<p>Definitely a difference between eating samples or free “giveaway” cookies and eating products off the shelves. If you are hungry - eat before you shop. I also don’t approve of people wearing the clothes out of a department store. Sure, you are going to pay for it - but it just seems a little “uncouth” to me. But then again, I come from a part of the country where women put on makeup and matching outfits to go to the grocery store. The South is changing, but not that fast.</p>
<p>I just got back from Trader Joe’s. I told the manager about the debate here and asked how the store feels about it. He says they have no problem at all with people opening products and eating and then paying for them when they check out and that it certainly is not considered stealing. He said that it does bother them if people open a package and eat and then leave the product half-eaten on the shelf, but the vast majority pay. I mentioned parents with little children and he nodded and then said, “Kids? I see it with grown ups who come here straight from work and are famished and don’t want to wait in that (he pointed to the lines that were literally to the back of the store) to pay for one thing so they can eat before they shop. It’s fine, not a problem for us.” It seems to me that a happy customer – as JHS pointed out – is a customer who will spend more time in the store and spend more money as a result.</p>
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<p>They’re called product demonstrators and, btw, this can be a nice little part-time job for students. They sign up with a merchandising company (or several companies) and are emailed to see if they’re interested in whatever demos are coming up in their area. They can accept or decline assignments according to their schedule. The work is easy, fun, and fairly lucrative…my S demos electronics and toys in his spare time, at a rate of $10-14 an hour, and often gets to keep (or resell) the product. He’s also done some “mystery shops” through the same type of companies and that has been even better as they’re often very quick (10-30 minutes) and, in addition to the pay rate, there are almost always products/services to be purchased which they keep and are reimbursed for. Movie tickets, food, gasoline, clothing, electronics, postage, etc are all things he uses anyway so he’s happy to be paid for buying them in exchange for reviewing the location and service.</p>
<p>Respectfully JHS, check your facts. In some states, the law permits merchants to physically restrain you and subsequently prosecute you for opening and consuming packaged food stuffs before checkout. Clearly however, most stores prefer to avoid negative reaction from honest customers and thus do not employ such actions.</p>
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We travel to another state (ok, it’s only 20 minutes) to shop in Wegmans because of the customer service and pleasant experience. We usually go straight from work on Friday night and eat dinner there (they have prepared food, pizza, salad bar, a couple of entrees) in their eating area. Afterward, we take the leftovers home (you pay after you get the hot food and then carry it up to the seating area). My son will walk around the store eating the remainder of his dinner while we shop. We’ve already paid, so it’s ok. A lot of people do that, though, because the place is packed with diners when we get there.</p>
<p>LakeWashington: which states, please? I’m just reading “Warmth of Other Suns” and can’t help wondering if such laws are the remnants of Jim Crow laws. (BTW–great book. Fascinating.)</p>
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That was the first book I downloaded when I got my Kindle in October. I recommend it to everyone. It is absolutely amazing. Truly not to be missed.</p>
<p>Proud mom of a Wegman’s employee. He was hired before the store was opened. Three interviews for a front end cashier. One month of training before he saw a customer. Amazing company that has worked with him throughout hs, and on through college. He just gives his supervisor the new class schedule each semester as soon as he has it and hours are given around it. No problem. He is treated beautifully as an employee. It’s a great job if you can get it. I will say that in three years my student has called in sick twice (because mom demanded it), and never been late. A pretty decent employee by any standards. He loves his job, is cross trained throughout the store.</p>
<p>The icing on the cake is the call I get at the end of his day “Mom, what can I bring you home?”. I rarely have to hit the grocery for last minute things, and when I don’t feel like cooking they have great, healthy options in the prepared section I’m happy to give my family. Rotisserie chicken, seasonal veggies, fresh salad, fresh bread (usually warm), and mashed potatoes is better then ordering pizza!!</p>
<p>I’m sure many other companies do this as well, but Wegman’s also works with local food banks and sends all their just expired bread and dairy (which usually has a another week where it is fine). I don’t know the overall policy, but I do know our local Wegman’s works with local organizations to donate any prepared foods that are perfectly healthy, but will not be offered for sale the following day. They seem to really get involved in the local communities. I like this.</p>
<p>Enough…I just thought I’d offer another view for anyone who doesn’t know about the company. Obviously my opinion is biased, but I was very open about that. 
