Is it stealing if

[tantricia44]

You sample the fruit as you shop? I munch some grapes as I shop at WalMart/Target but I end up not buying any.

[mrrangerrick]

I'd think so. I've seen some people open a bag or chips or open a bottle of a drink and "sample" the freshness and then just put it back. If you ask me, it's just weird.

[sbenkoski]

My take is .. maybe I sample them to see if they are good, and buy them ! I'm not munching as you put it, as i shop !  If your munching with no plans to buy, why not make a sandwich while you're at it, and drink some soda ! yeah i'd call what you're doing stealing!   

[articx]

Without a sign that says free samples, it might be stealing.

[kjstrukel]

My mom always tasted the grapes before she bought them -- I wondered about that.  She didn't walk around the store "munching" on them -- that does seem like stealing.... like opening a bag of chips, walking around the store eating them, then throwing the  bag away.

[jwkelly]

My dad back in the 1980's would take us to Pathmark to grocery shop,take a pen from the office supply aisle,take it out of the package and use it on the list, decades later he had a stroke because :The Lord says "Thou shalt not steal !!!"

[jwkelly]

I go to quik chek buy a quart of milk,open it,pour it into a 44 ounce cup,drain 1/4 of a bottle of Hershey's chocolate syrup into it and take some of their ice too for a nice drink.   Then I go into the bathroom and fill my backpack with rolls of tp and paper towels and cleaning supplies,then I run like Forest Gump 10 blocks home. Ya got to make up for the high prices of "Convenience"  stores.

[countrygirl12]

My mom always tasted the grapes before she bought them -- I wondered about that.  She didn't walk around the store "munching" on them -- that does seem like stealing.... like opening a bag of chips, walking around the store eating them, then throwing the  bag away.

Tasting one grape or cherry or something in an open bag I do not think is stealing if you buy the bag. But if you eat them as you go thru the store and don't pay for anything then yes you are a thief.  If you eat half the bag and it sells by weight so you only pay for half of what you took then you are stealing.  But tasting a couple grapes then buying the bag I wouldn't classify as stealing.

[Tresbn00]

I think that one cherry, or one grape, is acceptable in order to determine if the product is fresh and flavorable and you have possible intent to purchase. Continuing to graze is stealing even if you have intent to purchase a bag of grapes/cherries unless they are sold by the package. If you are purchasing cherries/grapes by weight than continued grazing reduces the weight that you are paying for and the store is making less money. At this point I would say that you are stealing. They used to have Brach's single serve candy in stores so that you could mix and match different candies. The candy (up until last year) was about seven cents for each piece. At one point people were sampling this candy so much that the store put a little box on the display so that people could throw a few coins in to cover the cost. Must not have been too many honest people.

[bshee58]

If you get caught pulling off a grape and just eating them and not buying it, yeah that's stealing. I'd see if they were handing out samples to try, but you just pulling off one and eating it is wrong.

[pectacon]

I think one grape from an open package is reasonable if you're truly evaluating it for purchase. I've been invited to sample grapes by produce section employees, I've even had them insist on cutting open a watermelon or something for me to try. I realize one employee's permission isn't a license to eat anything in any store throughout life, but my point is they WANT you to buy the thing, and if sampling it will make the sale, they have always been welcoming in my experience.

If you're eating as a snack while shopping and then decide you don't feel like buying it, that's not ok. If you make a product any less salable to another customer (by reducing its contents or opening a non-sealable package) you should buy it.

[snuggleycutejc]

I don't know.

[Mizzkizz7]

Accidentally forgetting your water in the bottom of the cart after paying for your groceries?

[NRAJOE]

I always pop a grape or two in my mouth to see if I like 'em or not....

[AnnaKiki]

I'm sure they don't like it, but they do want you to shop there so they don't really say anything.