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?

It's incredibly unwise of you to do this. It's all been pretty much covered by others, but the most important bits are that you're risking precision yourself, and your feeding your baby formula from a potentially unsafe source.

I was just about to say "Are you really this bored OP?"

Then I realised you lit the touch paper and ran anyway 🙄

I’m also wondering how you can spend £10 a week on laundry detergent.

I just use own brand and everything’s clean.

Everyone taking it seriously though 🤣

I don't entirely disagree but this could turn out very badly indeed for the OP. (And her DC.)

I genuinely know someone who did six months for this, buying obviously stolen goods off some dodgy fucker. They, like you, thought that they were in the clear because they weren't doing the stealing. They, like you, are a dumbass.

How well you think you'll be able to do your £10 a week worth of laundry or feed your child if you get done for handling stolen goods?

If op was so skint she had to shoplift baby formula I wouldn't say a word, and I would sympathise.

She is funding someone's drug habit, and a world where people get hurt, murdered and trafficked to get a branded laundry items though.

I think you are morally wrong, and no, I wouldn't do the same. No way ever in a million years, even if hell froze over, would I give my baby milk off a drug addict. God knows how that's been stored or what's in it. Your baby could potentially be very ill. Why take the risk?

You are supporting the drugs trade which inflicts misery on hundreds of people and supports organised crime

Whilst I sympathise with your plight I cannot in all conscience condone your actions

See what benefits you are entitled to. Also visit your local food bank.

I am shocked you can spend £10 a week on laundry products but are tight on money.
That seems an awful lot to even spend in store.
Personally, I would consider this stealing as you know that's exactly how it has been obtained. So you are partaking in it knowingly.

I wouldn't point this out to a friend but I wouldn't give them a hard time over it. Though I would firmly suggest if saving money is that important you can definitely by cheaper in lidl or aldi and this would be an honest purchase.

I'd buy the formula if I was struggling to make ends meet. £10 a week for laundry though? A big box of supermarket brand powder lasts me months, you only need half of what it says. I use white vinegar for softener as we have hard water, 5L containers. I should work out what it costs me but it's pence per week.

It is wrong to steal from any business, and remember, she isn’t the one doing the stealing, the stealing is being done by someone with a drug habit, who is then using the money the OP and others give him to line the pockets of drug dealers, contributing to horrendous violence and corruption in countries where the drugs are grown, and also here in the UK where cannabis farms and pill factories are owned by criminals but run by trafficked young people ,and where children are exploited by county lines organisers who draw them into criminality, often leading to gang cultures and the horrendous stories we read about knife and gun crime. It’s a big jump from someone buying knocked off washing powder, but believe me, the links are all there.

And if you want to talk money I expect trafficking and drug dealing is a lot more profitable at the top than most politicians, or supermarket bosses could dream of.

Yes, you are and no I wouldn't. You can justify it in 9 different ways but your friend is correct. He steal items to sell them for drugs. You then buy stolen items and justify it to yourself. I wouldn't do it, I haven't done it, and if I was doing it I would have said no thank you when I had a friend there and not tried to make her a part of it.

Of course you’re wrong for buying stolen goods. Why is this even a question?

I spend a lot of time in magistrates’ courts covering the cases of persistent shoplifters. They are undoubtedly funding a crack or heroin habit. Not only that, but these people frequently walk into shops, swipe as much as they want off the shelves and terrify the shop assistants. They’ll think nothing of using a knife if needs be, or threatening shop workers. I’ve seen several assistants giving victim personal statements in court saying that they’ve had to leave their jobs and have been left anxious and depressed after such incidents.

Many little shops round here have had to install full time
security guards for their entire opening hours, costing them 60k a year.

I wouldn’t be funding that shit however skint I was.

I’d think you were scum tbh, I’m not surprised your friend went off in a hurry.

If you can’t afford baby formula then there are charities and food banks that will help you, otherwise I’d rather steal it myself than buy it off a drug addict.

Supermarket are a business, not a charity.
Lots of people claim they need food but in fact their priorities are all wrong and they can afford to smoke, drink and gamble.

Sweet Jesus this is why tescos have their baby milk with security tags? I couldn't belive it when I saw that. seriously if you are struggling there is help for yoi reach out for it. do food banks offer baby milk ? also no need to spend that much in laundrey. washing powder always on offer and you do not need scent boosters and fabric conditioner. there is alos own brand verisions and aldi or lidl which are excellent products..you are questioning yourself now so you know its wrong

Aldi washing powder, £3.75 for 40 washes. Works well with half, so 4.7p per wash.

White vinegar on Amazon £17 for 20 litres. I last bought it May 2023 and I have about 7 litres left. I use free trials of Prime.

Beyond the ethical side of theft, you need to calculate whether it's actually a good deal.

Is there a B&M near you? Mine sells Daz laundry liquid for about 75 washes for £9 - 12p a wash. Surely you don't do 75 washes a week?
Also, pods are more expensive than liquid. E.g. Daz pods are £10 for 54 washes - 18.5p a wash. 6.5p difference doesn't sound like much, but 1/3 or 33% more does!

If you're happy with your tenner being the tenner that he dies from, I guess. Or the tenner that his kid dies from because his gear's lying around. Or the pushout he does where he stabs the security guard to get away. Or he decides that because he got stopped doing a pushout he was going to sell to you, nicking that old lady's purse and punching her husband in the face to get away. Failing that, he knows your movements, what the inside of your house looks like (and if there's anything worth nicking) - maybe he'll come by when you're out.

But you got a cheap pack of Fairy.

I wouldn't actually be worried about the drugs aspect. If he wants to get drugs he'll find a way.
You are handling stolen goods though so I'd be concerned about ramifications of that.

I think you're a bit of a muppet. You admit money is tight but still want the 'nice' brands. You'd rather buy stuff from this shady character than look for a better deal. Oh dear..

Well then maybe two babies was sufficient!! Disgusting behaviour!

He's having you on. Hes got you bloody addicted to laundry detergent.

Try the doctor Beckmann dissolvable leaves. So much cheaper on Amazon. About 4 quid for 25 washes or something.

And fabric conditioner is a con.

Soak your all whites in a little bleach and soak them and put them on a wash and you'll clean your washing machine too.

He's not daft. Couldn't get you on the drugs so gets you on laundry.