Hellobee Boards Topic: Opening things at the store before buying?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Opening things at the store before buying? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Jul 2026 17:21:54 +0000 LovelyPlum on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2389042 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 10:21:38 +0000 LovelyPlum 2389042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @PinkElephant: we shop at Wegmans, where you weigh and label all your protein as you go! So it doesn't matter if you eat it while you're walking, since they charge you by the weight on the sticker you print out in the produce aisle :happy: It's trickier at our local co-op, thoguh, because they have a bulk wall with yogurt pretzels thst LO is obsessed with. There, I'll usually go back to a cashier and have then weigh it, or use the scale and write down the weight. Then I tell them to use that when I pay for it. BananaPancakes on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2389018 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 10:10:15 +0000 BananaPancakes 2389018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We shop at Publix, and honestly, I've always gotten the feeling the encourage it or are indifferent. They give him free cookies, are always pushing slices of cheese on him, and hand him his popcorn chicken opened so that he can snack while we walk. They also have a big drink center where we grab a water if he asks. But Publix is all about the customer and I doubt it would ever be an issue. 2littlepumpkins on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388712 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 00:28:22 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2388712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't think I've ever done this. I tell lo that it isn't ours until we pay for it. I hope that doesn't come off as preachy or anything, it's just the way I was taught. BabyTsMom on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388707 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 00:22:18 +0000 BabyTsMom 2388707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Like many others have already mentioned, I have done this in an emergency situation. I don't like doing it because I kinda feel like LO thinks he can get whatever he wants if he whines/cries for it, but omg when there's an impending meltdown in a store and all I need is some milk and stuff for dinner, then YES I will grab some melts or puffs or whatever. I have done this maybe twice. LO is 18 months and I am sure it will happen again at some point. Mrs. Toad on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388702 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 00:17:57 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2388702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @HabesBabe: My mother always had the store weigh a banana and then shop with me eating said banana. PinkElephant on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388693 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 23:53:11 +0000 PinkElephant 2388693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @HabesBabe: gotcha! Haha figuring out how to pay for a consumed item/keeping track of packaging would totally stress me out more, which is completely the opposite of why people give their kids not-yet-purchased grocery store food :) :). youboots on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388660 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 23:08:10 +0000 youboots 2388660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I did recently at New Seasons (like Whole Foods) and the cashier said they encourage it. I think it depends if the store has a policy or not. Honestly I don't take T to the grocery store, so the issue has not come up as far as needing to feed the kid. HabesBabe on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388656 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 23:05:45 +0000 HabesBabe 2388656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @PinkElephant: I've only done a banana at Trader Joe's, because they're sold by the each there and not by weight. I think the majority of people (and seemingly all of the bees here) who do it don't consume stuff sold by weight. Our, if someone did, they have the cashier weigh something else equivalent (or heavier/more expensive). PinkElephant on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388641 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:57:39 +0000 PinkElephant 2388641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @HabesBabe: I actually think (worry) about this and will purposely try to either bring things in home-packed containers or that are a brand the store doesn't sell (like Target Simply Balanced snacks when I'm at our grocery store) because I feel like it says I'M NOT STEALING I honestly don't judge others who open pre-packaged things in stores (and I see it a lot), but I have never done it myself, and hope I never have to. It just makes me uncomfortable. Both DDs have had their share of supermarket meltdowns; usually being put in charge of holding something has worked for us. Honest question (and seriously, not judging, just curious) - If you give your LO a banana, since a lot of people have used that example...how do you pay for it at the end, since bananas are sold by weight? Pepper on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388633 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:52:49 +0000 Pepper 2388633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My mom always used to do this with us on long shopping trips. Our grocery store gives out free cheese/cookies/fruit for kids, so it's a non issue. If I needed to, I would definitely do it though! I worked at a grocery store for years as a teenager, and people always did it. Nobody at the store cared as long as it was paid for. LovelyPlum on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388627 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:47:49 +0000 LovelyPlum 2388627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MrsLonghorn: this is brilliant!! LO would love this!! LovelyPlum on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388623 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:43:06 +0000 LovelyPlum 2388623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, always. It's a rarity when I don't pay for an already-opened pouch or two!! daniellemybelle on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388616 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:38:48 +0000 daniellemybelle 2388616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Shizaz: That's messed up. We do this so often I actually feel weird when I give LO a snack I brought! Like they are going to think I am stealing when it is a pouch that was already rightfully mine, ha. I posted about this like a year ago on Facebook jokingly because DH was embarrassed that I was just ripping stuff open for LO willy nilly. (He didn't think it was stealing or bad parenting but just kind of shameless I guess.) I had a totally sanctimonious friend from high school (with no kids) leave the longest comment about teaching delayed gratification and how kids in Europe don't snack, etc. etc. OMG - eye roll. DH has been reformed, btw. LuLu Mom on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388611 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:34:16 +0000 LuLu Mom 2388611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, I worked as a supermarket cashier in college and thought it was strange ringing up people's trash. However, about a month ago in the checkout line I felt very faint/dizzy all of a sudden so I took a bottled water and drank some while standing in line. The lady understood and was like oh honey you look pale and had some push my groceries out and load my car for me MoonMoon on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388424 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 20:28:31 +0000 MoonMoon 2388424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, we do this sometimes. However, a cashier once looked grossed out when I handed her a used pouch to scan, and that's when I realized not everyone wants to touch something a baby has sucked on! So now I save it for things like crackers, string cheese, etc, to be considerate if a cashier has an ick factor. Dandelion on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388309 