Stealing - Oil City,PA

I don't supose there's any chance they may have paid for the coleslaw and chips already at the deli department?

I often buy my lunch at the subway in the store and finish eating the chips while I am shopping. Because they were so open about it, they probably
Did the same thing. I always carry my receipt with me in case someone asks.

I don't even need to pause to think twice about this one. I would most definitely have said something. I would have been polite and kindly asked them to pass me the chip bag and deli container so I could scan them into the register.

Well, I'm sorry - this is what political correctness has done to our society.

GOOD FOR YOUR DAUGHTER!!! I'm glad she said something to you.

I feel you should've stepped up and said something - wheel chair or elderly - what they did was wrong. The clerk should've said something as well. Making minimum wage or not - it's about morals and integrity - she just enabled that couple to continue what they were doing. PERIOD. It's just like our government - we've allowed them to do so much over the last 40 years that our elected officials have forgotten they are our employees.

THE COUPLE STOLE!!! PERIOD!!! You didn't stand up and say NO MORE! You failed as a parent - your daughter called you on the carpet.

The clerk has now enabled those people to continue to steal. Which in turn causes the company to raise prices so they can compensate for theft which in turn keeps her at minimum wage - there is a cycle here people! WAKE UP!! Theft leads to higher prices. Higher prices lead to companies cutting back, laying off or keeping their employees at a lower pay rate. WHO PAYS FOR THIS?! YOU AND I DO!!!!

It's too late to go back and "fix" it - but in the future - STEP UP!!! Don't let it happen again - you don't need to cause a scene - you just need to say - "excuse me - I think you forgot something" and put it up on the counter. Or you can be more bold TELL THE CLERK!!! Or get a store manager. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO STEP UP!!!!

H. I've read the other responses and see you've received opinions on both ends of this situation. I honestly don’t know how I would’ve handles it. It would really depend. There are so many factors to consider.

Anyway, what I wanted to say is that the person who commented that you "failed as a parent" I believe is not true.

You succeeded as a parent because your daughter did observe that what happened was stealing. You've obviously done something right. I don't know many 12 year olds that would have put the 2 and 2 together or would have cared.

Yes she may be shocked that you didn’t say anything but I feel that you answered her question very well. This can be a lesson learned moment for both of you. Maybe you can talk to her about it again and commend her on what she said and how she felt about the situation. Tell her how mature she is and how proud you are of her.

You are raising a great girl! Pat yourself on the back and know that you have done your job perfectly!

I was in retail for many years, even did 4 months at Walmart which is the most taxing clerk job ever I might add. The clerk may have already had a long, rough day and just plain didnt notice the containers OR just didn't feel like hassling the customer... which of course is a company NO NO and the clerk could get fired for that, afterall it isnt her money that she is letting slide through the register. Trust me, clerks are so underpaid for what they have to deal with while on shift, it's almost barbaric, so I can definitely see how it could happen. Obviously she doesnt have a great work ethic, and that would be the discussion I would have with your daughter since you feel the clerk did dismiss the eaten food. If you reported her, I"m sure she would get fired. I wouldnt report her, but use it as a topic of work ethic discussion and moral standards for your daughter.

If I were the cashier (I was a cashier for several years when I first started working as a teen) I would have said that I needed to ring up their deli purchase. If they would have said they paid for it I would have asked for their receipt.

I used to not say things to people but I have started recently. I would have said something like, Oh, you forgot something in your cart. Try to make it seem like it was a mistake but let them know you know :)

Don't beat yourself up about not saying anything.

I don't know the situation at your Walmart, but many stores have a register at the deli counter because people will buy some prepared food or a drink and eat it while in the store. Maybe this is the case with this situation. The cashier may not have known if the food had been previously paid for or not (if there was a register at the deli counter)

I have not been in that situation, but I am willing to bet that the man being in a wheelchair had an affect on the willingness of the clerk to confront them. I'd guess they have done that before and were well aware that no one would say anything.

Sometimes the sheer "ballsy-ness" of people to do things like that is intimidating enough for people to leave them alone and not make a scene about it. Sad but true.

