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Original poster

Anyone else fess up to this "crime"?

76 replies

cheekymonk · 14/09/2007 08:10

I was in Tescos yesterday when a security guard stopped the woman behind me at the till and picked up a toy that said mum had disgarded asking her if she was going to pay for it. The mum went blood red and said no because it was broken. The security woman then said yes because you broke it, now you must pay for that and the pastry your child has been eating throughout the store!!!! We have been watching you on video!!!
I was [shocked] at the aggressive tactics but acknowledge mum was in the wrong. I just felt sorry for her. I could see she was skint as most stuff was tesco value.
Its just I've done stuff like that, not necessarily broken the toy but def given ds toys I knew I wasn't going to buy to keep him amused! Anyone else? Just curious really

OP posts:
mumfor1standfinaltime · 14/09/2007 13:45

Maybe this Mum is a 'regular pastie pincher'.
I can't stand it when people eat and drink before paying for it, it isn't yours until money changes hands! I don't let ds eat anything from the shelves until we have passed the till point. He will hold the sweets/crisps until we get there!
I usually take some goodies in my handbag for 'emergencies'.
Going back to the toy thing, I would only let ds hold a toy if we were going to buy it at the till.

You wouldn't go into a clothes shop and strip off, putting the clothes on and scan them at the counter!

Tinker · 14/09/2007 13:47

Good god, I don't buy sweets and crisps!

Usually the end of French stick.

OrmIrian · 14/09/2007 13:50

Don't know about that actually mumfor1standfinaltime. I've bought shoes for DC's before now and let them wear them out of the shop. I've plonked the kids on the counter to have their feet scanned

And on one occasion I opened a tube of calgel when DS#2 was howling the shop down before I'd paid for it. I think the store probably thought it was worth it for the blessed silence that ensued.

portonovo · 14/09/2007 14:01

No, definitely not the toy thing and definitely not eating things around the shop. Even toddlers can be told they must wait until mum/dad has paid until they can eat whatever it is they want. And if there really is a need to distract a child while you're shopping, you take your own small toy or snack with you. Or you whizz round as quickly as you can!

AuntJetPetunia · 14/09/2007 14:10

I give dd the end of the french stick or some raisins etc. then pay at the till. I completely agree with goblin that the supermarkets are out to suck money out of us, and so I am sure they would be happy with me feeding my child with their products, as long as I pay for them at the end of the day. Especially as this means I am then spending another £100 or so in their store at the same time. How ridiculous (and snobbish) to say it's "tacky and trashy"! If I've forgotten to bring a snack for my dd, which I sometimes do, then this is a good solution for me, my dd, the supermarket and all other shoppers around me - who probably would prefer not to listen to a screaming toddler whilst they shop!

EricL · 14/09/2007 14:16

I was a manager in a large supermarket chain for 10 years and have a lot of experience with this. It's called 'grazing' and is quite rife in the stores. Lots of empty packaging is found all over the store when you tidy the shelves and most of it is kids snack stuff - ie. stuff that can be eaten immediately.

The golden rule is to not consume or use anything until you have paid for it. It's just not a good idea really cos until you have gone through the checkout, paid your money and have the receipt - the item doesn't actually belong to you and is still the property of the store. It is also a good lesson to teach your child as well because they may have difficulty understanding the delicacy of it.

Many parents open a multi-pack of something and pay for it and this is normally ignored through common sense and discretion. I can totally understand why the security gaurd pulled this mum up because breaking something and not paying for it is not on. What i would have done though is to pull them aside in a less public place than at the checkouts and told them politely of the situation without causing a big fuss. This security guard was being a bit officious.

Eating a grape or two is fine and most supermarkets will happily let you taste other things too if you ask. I often cut up samples of fruit for customers to try. There is a difference between sampling and eating it all when you are walking round the store though - as i am sure you are aware.

WriggleJiggle · 14/09/2007 14:22

I let dd nibble on multipack things to keep her quiet and then make sure they go through the till when we get there.

I work on the principle that I can either do a shop in 10 minutes and spend £10 for everything I've managed to grab into the trolley in that time, or I can give dd food, take 1/2 hour to do my shop and end up spending £50.

I'm sure the supermarkets would prefer me to take my time and spend more money.

bumperlicious · 14/09/2007 14:23

You go to a restaurant and eat and drink before paying. That isn't considered stealing.

EricL · 14/09/2007 14:25

I disagree that supermarkets are 'sucking money out of us'. The supermarket sector is fiercely competitive and all the stores try and outdo each other with prices and services. I was constantly looking at what our competitors were up to, doing price and offer checks, etc., and all this is very good news for customers when it is passed on.

It may seem aggressive to you, but this is simply the different companies desperately trying to get you in their door rather than someone elses. This is always good for the consumer - look at the media companies at the mo supplying telly, broadband and such - they are falling over each other to get our business and we all get some really good deals out of it. The supermarket sector has been, and always will be like this.

