Disgusting supermarket habit

[sweeps]

Was in the grocery store today and witnessed something that I see a lot -- someone reaching into the bulk candy containers and grabbing candy with their bare hands. Usually it's a kid (and the parents seem to approve of it), but this time it was a 50-60 year old man grabbing a big handful of candy corn and stuffing it into his mouth while his wife didn't bat an eyelash.

It is disgusting and it is THEFT. Has anyone witnessed the same thing? Does anyone buy candy from those containers? If so, ewwww.

[Broken Arrow]

Sweeps, I can not even begin to articulate how much that bothers me.

Some people, even older folks, will eat and drink anything from Red Bull energy drinks to candy to grapes while they're "shopping". Some think that grocery stores unfairly mark up prices in order to fleece the public, so it's only fair.

People like that are only rationalizing why they are allowed to steal.

The worst kind are the ones that don't even bother hiding it anymore. They just grab whatever they want, eat and drink all over the store (especially alcohol), and then put the empty containers back wherever for these stores to clean up. And of course, they don't even buy anything to somehow "make up" for it.

To them, the grocery store isn't for shopping. It's for dining.

[WhiteAl]

I know what you mean. Ive seen it done with the gummybears container before. I recall hearing a remark though about something like you dont get condemned of theft if you steal under the value of 2 pounds. Funny, You could go into a shop and steal 1 pound worth of candy a day without being punished lol.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by WhiteAl

I recall hearing a remark though about something like you dont get condemned of theft if you steal under the value of 2 pounds. Funny, You could go into a shop and steal 1 pound worth of candy a day without being punished lol.

Wow, that's crazy. Who makes up these crazy laws in their head?

At least it's not, "Just another example of rampant, greedy capitalism and the grinding cog of the System. Down with the System! (But hand me another Red Bull.)"

[Sporkman]

I think that's called "grazing". I agree, it's lame & nasty.

[leggzz66]

one of the main reasons i buy prepacked candy only. I watched a discovery show, that showed candy at nice resteraunts were riddled with fesis. I wont touch candy that isnt prewrapped again!

[mackybethsmommy]

I manage a grocery store and you're right it runs rampant. People will grab their child a banana and open it and feed it to them and then hand our cashier the empty peel. Umm hello? How are we supposed to weigh the banana if it's in your kid??? I just charge them .25 for the banana regardless if they are on sale or full price. I figure it just about averages out. We always find half eaten candy bars on the shelf or a half of a 20 ounce soda. If I see them do it I will walk up to the cashier and tell her to ring up their soda and ask the customer if they wanted the rest of it or should I just throw it away. LOL They usually stutter and fumble for words and turn bright red.
Every time someone steals or "grazes" they are hurting everyone not just the store. We have to make up the loss somewhere and it's usually in the prices of other things.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Okay I am never ever buying a candy from a store (any store from a bin).

[gackle]

FLAVOR people! Those pre-packaged gummi bears are boring. The stuff in the bins has...has...seasoning! And each bin is unique depending on which dirty hands massage the contents. What can be more American than variety?

[herm4]

Originally Posted by gackle

FLAVOR people! Those pre-packaged gummi bears are boring. The stuff in the bins has...has...seasoning! And each bin is unique depending on which dirty hands massage the contents. What can be more American than variety?

Ewe!!!! This is reminding me of my Father-in-law. He often eats potato chips out of the bag while visiting our house, stopping to blow his nose and then right back to eating out of the bag, without washing his hands. Then he wonders aloud why nobody else wants any chips!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Oh, no! I;m not eatin' the chips at your house!

I've never seen anyone eating in the grocery store. Well, except for the cookies one of the employees hands out to adults and children alike. This store does a lot to be personal and a part of the neighborhood, even though they are a big local chain. There is an employee who hovers in the first aisles beyond produce to hand out cookie. No need for people to steal a snack in this store during the hours that fellow works. It is not samples meant to entice you to buy more. The guy does not tell you where to find the same cookies to buy them, and he does not even stand in the area where any cookies are sold.

I've never seen anyone steal and eat or drink in the store, but I imagine it happens a fair amount.

I have been very tempted to rip into something to eat when I was have too much insulin, but so far, I managed to get to the register and pay first. But maybe someday.... If that happens, I'd pay afterward, of course.

[sweeps]

For the record I don't have a problem with opening a package and eating some, if you pay for it at the counter. I give my son the heel from the loaf of bread that we're buying to eat in the store.

Eating things that come in bulk or by weight though, obviously that's stealing. And again, putting your grubby hands on something that someone else is going to eat, that's not right.

[cptacek]

Yucky about the chips and candy.

I've opened a box of Kleenex in the store before (and then bought it) because I figured blowing my nose while still in the checkout line was better than any other alternative. But stealing is stealing, so I wouldn't do this with anything sold by weight.

[boefixepa]

I took have opened food and eaten it while in the store or waiting in line. Sometimes those lines are long and I am HUNGRY. I never eat anything weighed, and I always pay for the things I opened. I'm honest about it.

[vsjhoc]

Yet another reason to eat before you go food shopping. And I always thought I was supposed to do it so I wouldn't buy so much.

[leggzz66]

I hear ya bout the long lines. I usually grab a diet tea from the cooler when i get that far, show the cashier that i have it, and gonna keep it out, i tell her, then drink it, cause we have a store with like 20 isles, yet only 2 or 3 are open, same with walmart too, but they never have my diet drinks there in thier coolers, and when i asked about it, they said, tell the coke man, its up to him what he puts in those. I never fail to ask each cashier ive been to over time, is there any way you could tell the coke man, to add sprite zero and some diet teas. Im diabetic and grew up up north and im so not used to being able to get what i want to drink or eat for that matter. I miss that about up north, the diabetic check outs. No candy displays and coolers with diet drinks of all kinds. I mean wally here has diet coke, but i also suffered renal failure last february, so dark drinks except tea/coffee are out. I love that lipton diet citrus tea. It smells like a highball to me and tastes like one too.lol. The newest one i tried that they had one time there, Gold Peak. It was awesome!

[Exile]

The main difference here seems to be between those who open packages and pay for it at the checkout stand vs. those who take food like bulk candy without paying at all. There's not much excuse for the former because those customers often expect the cashier to take and dispose of their sticky Coke cans, snack wrappers, etc., which is pretty inconsiderate.

But for thse who just take food without paying, no matter how little--even if it's just one piece of bulk candy--that's just plain theft, and no rationalization that the store "can afford it" can justify it. And what kind of lesson are parents teaching their kids when they let them get away with this, or worse yet, do it themselves!

And that crap about getting hungry and long lines? Gimme a break. What about eating before going shopping? That's not exactly rocket science.

[cptacek]

Hmm, I'm a good enough drinker that my Coke cans don't get sticky when I drink them. How do yours?

Somehow I think it was better to buy a box of tissues and use one and pay for the rest than, well, just about any alternative. Oh, and I didn't have the cashier throw the used tissue away. That would have been inconsiderate and just plain icky. I (gasp) just kept it and threw it away after I got out of the store.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by cptacek

Hmm, I'm a good enough drinker that my Coke cans don't get sticky when I drink them. How do yours?

Somehow I think it was better to buy a box of tissues and use one and pay for the rest than, well, just about any alternative. Oh, and I didn't have the cashier throw the used tissue away. That would have been inconsiderate and just plain icky. I (gasp) just kept it and threw it away after I got out of the store.

Sorry, cptacek, I didn't mean to make my post sound like a flame. I was referring to shoppers' habits in general.

[mike8822]

I never buy candy out like that. I buy it in the bag only. I never seen that happen ever though.