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It's kind of like using the bathroom at a coffee shop without buying a drink, right? I guess if there is nothing saying the play area is for customers only, they are not technically wrong, but yeah, I would make a point to buy something every time, even if not strawberry picking or whatever.

However I'm guessing most people do buy and on average it works out on the favor of the place.

That sounds like a really fun place! I personally always buy something in places like that, even if it's just a coffee or bottle of water. However, if they don't have any "no outside food" signs, I guess people are free to do as they want.

I guess as long as there is nothing outwardly prohibiting it, I would have scoped it out the first time to see what everyone else is doing (which doesn't make it right, I realize) and then made a decision. In this instance, if there is nothing that I want to purchase, I don't spend the money...but chances are I would have gotten sucked into picking the fruit.

Yeah, these things are such murky waters.

I mean, I think everyone KNOWS what the proper thing to do is. If you are going to stay at a coffee shop all day, buy more than 1 drink! If you go to a playspace like that, obviously a small local operation, buy something, however small, each time! But b/c there are no explicit rules, there will always be people that take advantage.

I've seen a local place having to set up stringent rules b/c people abuse them! There is this huge lavender field 2 hrs away that my friend & I went to a long time ago... Lovely place. They don't charge, and just have a small giftshop. I didn't need anything but after frolicking in their beautiful field I bought some mementos as support. But I guess people stay there all day, picnic there, use it as a photo shoot location, etc... The next time I went a few years later you have to pay admission!!

@catomd00: like free public playgrounds? Those are different b/c you are paying for those through your tax dollars.

I think it mainly depends on the business and the owners. For a seasonal spot like this one, it's not like they're preventing people from picking strawberries. And I imagine it's more laid back being outside. I still wouldn't feel right doing it though and would buy a slushie at the least.

What about going to the mall play space and not buying anything at the mall? I know this is a bit different because it's a smaller company, but the principal is the same.

@Happygal: Not always. We have some that are built and maintained by foundations, or even private schools that allow you to use them before/after hours. Also, mall plays laces....Regardless, it's up to the business to establish what they're okay with. If there's no stated policy, I don't really know why anyone but the business owner would care or think twice about what other people do.

I don't thinks it's in good taste and it's certainly not something I would do- but I would not be 'mad' at someone else for it. It's not my hill to die on.

I try to buy something when I go to these types of places (pre-baby). Now, with the babies, we usually buy something wherever we go.

I do think overall, businesses are trying to get any amount of traffic to their business... whether it's through contests, paid and free events and just regular advertising. I'm sure they know people are going to come and might not buy anything. Similar to going the mall, we go to browse and sometimes we don't buy anything.

It doesn't bother me or do I notice that some people don't buy anything. I don't got time for that. Also, how do you know they didn't buy something earlier in the day. Or bought something online. What if you come with other family members and they buy something.

Yeah, I personally wouldn't worry about it. Next year, they might charge a per person fee. I'm sure they would lose more business if they did that. They know the risks and they can do something about it if it really bothers them.

So I had to come back and say this thread bothered me more than it should. There's a lot worse things that a parent can do than take their kid to the playground. And there's a lot more ineffective, superficial ways a business could give back instead of having a community space. It really bothers me that parents are standing around judging other parents, whose means are probably well below their own, for taking their kid to the playground.

Honestly that's part of the reason I try and get most of my fruits and veg from these places, they have fresh products and add to the community in a tangible way.

I don't see the problem with enjoying the playground and making a day of it even if a family can't afford the snacks and produce or even if they can just not doing it that day. The business benefits from the place always looking busy and being a community destination point. They never know when when a visitor to the playground will also become a customer. Keeping it open to all increases the likelihood of attracting eventual customers.

I feel like it is incumbent upon the business to enforce a "for paying customers only" policy if they judge that it is prudent to do so. I would not take advantage of the facilities provided by an establishment that I NEVER patronize, but I do not feel obligated to make a purchase just because I have availed myself of their premises. In the situation you describe, I would not regularly want any of those foods offered, so I could easily see visiting the play area more often than making a purchase.

I was actually thinking about this today. I went into a small children's shop with my mother and daughter, and while we were there, decided that I should feed the baby before we started the 45 minute drive home. Mom and I sat in the (only) chairs in their play area for about half an hour, and then left without purchasing anything. While I didn't go there just with the intention of using the seats and then leaving (we wanted to browse), I regularly do just that at Nordstrom when I visit the mall. I don't feel at all in the wrong for using their facilities in this way.