Do You "Sample" Food When You're In The Produce Section of a Supermarket?

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

Endlessly Groovin'
Location
USA
Do you feel free to "sample" grapes, cherries, etc. when you're in the produce section of the supermarket? I never do that unless it's something put out specifically for customers to sample. But I see a lot of people who do it, of all ages.

When I was in the Sprouts natural market one day, they have these plastic bins of thing with scoops, where you fill your bag and pay by the weight. They contain trail mix, nuts, fruit, chocolate covered berries, etc. This lady just opened a bin of chocolate covered something, scooped some out and poured it into her hand. Then she casually walked around the store while popping them into her mouth.

I can't do stuff like that, I was brought up to consider it stealing if it's not officially offered for sampling. How about you, do you sample? What are your thoughts?
 

I feel the same way as you. I actually upbraided someone that was doing that in a store once, and they just looked at me like I was crazy.

To me, it isn't only disgusting - I see it as theft.
 
I think it is stealing, too ! If I am going to buy something, say cherries or grapes, it is hard to tell how grapes are going to tase until you actually taste one. So, if I am intending on buying the bag of grapes, I will usually eat one grape, just to make sure that I like the taste, and then I buy the grapes. I think that the store would look at this differently than just taking a handful of something or other, simply to snack on it as you shop.
Otherwise, I don't take anything unless they have a sample out for trying something.
It is shocking how many of the younger people do think that it is fine to do that though.
 

I used to nab a loose grape or two that had fallen off the bunch & were going to get tossed anyway, but since I don't even go into the produce dept anymore, it's no longer an issue.

Plus, most stores have started using either those plastic net type bags to hold the grapes in, or they put them in styrofoam trays with plastic wrap around them, so there are no more loose ones anyway.
 
I buy most of my fruit and veg from the market, and they encourage you to try them first so yes I do try them.

I would never take one in the supermarket because I'd be terrified I'd get arrested for shoplifting lol.

What drives me mad though is watching people give their child who is sitting in the cart a bag of crisps (chips), or sweets or an apple or a yoghurt which they eat as they go around, and then the remnants are dumped before they get to the cash desk!!
 
SeaBreeze said:
Do you feel free to "sample" grapes, cherries, etc. when you're in the produce section of the supermarket? I never do that unless it's something put out specifically for customers to sample. But I see a lot of people who do it, of all ages.

When I was in the Sprouts natural market one day, they have these plastic bins of thing with scoops, where you fill your bag and pay by the weight. They contain trail mix, nuts, fruit, chocolate covered berries, etc. This lady just opened a bin of chocolate covered something, scooped some out and poured it into her hand. Then she casually walked around the store while popping them into her mouth.

I can't do stuff like that, I was brought up to consider it stealing if it's not officially offered for sampling. How about you, do you sample? What are your thoughts?
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No..I have always considered it stealing, but there have been occasions when I asked a shop assistant whether something might be sweet or not and he/she has actually cut open one and offered it to me to taste.
 
I usually sample a grape before buying them. Too many times in the past I came home with sour grapes. It is not stealing to check to make sur you're getting what you are paying for. Stealing is when a store puts up for sale food that is not fit to eat.

I haven't tried sampling watermelons yet.:lol:
 
I'm not a sampler either mostly because I wouldn't eat any fruit that I know hasn't been washed thoroughly , & unless something is put out specifically to sample, also think it is stealing. I don't buy nuts, grains etc from open bins because too many times I've seen little kids squishing their dirty hands around in them. I don't like seeing parents let their kids eat stuff & not pay, but I have seen honest parents turn in empty bags etc of stuff they or their kids ate at checkout & pay for them.
 
I agree with Geezerete, we usually buy grapes and eat them after washing them. Who knows where they've been. :) If the store a got mad at you for sampling a grape, it would be more a case of "grapes of wrath"than "sour grapes"! :)

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Not a sampler either. .. .I feel it's wrong, and I take home and wash any and all fresh produce I ever buy.
(use FIT, a fruit and vegetable wash most of the time)
 
I went to the cherry section and their was 2 open bags,what I found out is people don't want to buy the 3 lb bag at (I think)$2.98/lb.
So they go get one of these free empty bags that are not nearby and take what amount of cherrys they want.
Its really the stores fault for not giving the shoppers the option to purchase a smaller amount.
And YES I sampled one too,I think I spitted the cherry stone towards the bakery section where someone slipped and fell on a bunch of fresh french bread.:cool:
 
I don't eat between meals so I would never sample the free samples given out from time to time. It is stealing to 'sample' food items not given out for free, and I would report anyone I saw doing that.
 
Zuzu, they've opened a fruit for me to taste also when I asked about it, once a watermelon and once a Pink Alice apple. Lots of people come over to taste also when they see that happening.

I also rinse all my fruit when I get home, just with filtered water. If it's strawberries, I'll leave them soak, then re-rinse, due to all the pesticides they use.

Hollydolly, I've seen older kids rip open packages in the cookie aisle and take some to eat in the store. I don't report any of these people, it's not my job to police my neighbors, that's what they have store security and cameras for, let them take care of any theft.

Geezerette, I've seen honest parents give the opened bag to the cashier to pay for it, but I would think my kids would have enough self-control to wait until it was bought and paid for, and eat it in the car or at home. :eek:nthego:
 
I wouldn't buy a bunch of grapes unless I tasted one first....I hate bitter grapes and would hate having to pay for a bag only to throw them away. This is the only fruit I taste though.
 
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