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 19:07:21 +0000 Dandelion 2388309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, we go for the free cookie in the bakery 😂 HabesBabe on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388307 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 19:06:40 +0000 HabesBabe 2388307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I have when shipping with DS, but DD was/is an easy shopping companion and usually doesn't need snacks. DS has eaten all of the snacks I brought in our diaper bag AND wanted more, so I grabbed him a pouch to finish with the groceries. I don't see any issue with this at all. I wonder if the cashiers think I'm stealing stuff because 99% of the time, LO is eating bananas, puffs, pouches, or crackers that I brought along with me when I'm paying for my stuff. winter_wonder on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388282 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 18:15:15 +0000 winter_wonder 2388282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @SweetiePie: haha, I will try to remember the puffs tip :wink: MrsStar on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2388132 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 16:07:41 +0000 MrsStar 2388132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I haven't done it and doubt I will. I usually pack snacks to bring with (packed in my own container) otherwise if lo wants to eat an item while grocery shopping then I tell her she can have it when we get to the car if she has behaved, I used to be a cashier and it used to annoy me a bit. Umbreon on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2387932 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:33:29 +0000 Umbreon 2387932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Be careful when doing this! A friend of mine did this all the time and forgot to tell the cashier about a yogurt she gave her son and walked out. She got called in by security and was banned from the store. She was pissed because she'd spent over $200, offered to pay for it right away - it was clearly an accident but the store didn't care. I personally wouldn't do it, but I think it was the way I grew up. I would be too nervous about forgetting. twodoghouse on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/3#post-2387907 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:16:22 +0000 twodoghouse 2387907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I never have, but I guess in an emergency I would. Usually when they are melting down a book from my diaper bag works. If I give them a snack when they are angry at the store it will just get thrown and I don't want to make a mess. (The books sometimes get thrown too, but that doesn't make a mess so I just deal with it). If we are getting a toy or new book, I will let them hold that until we get to the check out, though. They have to keep it in the packaging though. Autumnmama79 on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/2#post-2387903 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:11:12 +0000 Autumnmama79 2387903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ When LO was little we did this often. A bun or an apple to snack on while we were walking around were favourites. As far as the "we have to pay for things before we eat them" thought process goes, every time we dine at a restaurant, we are eating before paying :wink: travelgirl1 on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/2#post-2387896 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:06:02 +0000 travelgirl1 2387896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't usually, I prefer them to understand we have to pay for things first. But, desperate times and all.... We did it today and the cashier was fine about it, although DH was horrified. MamaG on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/2#post-2387796 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 12:39:25 +0000 MamaG 2387796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Never would have thought to do this with a pouch, but after reading this I totally did it today! I picked LO up from daycare for a ear check at the ped and it was snack time. So she missed out and was hangry. Since we needed to go to Walgreens to get a prescription, I grabbed a pouch and let her have it while we waited. I grabbed the diaper bag this morning and a sippee of water, but didn't think to grab a snack. So thanks everyone :) And I bought extras that are now residing in my diaper bag. thismustbetheplace on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/2#post-2387791 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 12:35:01 +0000 thismustbetheplace 2387791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I've definitely done it, and it seems pretty common where I live.. I see most toddler-aged kids with a snack in the store. Makes my life infinitely easier and allows me to focus on getting what I need to get in/out quicker. My son is not of the "reasoning-with" age yet so that doesn't work for us. I do 100% of the grocery shopping in our household and have my son the vast majority of those trips. A quick tip: My son loves apples (and they last almost the entire store!) so that's often his snack. When I'm checking out I just ask the cashier to weigh one of the other apples twice to make up for the one in his hand. Easy peasy! Edit: And another thing to add, I worked as a cashier in a grocery store for 5 years through high school and college... it never bothered me or any of my coworkers/managers a bit when parents did this! ShootingStar on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/2#post-2387781 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 12:28:48 +0000 ShootingStar 2387781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We do this all the time. I grew up doing it, too, lol. I do the exact same thing my mom did - I go to the cracker aisle and I get him one of those little snack packs of animal crackers (the red ones that look like part of the circus). He only gets them at the grocery store, and they keep him occupied almost the entire time. Otherwise he's complaining to get out, taking his shoes off and throwing them, etc. If it makes it better, our grocery store has these scanner guns and you walk around scanning all of your stuff. So I scan it (along with all the other groceries) and then pay at the end. If you are lucky enough to have a kid who's content while grocery shopping, thank your lucky stars. Not all of us are that lucky :wink: . .twist. on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/2#post-2387754 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 12:12:20 +0000 .twist. 2387754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @woodentulip: ditto. I'm not comfortable doing it, but I get it. Ajsmommy on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/2#post-2387702 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:46:08 +0000 Ajsmommy 2387702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I have def done this. It's not an every time occurrence and I do take snacks to try to avoid DD wanting something but sometimes you just can't help it and honestly I don't think it's a big deal! Most of the time its a fruit that DD wants, like we'll get the box of clementine's and she'll want one, so she has one. She also eats some grapes.. I see that mentioned a LOT above but she only has a few, not like the entire bag so even though it's weighed at check out I doubt 5-6 grapes weight that much. I have also had a soda while shopping and given the empty bottle to be scanned. Probably only like 3 times in my lifetime, but I've done it. snowjewelz on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/2#post-2387697 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:43:08 +0000 snowjewelz 2387697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think I've done it once for myself because I was absolutely starving haha. MrsSCB on "Opening things at the store before buying?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opening-things-at-the-store-before-buying/page/2#post-2387689 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:38:54 +0000 MrsSCB 2387689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I've done this for myself, like open a bottle of water to drink while shopping if I'm super thirsty. I don't see why it would be an issue -- they can still scan it easily after being opened and I'm still paying for it either way.