Is it legal to eat food or drink in the checkout lane at the store before you pay for it?

Question

I've seen more people in the last year or so, just open a bag of chips or a drink from their shopping cart and start eating and drinking. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but it seems like it's not YOURS til you buy it. I assume most feel they are going to pay for it so what's the difference. But what if your card or check doesn't go through. Are you now shop-lifting?

Answer 1

I agree with you. Until you have a receipt in your hand, it belongs to the store and you have no legal right to the item. It's technically stealing.

Besides that, it's also piss-poor manners, and I get so frustrated having to explain to my daughter why she has to wait until we get to the car, or get home, while she's watching an adult eating food they haven't purchased. It would be nice if they could wait the 3 minutes it would take them to check out.

Answer 2

It is absolutely NOT RIGHT TO DO SO.

I was a cashier once, and it's infuriating to see people do this.

I had one woman say to me "Three breads." as I was checking her out. Nothing else. I had no idea what she was talking about and looked at her quizzically, so she simply repeated herself. "Three breads." Still with a quizzical look, she explained, "I ate them earlier." I continued to stare at her as I processed this behavior and realized she must simply be insane. I added the breads to the transaction and didn't say anything to avoid being rude.

And there was another bloke who drank a soda while in line, and our registers went down just before his turn. He immediately came up, threw the bottle on the counter, and said, "Well, NOW how I am I supposed to pay?! I only have a card!" As if it was our fault that the card system went down. I thought "Well, technically you stole it, moron." He ended up getting his friend to pay for it.

Bottom line: A store is not a restaurant. You do not consume things before purchasing them. Aside from an emergency situation, you are a moron and an *** if you practice this horrible idea.

Answer 3

Think of it this way.... when you go to a restaurant, do you pay for your meal before you eat it?? Nope. You eat it, then pay. Same idea.

When I was younger I worked at a supermarket for about 3 years. Most stores don't make an issue of it because each customer is assumed to have the intent to buy whatever they have in their cart/basket. So it's basically the honor system. AND, most companies will let the customer do that because "the customer is always right". I saw it often enough that if you irk enough customers, it could affect business.

Besides that, who will police the policy? The 17 year old high school kids who rip open the oreos and say "whoops, it's damaged goods!" and then chow on items in the back room with their friends? NOT! And the one manager on duty is busy with more important issues.

Not all customers are doing it because they're slovenly pigs, in some cases customers forget to grab a bite to eat or don't have the time, so they appease their urge to buy everything in the store by snacking on something as they shop. Also, many of my co-workers would only have 15 minutes for lunch, so we'd run around the store getting our lunch, and so while waiting in a checkout line we'd eat our lunch to save some time.

So to answer your question, no technically it's not illegal, it's up to store management because the customer hasn't left the premises. Just like eating at a restaurant.

Answer 4

If I ever do that I will make sure I am paying in cash/have enough cash to cover at least that one item I ate. That way there is no question about oh what if my check doesn't go through. But no I don't think it is illegal. Besides if your thing doesn't go through, they can bill it as a loss like when a person breaks a jar of spaghetti sauce. Most major retail chains have a certain amount of dollars (thousands) set aside to make up for incidental losses. And I guess if a person could not pay it would count as that. Just don't try it at a mom and pops store.

Answer 5

i take advantage of the self checkout lanes for procuring my lunch smash nutrition. The lines are short and pass quickly. Time is on our component while working, those help get interior the direction of the long waiting lines of shoppers. They artwork and are handy while procuring some products and in a hurry.

Answer 6

I depends on if you have a UPC code on whatever, or if it has to be weighed by the pound at checkout. I agree it's rude, but it's done. Like munching on chips while shopping, which some people do because they only have a 30 minute lunch break. But that will still scan. But snacking on grapes in the produce aisle? No. Then they could get you for shoplifting.

Answer 7

Technically as long as it consumed in the store whether you pay for it or not it is not shop lifting morally I believe it is ludicrious.But to answer the other part of your question I too have opened a bottle of pop or water because I was thirsty while I was shopping but I always paid for it. It is those that let theoir kids open cookies and chips eat what they want and put it back on the shelf that bugs me.

Answer 8

Some of my friends do that. I really dont know why they cant wait that little extra bit of time till they are through the check out. I have noticed the ones who do this eating and drinking before the checkout are the ones who are eternally on diet! Seems like just the sight of food and drink gives them the munchies.

Answer 9

i have taken my child to the store and to keep her quiet, i give her the snack that i will pay for. sometimes, she'll sneeze and need a tissue, so i'll open a box of tissue for her, and then pay for it.

at the checkout, the cashier never makes a comment about the package being open. do they assume that i opened it? or are they trying to sell me something that is open by pretending they didn't see it?

anyway, never thought that it might be rude or bad manners... i don't take food out of someone else's cart to eat...

Answer 10

Really it is shoplifting, however most stores take the view that the customer is always right. They can always say "I was going to pay for that". Most shop keepers dont consider it theft until they have walked out the door. I agree, what if they cannot pay? i also think it is very rude.