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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Debate & Discuss => Topic started by: bostonphil on May 02, 2017, 03:08:20 am

Title: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: bostonphil on May 02, 2017, 03:08:20 am
I live next door to a wonderful organics supermarket. Great stuff but pricey. I buy almost everything there and spend about $100 a week for just me. I am there about every other day. I know the staff and they know me.

Today, I met a friend for an early dinner in the supermarket's cafe. She treated me and it was not cheap but the food was very high quality and good. Then we did some grocery shopping in the store. Because I am diabetic, I can not eat very much candy so when I go grocery shopping, I always go to the bulk candy and sample one piece of a bulk candy. It's a treat to me.

My friend became very agitated, upset and angry when I did this. She told me that I was shoplifting. The store has samples all over the store and she said that if a sample is offered, it is ok to take it but not ok when it is not offered. She told me that there are cameras everywhere (which there are) and that I could be asked to leave.

This friend has retired well. I have not. Often a person sees things differently given their socio economic position. This really ruined our get together which had been very pleasant. This is how our get together more or less ended.

I have done this for years, even in front of staff. I have seen other people doing this, even the staff.

I looked up shoplifting on line and what I did is called grazing, sort of. I think grazing refers more to when someone takes a whole candy bar and eats it while shopping, leaving the wrapper around the store and not paying for it.

So what are your thoughts? When you go grocery shopping, do you graze products which are not obvious samples? Do you see what I did as shoplifting?

I have been very uncomfortable with my friend's response. 

I live in government housing for low income and disabled seniors. There are 99 apartments and most of us shop at this supermarket. This supermarket is good to us and we are good to them.





Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: Bonami on May 03, 2017, 04:25:47 pm
It depends on the culture of the store. Some stores have a lot of samples and you can try out the samples before you buy.  There are a lot of retail stores that sell candies which do not allow for sampling. They have a price per candy versus price per 1/4 oz, etc. Banks give out candies to customers by leaving it on the counter so if a parent who does banking with them have a half a dozen kids with the parent; the parent should be able to take one piece of candy for each kid.  If the store is one that you frequent a lot and they know you maybe they are taking that into account since you are a paying customer and the piece of candy is not worth losing a customer. In that case, you are not a shoplifter. 

I have a situation at a banking institution where I came in with another person to do banking. Well, you know they have this coffee machine which customers are allowed to serve themselves. Of course, when I come in with another person, I usually have one cup and sometimes the person I come in with also serve herself. It is free for the taking. We are not just coming off the street just to get coffee. We have business to do there. It is goodwill but sometimes the employees get irritated if customers take too much candies, or drink too much coffee (1 more cup for a non customer that day). I mean that is just silly.  If you are going to leave something out free or for those to sample, be a good host or hostess and let the people have it.  There, I think you have nice people working at your store. Good for you.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: bostonphil on May 03, 2017, 11:52:30 pm
I assume these retail businesses cover their freebies in one way or another. I think they can be written off as a business expense.

For instance, my supermarket has tables covered with loose grapes of different kinds as well as cherries and many varieties of tomatoes.  You bag your own. If they did not expect some sampling, they could have them in sealed bags and they do have produce like that so as well as loose.  There are sample cups at the olive and food bars. Olives are really expensive so if customers can help themselves to a freebie olive or two, I would hope it  is ok to help myself to a grape and a cherry. I don't eat 10 or 15.  I eat one or two.

Today I shopped and spent $30 just for me.  I'm a good customer.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: amyDAST on May 03, 2017, 11:57:45 pm
I take a jelly bean from the flavored jelly bean display assortment. I only take one each time I shop & since I do not hide me taking one & popping it in my mouth I don't see this as shoplifting. I assure you more people do this then not. No one has ever had a problem or seemed to want to voice opinion as to buy only so I don't see an issue.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: linderlizzie on May 08, 2017, 01:30:59 pm
I thought I had already commented on this post, but I was mistaken.