There are a lot of companies that do good things in their communities, offer great service, and good employment opportunities to young people. This is simply the one I have information about.</p>
<p>Wegmans took the third spot on Forbes “Best Companies to Work For” list this year, just beating out Google.</p>
<p>Eh, don’t have Wegmans in Texas. But most of ya’ll probably don’t have a Fiesta or an El Rancho. Closest supermarket to me is WalMart Neighborhood Market or Aldi. So, different experience than shopping in an upscale market! (We do make the trek to Whole Foods or Central Market every once in a while for a treat!)</p>
<p>Let me know where some of you guys shop, so when the grandkids come and i let them munch on a box of animal crackers while we shop (just like i did with their moms when they were small) I won’t run in to any of you militant types who think I am shoplifting even though i pay for them when I check out. </p>
<p>I’ll be OK shopping by myself as I have NEVER sampled the produce.</p>
<p>I love Wegman’s, just wish they were closer than 25 minutes away!</p>
<p>Around here be considered a theft I believe it goes to intent - either the item has to be concealed or the person has to try to leave the store without paying. If someone pulls a cracker out of the box, places the box with intact and visible UPC label in the cart and pays, there is no intent to steal. I’m not sure how it works that something is unethical if it’s neither against store policy nor illegal. Cultural or regional background differences obviously influence thoughts on the subject. You really do learn something new every day around here. I’d also be curious to know where the law is different. I do know that there are some areas of the country where organized theft rings are hitting supermarkets. If such laws are recent, maybe it’s a response. </p>
<p>Debating a few of the arguments that have been made here - saying it’s not hygienic for a little kid to eat in the cart is a moot point when stores have been handing samples to little kids forever, who proceed to eat them in the same carts with the same allegedly sticky fingers. </p>
<p>The notion that it encourages immediate gratification - in the long run, I found it was just the opposite. When my kids were little they went everywhere, on all my errands, with me. I never had a nanny or family member living close by and wasn’t going to hire a baby sitter every time I had to go out. I found that they were much more patient in stores and everywhere else than the kids of people I knew who were never taken along on errands at all. I’m talking about very young toddlers - I rarely, if ever opened food in the store when they were older. I agree that it would not be a good idea to give into the demands of a spoiled kid who wants what he or she sees. By the time mine were older, mine were very patient in the stores - partly due to their nature , partly because it was a routine experience for them. </p>
<p>If giving an 18 month old a half a bagel makes someone uncouth, then I don’t know what to say. </p>
<p>You can’t legislate manners or good taste, but the stores around here are far from a mess of crumbs or awful scenes of people continuously stuffing their faces. I’ve never seen anything remotely like the one or two admittedly gross examples on this thread, and have never seen garbage or empty wrappers on a shelf. If that were an ongoing problem, I might feel differently.</p>
<p>Ah… this has become another “I’m in love with Wegmans” thread. You people really need to see a therapist. LOL</p>
<p>My mom and grandmother used to sometimes give me animal crackers in the store, too, sunnyflorida. It was a special treat and a fond memory. Come to think of it, I take back what I said - I’m sure I occasionally bought them for my kids somewhat past the toddler stage.</p>
<p>LW, I also have a Super Target that I shop at. Wegman’s came up, I have a student who works there. I am impressed by how he has been trained an treated vs. some of his friends at other local companies that are willing to hire young people. Nothing more, nothing less.</p>
<p>Placing an ‘LOL’ after a comment like ‘You people really need to see a therapist’ doesn’t make it any nicer.</p>
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<p>I think we moved to a wrong path here. The point I made was about the ethical behavior and not about the response on the organisation supporting a particular unethical behavior.</p>
<p>Wegman in question here might encourage an unethical behavior on the part of it’s patrons but does that make the behavior ETHICAL. Not in my opinion.</p>
<p>The question is whether it’s ethical behavior to “EAT before you pay or make your intention recorded to pay”?</p>
<p>POIH, I think here are many of us who do not believe it is unethical and we’ve moved on.</p>
<p>blueiguana, I don’t think LW meant to be snarky. (She’s probably just jeaous. ;))</p>
<p>As long as I record the intention in my own mind, and do, in fact, pay, and the store doesn’t mind, and it isn’t illegal, then there’s nothing unethical about it. Period, end of story.</p>
<p>Not even if you find something in Leviticus that says it’s an abomination.</p>
<p>I’m still not persuaded that this isn’t technically illegal, but I certainly agree that if the store doesn’t mind, there’s no problem.</p>
<p>But riddle me this: what if you do this, and then your credit card is declined?</p>
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Perhaps the discussion ran it’s course and moved on. Everyone knows where you stand on the issue. Others have made their opinions known. New people tuning in can give their thoughts. I know personally I feel no further benefit in restating my original opinion.
No, they don’t. You pay before you eat, or you are offered a sample. If others do something different, it’s not because Wegman’s decision to offer prepared foods and cafe’s encourages it.
This is most certainly the case, and I should have given the benefit of the doubt in any event. I owe LakeWashington an apology. I should not have been snarky myself. Not an acceptable response on my part. I’m sorry.</p>