Yes, what they did was stealing. It's a shame that they are so comfortable stealing. My kids weren't even 3 years old when they fully understood that to eat something (like grapes or a banana or other items that you pay by the pound) before it is weighed and rung up is stealing. And I never allowed them to open a package of something and eat it before it is paid for at the register. The only exception, is that if they are really thirsty and I am buying them a cold bottle of water to take in the car, I will let them open it and have a drink, then put it back into the cart or on the conveyor to pay for it. (Most of the time they just get a drink from the water fountain). Even when they were small, I brought snacks from home in my purse/diaper bag to keep them busy while shopping. Or let them get a cookie from the bakery counter at checkout time to keep them occupied during the checking out process.

As for what I would have done if I had been in your situation... in all honesty, I probably would have done what you did... let the clerk make the call. But I probably would have pointed it out to my kids if they didn't point it out to me first (once outside the store). I would be irritated that I didn't say anything, because stealing (whether by concealing something or eating it) drives up the costs for everyone else... but, the clerk is the one who should have asked them for the containers to scan the barcodes from.

Depending on exactly how the line was set up, I MIGHT have "helpfully" said "Oh.. you forgot the chips and slaw in your basket."

If I had been the cashier, I probably would have said something.
I know at WalMart they have pop machines in the front entry-way area... but even if I buy one there before walking into the store, I let the cashier know as I'm checking out so they don't think I'm trying to steal something...
As another shopper in line with these people, I probably wouldn't say something especially if I was with my son. I wouldn't want to put myself or him in a situation that could provoke any type of altercation or danger... Some people are just absolutely CRAZY when they are questioned or put on the spot (especially if they're the ones in the wrong!).
I definitely applaud your daughter for realizing that what that couple did was wrong - good for her!
I used to work at a grocery store... maybe it's just my personality, but I had no problem questioning people as to whether they already paid for something. If those people HAD already paid for their items, they should have no problem providing some sort of receipt or even saying that they already had paid for it.
I'm sure they did it on purpose - and I'm wondering if they did it to see if someone would actually stop them or question them about it.

Many times people will get food items at the beginning of the shopping trip, pay for them and then eat them while they do their shopping. Since the couple seemed very nonchalant about it, I'm guessing that's what they did.
No, it wasn't your place to say anything. The clerk should have asked if it was already paid for, but you butting in wouldn't have been good. Now if it was an obvious shoplifting (you saw someone pick something up and stick it in their jacket) then you should alert a manager.

Personally unless you are a child, or have a medical emergency WAIT to eat your food until it has been bagged ... IF I have to eat urgently (hypoglycemia) I always bring it to get scanned first the eat or sometimes he little one just can't help himself there is all this FOOD, and we make sure to pay for that RIGHT away. I think stores should have a policy against that really.

I worked at a video store and this happened a lot. I would see kids opening up packages of candy and eating some or all and leaving the package on the shelf opened/half opened or ate. If I caught them I would find their parent and explain that they needed to pay for the item. I have also seen parents try to put it back on the shelf themselves....I've stopped those parents too. I'm amazed at how many of them let their kid have the candy after they sneakingly open them. But then I was also amazed at how many let their kid roam around a video store on their own with no parent supervision. These kids would also be the ones that would mess up a the video wall by rearranging the box covers.

So to answer your question, if I was the clerk, you bet I would have said something to them. If they said they paid at the deli counter, which is possible, I would ask for the receipt.

However, If I was the shopper behind them, I probably would have not, because that is not my job. It was the clerks job.

Just wanted to say that I think it's great that your daughter had such a strong reaction to seeing the stealing taking place. This is definitely an important opportunity to reinforce with her these ideals of honesty and responsiblity that you have obviously already laid the groundwork for. Instead of worrying about the couple and the store, maybe focus on your realm of control and use this chance to help your daughter learn something from it.

The clerk should have said, "I need to ring up the stuff in your cart." Simple as that. I don't care how much money she makes -she let him being in a wheelchair totally cloud her vision and responsibility. They probably pull that scam everywhere! I let my kids (and sometimes myself) snack on and drink stuff sometime in the grocery store, and we always hand the empties to the cashier to pay for. If you don't -it's stealing -no way around it!

