Do you ever open food packaging in the store and sample the food?

nope, because that would be theft.

No.

But I will open items that I already know I like and eat and drink as I shop.

Most stores think nothing of this practice.

The others won’t be seeing me again.

No. If I’m going to pay for it anyway, what difference does it make if I’ll like it or not at that point? I can sample when I get home and toss it there if I don’t like it.

@ibstubro:

GQ for “That’s fun.”

I don’t see it as theft if I pay for the item @ragingloli.

I don’t eat and shop a lot, @SecondHandStoke, but I admit to getting a cold drink as soon as I get in the store and drinking it as I shop. Win-win. I quench my thirst and that makes me shop the store longer. If I buy one on the way it, then I have to keep my receipt and it’s a big hassle. Thanks for liking “That’s fun!” It’s like the clerk and I are kids again, sneaking.

If there’s a limited quantity or a really good sale, it lets you know how many to buy, @livelaughlove21. I love Big Lots, but you snooze, you loose.

Heck no!

No.

Live a little, @kritiper, & @JLeslie! I’ve started a conversation with a person in a store about a product and ended up opening it so we could both sample, me pay.

I occasionally have eaten a few grapes, but felt very guilty afterwards.

Only if I’m really really hungry or thirsty and there’s no vending machine or water fountain around. And I will occasionally eat a grape to test the bunch, but only if they look iffy or if I’ve had bad luck with produce at that particular store in the past.

@ibstubro A taste of a grape if they have been bad recently, or an employee opening something with you for a taste once in a blue is different than doing it on a fairly regular basis. I think doing it on a fairly regular basis is probably not done by most people. If your store doesn’t mind then ok, but when you do it with things sold by weight it is sort of stealing. I realize one grape or one peanut, is not going to significantly affect the weight in any way. Once in a blue moon I ask for a taste from the deli before I buy the item if I have never tried it before, I had not even thought of that when I answered, but the person behind the deli counter is happy to give a sample. I do it on rare occassion though.

Yeah, I’ve done that with bottles of water or potato chips if I am really thirsty or hungry and I am on my way to pay for the item anyway.

I’ll usually don’t eat things that must be weighed, @gailcalled.

I don’t count sampling a grape, personally, @wildpotato & @JLeslie. I tend to chat people up in stores, I tend to shop places with limited quantities (like Big Lots), and I shop clearance. I open food in the store on a fairly regular basis.

Good for you, @Simone_De_Beauvoir. A little boldness seldom hurts.

I’m one for eat while I shop. I don’t always, but I am hypoglycemic, so sometimes, by the time I get to that point in my day, I require a snack to keep me going long enough. My regular places know that when they see me having a snack they will see the empty packaging at the checkout. I’ve also used the practice to ensure toddler cooperation. My daughter didn’t wnt to give up her snack sometimes to have it rung up, but when she learned it would always come back to her unharmed, she started seeing it as fun. She got a kick out of watching her goodies go BEEP then come back.

No, not any more; but when my kids were small, I would often open something that I was buying so the kids could snack on it and we could all try to retain some sanity! I don’t consider it theft when it’s something like a box of crackers that they are going to scan… I would not do it with something sold by weight, however.

The problem, @Jonesn4burgers, is that if you take your own, you run into confusion at the checkout. How do you prove that every time you shop, you bring something from previous visit to snack on?

@ccrow & @Jonesn4burgers I see that a lot with the kiddies. It doesn’t hurt anything and is wise for the ^^ above mentioned reason. I will say that I’ve seen a mom with 3–4 kids, each eating something different. That annoys me, because invariably if the kids are that unruly they’ll learn to eat part, put it down and open something else. If I find opened food on the shelf, I always put it in my cart and turn it in, always with a “I didn’t do this, but knew you’d want to take care of it before it became a huge mess.”

Yes, if I’m definitely going to buy it.