I've decided that you should turn yourself in and do the time for your crime.  ;)


:fish:
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: w3s on May 09, 2017, 07:46:48 pm
It's not shoplifting- lol I even remember a children's book about this. In the book, a girl sees her mom trying a grape in the grocery store and she thinks that she's going to jail for that. Trust me, trying one piece is no big deal.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: ancmetro on May 10, 2017, 02:38:16 pm

     All that I have bought has been paid for.
     I have the cash register receipts to prove it.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: ladavia89 on May 14, 2017, 02:58:00 pm
I'm curious as to how you're living in subsidized housing yet can pay $400 a month on organic food

I think as long as it doesn't specify no samples its fine especially if employees have seen you doing it for some long
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: Crashed on May 14, 2017, 03:16:50 pm
Business take this into account on their bottom line...That being said my position is this.... 1 or 1 grapes or candy is fine. NOT a whole soda or bag of chips or candy bar while you are shopping g. THAT is shoplifting.. I had a friend who was in the store with me and starting drinking the soda BEFORE paying. I felt it wasn't right and told her so.. She told me..don't impose my morals on her, so I left her in the store and walked out.. 
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: tuffys_daughtr on May 21, 2017, 10:55:28 am
I would think that if the store had a problem with it, someone would've asked you nicely not to do that anymore. It's ridiculously sad that this ended your friendship basically with your friend. Too bad they didn't just offer to pay for some of the candy for you instead of making a big issue about it.  :(
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: candyterrius on May 21, 2017, 04:25:07 pm
I rarely try food samples at the market let alone graze on non-samples. I don’t like to sample food without the intention of buying it. Even though it smells aromatic enough to entice shoppers to salivate, I usually ignore food sample stands and focus on buying what I need. To answer your question, I don’t think you’re a shoplifter by heart, so don’t be too hard on yourself. You probably have sampled a lot of food overtime that it may have turned into a habit without you realizing others may have deemed wrong through their lens.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: JediJohnnie on May 22, 2017, 02:40:23 pm
Sampling isn't a "crime". Technically, I don't think the store is too thrilled by it. But It's highly doubtful the police will take you away in cuffs for sneaking a grape, cherry or small candy into your mouth.

I'd probably draw the line at cookies and other pastries. That's sure to earn more than a sideways glance. :P
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: dreamyxo on May 23, 2017, 07:45:06 pm
If you didn't pay for it it's stealing.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: catchow on May 24, 2017, 12:45:43 pm
Being you said "I always go to the bulk candy and sample one piece of a bulk candy. It's a treat to me."

You have no intentions of buying the product then yes you are. Now say if it was grapes and you were going to buy some, but wanted to make sure they were sweet enough, then try ONE, thats ok
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: madeara on May 24, 2017, 07:53:33 pm
If free samples are being offered, no you are not.  If you are taking food out and not paying for it, that's stealing.  I hope that helps.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: king4cash on May 28, 2017, 01:13:50 pm
I think every one deserves a break in life from their mistakes.... 
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: fjaz1 on May 31, 2017, 10:27:51 pm
You really shouldn't be doing it, at  least not on a regular basis, BUT if you have done it in front of staff, probably young kids who don't know better about anything, and they haven't said or done anything to you by now I wouldn't worry about it but it is not a good thing for an adult to be doing when they do give samples anyway.  Also since I worked in a grocery store and see the amount of food that is thrown out the real crime is those who waste food anyway so if you graze once in a while I don't see a big deal, but hopefully it won't lead to you doing something worse and you do contradict yourself about your income and shopping at this store interesting.  Do you go to Red Sox games and pay $10 for a beer? Just wondering 8)
 
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: JaniceSW on June 02, 2017, 06:24:15 am
I'm curious as to how you're living in subsidized housing yet can pay $400 a month on organic food

I think as long as it doesn't specify no samples its fine especially if employees have seen you doing it for some long

I hate to be nosey or mean-spirited but since I was wondering the same thing I would be curious how this works.  Subsidized housing versus a good amount on organic food.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: Adroden2010 on June 24, 2017, 08:32:44 am
if the supermarket has samples then no its not shoplifting. if u open a bag of candy and take a piece or two then yes you are shoplifting.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: danmo783 on June 26, 2017, 02:00:32 pm
That is not shoplifting. Shoplifting is when you take something of value that will be sold and leave without paying. A sample has "zero sale value" so your friend is wrong.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: nannycoe1 on July 05, 2017, 05:08:31 pm
It is kind of like stealing if it is not a free sample. I see people eat grapes and other small things and I think it is wrong.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: brian8713 on August 04, 2017, 04:08:41 pm
I think it's shoplifting. If there's a sample out, that's one thing, but if there's not, then that means you have to purchase the item in order to taste it. I wouldn't do that again if I were you. Bad idea.
Title: Re: Am I a Shoplifter?
Post by: superSMAgirl on August 11, 2017, 04:59:25 pm
You are probably a small-time shoplifter. I mean, how many times do you go there to shop? Do you treat yourself every single time? Maybe that candy is worth just a penny or two, but over time that adds up. Just look at where we are here. We answer surveys, watch videos and post just for a few pennies. That doesn't seem logical, but we do it because we know that every cent adds up. So, how much, in dollar amount, have you not paid for?