Am I a Shoplifter?

[bostonphil]

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.

[Bonami]

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.

[bostonphil]

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.

[amyDAST]

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.

[linderlizzie]

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. 

[w3s]

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.

[ancmetro]

     All that I have bought has been paid for.
     I have the cash register receipts to prove it.

[ladavia89]

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

[Crashed]

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.. 

[tuffys_daughtr]

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. 

[candyterrius]

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.

[JediJohnnie]

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.

[dreamyxo]

If you didn't pay for it it's stealing.

[catchow]

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

[madeara]

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.