When does this become stealing

[idontlikecrusts]

I'm just wondering, having instructed a family member to nab as much canderel as possible from the little pot of sachets they have at work (to supplement my atkins diet while I am a guest at their house and to save me buying my own tub when I've just bought one back at home) when this type of excessive taking of 'complementary goods' becomes stealing.

To me, coveting of the complementary towelling slippers in hotels is not stealing because they are disposable. Taking towels with hotel initials is. But what of stockingn up on mini jams and other condiments? Very useful for, say, camping...

Mumsnet morality jury?

Oh it's difficult

I have some sachets of sugar in my handbag but I sraw the line at teaspoons and ashtrays...

DRAW

My ex-neighbour used to take all the little pots of milk and cream that are by the tills in cafes. He just emptied the whole basket-full into his bag and he used to give them to his cat.

He once had a full-scale, stand-up row with the cafe supervisor in Asda when she confronted him and accused him of theft. As he put it, how could he be stealing something that the shop did not charge for? The supervisor's argument was that the milk was intended for customers to put in their tea, to which he replied that he had bought a pot of tea and so was entitled to the milk. They kept on for the best part of an hour, much to the delight of everyone else in the cafe.

Sadly they didn't come to a conclusion, so I can't give you a definitive answer, but as my neighbour used to say, you can't steal something that is free.

Have you taken enough to turn it into a viable business???

My mother supplements her self catering holidays in Greece with enough sachets of coffee, sugar; pots of jam, cream and milk to last a two week duration without the need to spend on such items in the local supermarkets. Whether the preliminary bag stuffing in coffee shops, at work and at Stansted airport before departure is 'wrong' is one thing, what this does for the tourist trade dependent economy of, say, Kefalonia, is another.

Jury still out then...

I have the odd tiny packet of salt and pepper in my handbag at all times. Also I take wads of serviettes out of the holders. This is throwback behaviour to when kids were little and messy eaters/snotty noses.

I wouldnt take hotel towels or slippers.

LOL at the ASDA nutter.

True, glorious eccentricity.

apart from camping when would you use your little packets of sugar/salt/pepper? (not directed at you Idontlikecrusts, you appear to have a rationale) but I really can;t remember the last time I thought to myself, damn, I wish I had a little packet of sugar, salt or pepper. perhaps they're an interesting alternative to the packs of raisins I carry around to keep dds quiet when necessary...?

My sister uses them on her boat, but I suppose that's just camping afloat.

I like it, hatwoman; rationale for sugar pilfering sounds good.

A good thing to have a rationale for!

The only time I can think of having thought 'I could just do with a mini pot of x, y or Z is when I've bought fish and chips to eat in the car by the sea in the piddling rain and forgotten to ask for sauce.

For this and similar reasons (buying salad without necessary fork in lid) I used to keep 2 or 3 ketchup sachets, an airline 'wipe' (pre kids this is, so now do 'jumbo' wipe supplies at all but the most crucial, poo filled, forgetful times) plus an M&S spoon, fork and serviette (note, NOT napkin) cellophane wrapped 'pack' in my glovebox at all times.

Has this topic been done before - I expected more sugar stealing angst!

Just me then.