You suddenly get starving while shopping, what do you do?

I agree with your daughter about this one. I have never thought about eating in the grocery store, if I want to eat something I will buy it first and then go outside of the store and eat it. I don't know the reason why, maybe I think this way because I consider the item mine after I have paid for it and I don't think it is appropriate to eat it before going to the cashier.

I'm with your daughter on this one. I'm a firm believer in not consuming anything til you've paid for it. When my kids wanted something to munch on when they were smaller I bought a snack and drink with me and kept it in my backpack/diaper bag. Even though you are going to pay for it, I"m not sure everyone is honest and pays for it.

Your daughter is being too self concious. I thought everyone did things like that. I do it all the time. If you pay for it then it is perfectly fine, I think. I dont think people that work in the store mind either. They have seen me do it and never once said anything so I just assume its all ok.

I have opened up something in the store for my kids before and I have opened a drink for myself as well. When my daughter was younger she was obsessed with bananas. We would go to the store and if I was picking up a bunch of bananas she would always want one right away. I would find one ripe banana and go up and pay for it, so she could eat it while we were shopping and I would show my receipt to the cashier when we got to the register. I would do that since bananas are by weight not by how many you were getting.

Seems to be different everywhere. You just dont rip anything open before you pay for it here and I would not dare doing that unless I am really low in blood sugar, being diabetic and urgently needing help. There is always enough time to wait till I have paid and checked out before I open the package of what ever I crave.....

Here if you get caught, you can be fined. My friend was fined, for opening something before paying for it, even though she was going to pay for it. She was hauled off by security in a store. I personally wouldnt do it, I may grab something and eat it when I get out of the store, in the car.

This is not an uncommon practice and I have a few people give bags of crisps to their children, which they then pay for later at the till. It is not something that I have ever done and I doubt if I would ever consider it. I prefer to leave the shop and then maybe buy a snack somewhere local. Nevertheless, I cannot see any way that it would be classified as rude behaviour.

I would have never thought of doing this until I saw a friend do it. It seems fine by me just so long as you DO pay for what you eat in the store. Even so, I'm more comfortable with paying for it before eating it. I think it would be wise to know the policy of the store first as well so that you wouldn't end up getting arrested for shoplifting. Some of the stores might call the police and ask questions later.

I usually wait until after I've checked out before diving into something, but I did once open a box of kleenex before paying for it. I just had to blow my nose, you know?

This relies on honesty and many supermarkets have security guards which might not understand what you are doing. You are opening a product and using some of it before paying for it. Personally I would feel uncomfortable doing that. My friend was sneezing so she grabbed a cheap box of tissues. She opened the hole to get three or so tissues out. She desperately needed to use them. At the check out she paid for the box of tissues and a few of the other items in the hand basket. I think it is a bad idea to go shopping when you feel hungry. Maybe take along some small snacks in your handbag in the shop has many security guards.

It's usually my thirst that I can't take. I grab a bottle then take a gulp or two. I dont think there's anything wrong with that as long as you still pay for it

I have never opened any food package or juice while inside the grocery. I was brought up that way. But then this SIL of mine would always take a bottle of iced tea and gulp on it every time. Well, she pays for it after shopping. And so, as time went on, I could be doing the same sometimes. But I really only do it if I feel I am dehydrated and not just for the sake of drinking one.

Personally i don't like to see this because the first thought is that someone has eaten something without paying for it. I know this isn't the case with you and I can't see that it does any harm, but is it a good example for a child? They could take and eat without you seeing and simply throw the packet away. If I get hungry when I am shopping I have noticed that the process takes much longer because I tend to move slowly and stop altogether at the biscuit section!

Here in our city, we only open our packages after we have paid it. We are used in that manner. But for me, there's no wrong in opening packages while shopping as long as you pay for it. I also agree with you on eating before shopping because the foods in malls are very expensive. Have a nice day and happy mylotting! :)

The only thing I see wrong in it is that if people do not see you pay for it they may assume the worst, and may justify eating and not paying by thinking you have not paid. I try to make my shopping trips as quickly as I can and I might purchase something to eat as soon as I am in the car. I will also carry gum in my purse to chew as that helps me. I will loo for someone giving out samples as well.

they don't like you doing that here. The manager will come and tell you you cannot eat food you haven't paid for. He will make you take out your money and pay on the spot.

Sorry, I'm with your daughter on this one. The goods belong to the store till paid for. Sure, by putting them in your trolley, you are committing to the purchase but they are still not paid for. It also sends the wrong message to people who are easily tempted. Someone sees you snacking on stuff so they do it too. They dump the container/packaging though and don't pay. Do the right thing. Pay first, then eat.

Instead of arguing till kingdom come, I wonder if the both of you could us this opportunity to teach a lesson about exceptions. Neither of you are wrong here. Your daughter has been taught and taught well about knowing and doing the right thing. For a start, as far as the store's merchandises is concern no one has any ownership over them until they are paid in full at the cashier check outs. However, I believe that as long as the merchandise is picked the intention will be to purchase them which makes it ours. In this aspect, I do not see there's really anything wrong when we opened up a can of soda, a bottle of water or even a bag of chips when the situation calls for it. We are within the premises and the boundaries which makes us responsible for our chosen merchandises in our carts. Hence, when we are still considered lawful since we are within the legal limits of the store's premises. Your daughter needs to learn that there's another aspect in life where people need to exercise and practice exceptions. You have a legitimate grounds for what you are doing along with other physiologically deprived or medically stricken customers that need a sip or snack up. Other than exception, I believe we can attend another lesson about being pragmatic and practical in life where there's no other better situation than this. I mean look at it this way, where we would actually be wasting precious time to cash out just because we need to attend to our small little needs and look for a temporary locker to store the remaining or sinfully dispose the remainder into some bins which otherwise could be finished up. No one is committing a crime and none committed when we do not violate the established laws. Laws are straightforward but static, however I think your daughter needs to learn about the various ways of complying.

I would wait until after I have paid for the items but as long as it is not prohibited by the store or you are not causing inconvenience to anyone, then I have no problem with other people opening the items before paying for them. And oh, I opened one bottled water for my daughter once

It is not rude at all of course when you are hungry you have to eat. However, you are inside the grocery. In our country, nobody eats inside the grocery because they might think you get it from the counter. There are many shoplifters here that is why they prohinit someone to eat inside the grocery. We do eat outside the grocery.