Knowingly stealing - food shop delivery

[Ponter]

We order from one of the main supermarkets. On the day of the delivery (last week), I decided to cancel the shop as many of my plans had changed so i didn’t need some of the stuff that had been ordered.

Anyway, the food van turned up and I had a hunch that if I accepted the order I could get the groceries and still get the refund. Which is exactly what happened. It was a risk but I still needed majority of the groceries ordered so thought I’d chance it. We had similar happen once before but we were honest in that scenario.

Even if the supermarket comes back and want me to rectify the error/pay up I can do so - that’s no problem.

I know it’s wrong but I believe the majority would do the same.

Be honest would you?

Speak for yourself! Some of us are honest.

We were broke when I was a child, and whilst we had adequate food (just) there wasn't a penny to spare and we went without plenty of things that others had.

Despite this my parents didn't steal, and neither would I. Nor do lots of other people who have far fewer privileges than the OP.

More embarrassing than coming on a public forum and defending theft ?

You didn’t “chance it” you stole something which you knew you hadn’t paid for, at least own it and stop trying to pretend it was nothing. This sort of behaviour just pushes up prices for the rest of us.

You are, thank god!

@JollyPinkFox - I take it that you are happy to pay, via every thing you buy, for shops’ losses due to shoplifting? The losses don’t come out of their profits - they are included in the price of every item they sell - it’s called shrinkage. They put a percentage onto every price to cover losses from theft/shoplifting, as well as things that break or get spoiled.

Not defending it, just not judging it. Doesn't affect me at all, not sure what you're all so wound up about. It's not like OP has stolen your food shop.

I don't really care at all. If the losses are factored in we're paying it anyway, I doubt OP's one food shop makes much of a difference.

I would imagine you are in a minority, @JollyPinkFox - I believe most people are concerned by higher prices and would like lower ones. I object to paying for other people’s dishonesty.

Quite possibly. Ultimately you can object all you like but we are all paying the dishonesty tax if it's priced in, are they going to stop doing it because you object? Doubtful

Nah I wouldn't do this. Wouldn't sit right with me.
I'd wonder if the delivery people were supposed to take the delivery off and didn't get round to it- they could be affected,/get in a bit of trouble at work.
Theft is one of the many reasons pushing up our prices in supermarkets.
I wouldn't enjoy the lovely wine and dinner party nibbles in the same way knowing I'd done this either.
I think your conscious is possibly saying the same if you're posting this as a thread? Just ring up and pay it.

No I would not do it, but then, I don't get my standards from the gutter.
Honestly OP did you expect decent people, even those who struggle financially, to come on here to heap praise on you questionable acumen.

No hand on heart I didn’t orchestrate the whole thing but I know my friend had cancelled once from the same supermarket and the van still showed up. So when the opportunity presented itself I thought I’d chance it.

So you stole @Ponter The honest thing to do would have been to tell the driver that you'd cancelled the delivery.

It’s not to do with who you steal from. It’s not ok to steal - full stop. Supermarkets will just recoup the cost by putting the price of food up and/or not paying their staff as much as they could.

Stealing is morally wrong - and it leads to worse:

https://www.grocerygazette.co.uk/2023/10/05/shoplifting-supermarkets-costs/

At my local supermarket people commonly try to walk out without paying. In some of the supermarkets in that article, they’re just looting and threatening staff. This is further down the slippery slope of thinking it’s ok to steal.

OK to steal from big companies? Ok to steal from the rich? You do know that the burglar who might break into your house considers you rich? That’s how they justify it.

Don’t steal! And to whoever said that we’d all do the same - no, I really wouldn’t. Do you have no morals whatsoever? No wonder society is in such a shit state.

Everyone is perfectly calm - unless perhaps you aren't?

"I'm also raising her not to speak about other people's children during an otherwise civilised debate on mumsnet. 🙄" Now that is a bizarre thing to teach your child, while simultaneously modelling that it's ok to steal so long as your victim is a large corporate... Personally I think it's much more important to teach your child honesty than how [in your opinion!!] to post on MN!!!

And you are completely missing the point - that the OP did not need to steal. and clearly sees it as some sort of huge joke.

It’s more than just the mistaken item. In that case op would have nothing nothing to cause the error. In this case it happened because of her late cancellation.

I actually got the feeling it was her active role in bringing about the situation that lay behind the smug tone in the op.

It's theft, pure and simple, research the legal definition of theft!

How mature you are!!!

So do I, and you don't have to be Einstein to work out that the more it happens, the more the losses are factored into prices!

Most people are calm. I don't feel that you are

I think it's important to teach your kids how to behave in a debate and towards other people. And it's definitely not how you have, speaking about a strangers children on mumsnet 😒

I don't care about the losses that are written off by huge companies who rip off the consumer for their own profits. I never will and I'm okay with that. Id prefer to be sympathetic to the plight of struggling people caused by the price hikes by big supermarkets

And I haven't missed op's point - I said clearly that I understand her point and still don't judge her - again because of the behaviour of those in charge at big supermarkets

You guys should all write letters to the supermarkets telling them you object to paying for shoplifting let us know how it goes

Imagine though if for one moment no one stole; so no prices were put up to cover losses. Would you be more interested if you knew you’d benefit from paying less for your shopping? Happy to admit that’s a utopia but to say you don’t care isn’t a good look either, because there are those who can’t afford to do that.

I couldn't be more calm lol - I am laughing out loud at the comments in your posts! Keep them coming - it's a dull Thursday night!!

I've reared three children to adulthood and I never once felt moved to teach them how to post on MN. And I can comment on whatever I like, within the guidelines on the forum. I am a bit confused as to why you seem to think that posters should refer to each other's children on an actual parenting forum??!! It's hilarious actually.

You can be sympathetic to the plight of struggling people and still condemn a common thief. I will never, ever be an apologist for stealing.

I think they probably already know that. It's pretty self-evident. Maybe you should write a letter telling them that you're fine with stealing, and you don't care who does it? You being one of the few outliers here??