The supermarkets wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the general public wanting to come in and spend their money there.

Cammelia · 14/09/2007 14:25

Sorry Eric you won't get me to feel sorry for Tesco

Theclosetpagan · 14/09/2007 14:27

Good post EricL - it is about discretion and commonsense.

We used to (sometimes) give DS an apple out of a multipack and just pay for them as usual at the end. It's not ideal and maybe should not be done but there is a world of difference between people who do this kind of thing and those who have no intention of ever paying for the item and I bet there are a sizeable minority of those.

I am not a perfect mother and if the apple stopped DS screaming and yelling (was 2-3 at the time) then I had no hesitation - especially as I was too crap and disorganised a mother to always remember to take something with me.

Hurrah for those of you who ARE clever enough and who have perfectly behaved children in the supermarket eating the items you remembered to bring in your bag for them.

OrmIrian · 14/09/2007 14:27

No. The supermarkets don't suck money out of us. They do that to their suppliers.

MaryBleedinPoppins · 14/09/2007 14:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CristinaTheAstonishing · 14/09/2007 14:39

Guilty of leafing through a Hello magazine today with no intention of buying it. Appalling behaviour and almost as trashy as actually buying the mag

CristinaTheAstonishing · 14/09/2007 14:40

Not to mention not really interesting either - nothing that couldn't have waited 2 years till I read it for free and without guilt in my GP's waiting room.

gringottsgoblin · 14/09/2007 14:47

if they dont suck money out of us how do they make a profit? they want to make as much money as possible. yes they also suck money out of their suppliers, they want to sell stuff cheaply so more people come in and spend money with them. they dont give stuff away or sell stuff at cost price. if they want my money they have to supply a service i am willing to pay for, and part of that is to understand it is bloody miserable shopping with kids so what ever they can do to make it easier they should. that doesnt excuse stealing food, it just means they should be a bit more understanding

expatinscotland · 14/09/2007 14:54

Exactly, OrmIrian on Fri 14-Sep-07 14:27:22!

The cost of your cheap food is that British farmers are slowly going out of business, and then you can expect a huge increase in prices when foreign sources realise they've got the nation's stomach by the balls.

niceglasses · 14/09/2007 14:54

Knew this one would rumble on and on. Somewhere under this trivia is a difference of approach to various issues, parenting being just one of them. It either bothers you or you wonder why pple get worked up by it and blow it up into stealing-grapes = future asbo/crminal mastermind. Think I'm in the latter. You'll never make me feel sorry for Tesco either, nor any of them - its their outrageous practices [and our desire for cheap food] which has brought agriculture to its knees.

See, lots of issues wrapped up.

expatinscotland · 14/09/2007 14:59

Oh, please, goblin!

They offer online shopping, too, from the comfort of your own home.

They offer you cheap food nicely washed and packaged - ever seen what the raw product looks like?

Of course they don't give it away - it costs money to produce - or sell it at cost, they have to pay rent on the land the shop sits on.

Don't like shopping with kids? Do it online, leave your parnter at home with them, swap out babysitting with a friend or relative, buy fresh daily from a small local shop.

But don't expect the world to cater to you just because you have young children.

expatinscotland · 14/09/2007 15:00

Tesco is morally bankrupt, that's for sure. They rip off their suppliers, forcing them to try to produce as much for as little as possible and thereby spreading intensive farming practices which bring us such nasties as BVE/Mad Cow Disease and pesticides.

They rip off their employees.

But their food and clothes are cheap so punters keep giving them money.

Don't agree with that? Then stop going in there.

littlelapin · 14/09/2007 15:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

niceglasses · 14/09/2007 15:02

I have - unless I'm really despo.

gringottsgoblin · 14/09/2007 15:37

expat my post was in response to eric who seemed to be trying to drum up sympathy for the supermarket. i agree with everything you have said other than i think its fine for the kids to munch on something on the way round the shop if you pay for it at the end. i dont expect them to give stuff away, i just think its ridiculous for someone to imply they are not in it for the money, of course they are. and of course there are easier options than taking the kids round the supermarket - and as i said i would take the small shop option if the supermarkets i use werent willing to make life easier. its not catering to me because i have small children, they want my money, i will give it to whoever causes me least stress. if they dont care if i shop with them then they dont have to cater to me

jangly · 14/09/2007 15:41

If the toy broke that quickly they shouldn't be selling it in the first place. I might have paid for it, got the receipt and then returned it at customer services. Bloody tesco.

dejags · 14/09/2007 15:45

I couldn't get round the shops without bribing DS2 with something to eat. I would never dream of giving him something (usually dried fruit or crackers) and not paying for it though.

As for the toys - I have learned the folly of being an indian giver with my children. It wouldn't be worth the embarrassment resulting from piercing indignant screams when I returned said toy to the shelf. So no I have never, ever done that.