s/o - do you let your kids eat in the grocery store before you pay?

[Anonymous]

No. We are never in the grocery store for long so it's not necessary. When I was growing up, my mother carted us along for hours-long shopping trips and we never got anything, either. I just don't see the need for it.

[Anonymous]

I don't do it. If the kids are hungry, I will buy them snacks/drinks first, then let them consume while we shop, or I will bring snacks. I don't love the idea of eating while shopping anyway, but I can't always plan things exactly as I like, so as long as they can get something that doesn't make a mess, it's ok. But we pay first.

It definitely gets easier as they get older - a 4/5/6 year old is going to have an easier time waiting 20 minutes for a snack than a 1/2 year old.

[Anonymous]

No. Not only is it illegal in VA (don't flame me it is in the statutes), but it teaches my DC to expect immediate gratification.

[Anonymous]

I've done it a few times.

[Anonymous]

I go to the store that has free cookies.

[Anonymous]

I do it all the time, I don't see the big deal. We are going to pay for them when we get to the checkout counter, what's the big difference?

[Anonymous]

We have two toddlers. We let them eat fruit from containers that are priced by the unit and not by weight.

[Anonymous]

Never, except for samples, because we are not explicitly paying for them anyway. It's not ours until we pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do it all the time, I don't see the big deal. We are going to pay for them when we get to the checkout counter, what's the big difference?

Because at the time that you are consuming them, you haven't paid for them yet. They don't belong to you. The store has no way of knowing that you're not going to just put the empty container on the next empty shelf that you come across. It's considered shoplifting in many states. Whether the store chooses to enforce it or not, it is still illegal in many states. Just be aware that you're doing something wrong and don't be upset if the store makes an issue of it. Be grateful when the store turns a blind eye and doesn't make an issue about it.

If you absolutely cannot possibly wait until you've left the store to eat, then go to the front and pay for the one item and then go back and do the rest of your shopping with the receipt in your pocket showing that you actually paid for the item.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Not only is it illegal in VA (don't flame me it is in the statutes), but it teaches my DC to expect immediate gratification.

OP again. This is why we don't do it (besides the fact that it's illegal and somewhat weird to me that you're consuming something that's not yet yours - surprised the stores are ok with this but anyway) - kids can wait and need to learn to wait. Sure I've been in the store a few times when they've been whining, but they can wait. I suppose if one of them threw a huge tantrum or something, we would have just left the store. I just don't get that your kid can't wait 20 minutes without eating.

[Anonymous]

I've never done it because I always have a snack on hand but if I was in a situation where I didn't have a snack and the choice was open a box of crackers that I plan to pay for or have the kid make everyone's life miserable by crying, I'd probably go for option #1.

FWIW, I was a grocery store cashier in college and people did this all the time (kids or no kids). As long as it is something with a barcode that is not based on weight (or something like a donut that is charged per piece), I never cared. The store doesn't really care as long as you pay for it at the register, trust me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do it all the time, I don't see the big deal. We are going to pay for them when we get to the checkout counter, what's the big difference?

Because at the time that you are consuming them, you haven't paid for them yet. They don't belong to you. The store has no way of knowing that you're not going to just put the empty container on the next empty shelf that you come across. It's considered shoplifting in many states. Whether the store chooses to enforce it or not, it is still illegal in many states. Just be aware that you're doing something wrong and don't be upset if the store makes an issue of it. Be grateful when the store turns a blind eye and doesn't make an issue about it.

If you absolutely cannot possibly wait until you've left the store to eat, then go to the front and pay for the one item and then go back and do the rest of your shopping with the receipt in your pocket showing that you actually paid for the item.

Lighten up, not everyone is a lawyer. The stores don't seem to mind, and it keeps my kids happy. Considering the amount of money I spend grocery shopping, I would think it would not be that big a deal that I open a box of crackers and eat a couple while grocery shopping.

[Anonymous]

Never. Son is now 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Not only is it illegal in VA (don't flame me it is in the statutes), but it teaches my DC to expect immediate gratification.

OP again. This is why we don't do it (besides the fact that it's illegal and somewhat weird to me that you're consuming something that's not yet yours - surprised the stores are ok with this but anyway) - kids can wait and need to learn to wait. Sure I've been in the store a few times when they've been whining, but they can wait. I suppose if one of them threw a huge tantrum or something, we would have just left the store. I just don't get that your kid can't wait 20 minutes without eating.

I often have to take my two girls, ages 3 and 5, on a large shopping mission. It isn't always a short 10-20 minutes worth of shopping. I wish it weren't so, but I work full-time and very often over-time as well. So sometimes, in the evening or on the weekend, we are at the store sometimes an hour, sometimes a bit longer. So yes, asking them to wait that long is hard. Not to mention going up to wait in a long line to pay for the crackers or whatever seriously makes my long grocery trip even longer.

[Anonymous]

13:26 Many of your fellow shoppers do mind. I don't want to have to use a cart that has your child's cracker crumbs and sticky mess. Teach your children that they can't always have what they want when they want it. It is a life lesson.