Stores are not pricing goods at the lowest amount and then adding a bit extra on when things get stolen. They literally price everything at the absolute highest they can get away with. Less thefts would not get them to reduce the prices. Their sole purpose is to generate wealth for the shareholders.

So if you believe this, why does it bother you that your friend thinks it’s wrong? Obviously you can make your own decision on this, but it can’t be news to you that others might think this is wrong. Why are you suddenly asking about it?

She has now!