Good, @Dutchess_III, there’s no harm. There’s a gas station where they have bottles of pop for $1, tax included. A cup of ice is free. I get some odd looks when I walk up to the counter and hand the checker my empty bottle, cup in hand. lol

No, I don’t bring my own. That’s why I said, when they see me snacking, they know they will get the empty wrapper at the checkout. If I had a snack handy before I get there, I would have eaten it before. When things get very busy, a person can’t always grab a snack. By the end of the day, to stop off on the way home to shop, my sugar would be bottomed out. If I didn’t grab a snack as I cruised the store, I would feel racey, couldn’t concentrate on what I need, got REAL grumpy. I’d have a dew and a pack of Twinkies or something while I shopped, and then I could last until I got home. when the cashiers were new, they’d look at the empty wrappers pretty weird, til I explain. Sometimes they’d say whatever and just throw away the empties without ringing them up. I never went through without paying unless they said so.
(What made you think I was bringing stuff with me?)
I never eat stuff that needs weighed, but one time my son did. He ate some grapes, but I didn’t notice until I was checking out, I told them to add about five ounces to the weight, they didn’t. They said they would spring for his snack this time. Actually, they knew I was completely honest. If I had ever had something in my hands when entering that store, or some others where I was known, they would have believed me.

I did not think you were bringing food with you. I was agreeing with you and making much the same point made ^^^! lol

I occasionally will snack on something I’m buying anyway, but not anything that must be weighed. Maybe I’ll grab a small bottle of Diet Pepsi out of the refrigerator and drink part of it when I’m in the store, but I pay for it anyway. Also, I’ve been known to open ibuprofen bottles in the store and suck down two of them, but again, I always pay for the bottle.

No, but sometimes I’m so hungry I eat what’s in the package—most often string cheese or grapes—and save the packaging so it can be scanned.

I’d forgotten that I’ve opened medicine and used it before I paid, @laurenkem. Most likely some form of writing utensil, too.

Yup, that’s the thread, @Pachyderm_In_The_Room – eating prior to paying, but faithfully paying. :)

You see? My blood sugar was dropping when I read ^^^ that, @ibstubro, and I missed the point. I’ve had an evening nibble, and I’m doing better now. Wishing my evening could be even more improved, by BEING an evening nibble.FOR SOMEONE ELSE. LOL

I don’t open food but I will open up other products to determine the quality and make sure it has everything it claims to have. If I don’t like it I put it back in the box as well as I can and put it back on the shelf.

I only do this in Walmart because they sell quite a bit of junk and are notorious for reselling returned items.

Only with bottled water on rare occasion. Otherwise no.

You surprise me, @Coloma. I would have figured you for a “Let’s tear it open and give it a try, (total stranger/store clerk). I’m buying it regardless!” kinda gal. lol

ibthatguy

No. I don’t consume what I don’t own, and I don’t own it until I’ve paid for it. If I’m that hungry I’ll eat before going to the store.

All the time, especially drinks, but I always pay for it.

Only if I’m really thirsty will I open a drink in the store, otherwise not really. Occasionally if there are small fruit things like grapes/raspberries/blueberries at a stand I’ll try one and decide if I want to buy a carton or whatever. Same goes for bulk candy actually.

Like they’re going to tell you “Oh, this is only ½ full!” @Valerie111 and you’re going to go back and get a different one. lol

Instead of, “I was thirsty!”

No, except maybe one grape or one cherry.

@ibstubro LOL

I never opened a package at the store but I have nibbled on a few grapes.

I don’t, but not for any moral reasons. I’d be worried about getting in trouble.

I’ve never had a word said, @Juels. I rarely even consider the possibility.

all the time! but just like candy, grapes, . I have even had to open a box of Kleenexes. but I always pay for whatever I open.

I sometimes sample from bulk bins or get a produce person to cut something so I can taste the batch.

There are times when you just can’t tell if something is ripe by feeling looks or smell. Apple pears are an example. I used to feel guilty for this, because they are sold by weight, but there have been enough times I items never ripened or the dried items were too dried out and stale and I had to throw them out. I do this esp though if I am preparing something for a dish or meal I am doing for others.

There have been times my blood sugar was low I couldn’t wait. But generally I think its bad taste.

I sample coffee beans by eating.

Avoid the weigh-out items, @clehman, is the consensus. Otherwise, I’m with you…I think I have opened Kleenex. lol

Welcome aboard!

I always thought it was cool that the old Brach’s bulk candy displays had price per pound, and then, like, “3 for 25” cents, @Unbroken.

Yes, in my day I’ve eaten many a bean, @SecondHandStoke.

@Unbroken Wait – I can ask a produce person to cut fruit so I can sample? That’s great; thanks for the tip! I’d given up buying Asian pears for the reasons you mention, but now I will try asking for a sample first.

Branch’s candy. Yum.

@wildpotato Glad I could help. The produce man might as well know my name we talk so often.