OOOH! Tough one! I like to think I would have said something ONLY because I would want to show my daughter, that when people steal, they do not get away with it without at last having to explain themselves, and if the clerk wasn't going to teach the lesson, then I would have to. If I was alone, of course I wouldn't say anything, because if it's not the employee of the store's business, it's certainly not mine, and I'm an adult who nows stealing is wrong so no lessons necessary.
BUT, in the heat of the moment, I may not have said anything either. Confrontation can backfire. However, I did pass up an opportunity to stand up for something right in front of the kids once, an didn't, and regretted it.
Tough call.
Very good that your daughter saw it was wrong. No damage done. I would probably be frank with my daughter and say, "You know, I really feel bad I didn't say anything, I thought the clerk would handle it, I didn't want them to turn on us, I was caught off guard-you're right, they were stealing and it was wrong, we should have told the manager or something...next time". Just be honest if you feel it needs addressing further.

In 2006 Wal-Mart switched from having a zero tolerance shoplifting policy (prosecuting if item stolen was more than $3 in value) to one that "only press charges against those between the ages of 18 and 64 who take at least $25 worth of goods." Wal-Mart made this decision because it was more cost efficient.

@ Cheryl O. Wal-Mart does not pay their employees sub-par wages because of theft. I encourage you to read this article: http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/ib223/

H. H,
No, I wouldn't have said anything to the couple who stole. In part because I know that Wal-Marts gross profit in the past year is 115.08 billion dollars while theft accounts for less than 3 billion dollars in loss. In part because I think Wal-Marts business tactics are uniquely obscene. Mostly, because it wouldn't change store policy or the outcome. This past May 26th a Wal-Mart store employee was fired for trying to stop a shoplifter who was stealing a computer.

We get to instill important moral lessons and have conversations with our children. Making an example out of other people's uneducated, desperate or corrupt actions does not necessarily act as a sound or safe lesson.

Well perhaps I am naive in that i give people the benefit of the doubt. My thought would be that they bought those items before doing the rest of their shopping(I have done this). They could have gone to the deli, and then come up and checked out the food and paid, and then gone back for their other shopping. So if that were the case then they did not steal. But as I said perhaps I think too well of people. If indeed they did not pay for it, then it should have been addressed but maybe the clerk thought as I did, that they already paid. As a customer in line I would not have said anything, but I also would have assumed they paid already. As a clerk I am not sure, but it could not hurt to ask if they had already paid for the items. I have already done this, bought food and then went shopping while eating it, and I have gotten some stares in checkout, but whenever I was questioned, i had my receipt. I have done this alone and with my kids and I am sure people have thought I was stealing by the looks, but there was nothing i could do about it, I was not going to announce that I had paid to everyone. If the clerk looked at me I would comment I paid already for those and did she want to see the receipt. I hope they already had paid, and that they did not steal.

This is one of those times that there are so many possibilities.. Our daughter elementary studied the "Character Counts" program.. This is a Campus wide study that also includes the parents.. This exact topic was covered and what they suggest is that if you are witnessing stealing, to give the other person a heads up that you have noticed their activity at that moment..

If you were in the check out line, it may have been a big help for both you and the cashier if you had maybe said.," Oops, I think you forgot to add the coleslaw container and potato chip bag.". This would have empowered the cashier to say. "Did you purchase these in our Deli?" This would have allowed this couple to either actually lie to everybody, or given them a chance to say, oh, sorry, I forgot about these or MAYBE say, I have the receipt from the deli! Remember they are not just stealing from Wal Mart, they are stealing from me and you too, because the store has to cover their losses.

Character counts, even if no one witnesses it. It is something you do naturally, because it is the right thing to do.

If you are unsure, put yourself in the cashiers position and imagine what would help you in that moment.

Someone here on mamapedia once criticized me because I said that we do not run red lights when no one is there, we do not take snacks into movie theaters, because they ask that no outside food be brought in.. We do this because we cannot ask or expect of others what we do not do on our own..

Well the short of it is....it's theft. I would make sure your daughter understands this because she is at a very impressionalble age. What the couple did and what the cashier did was wrong. People who do that type of thing are hurting themselves as well as everyone else. There is a reason why costs on things always rise. It's not always just freight that causes price increases, it's theft. In order to recover costs, they may have to boost the price on something. Apparantly that cashier doesn't care enough about the company she works for. As far as her making minimum wage......well it's hard to give a raise when you have to make cut-backs to make up for the theft going on. She should have had enough respect for her company and for herself and the other customers in line to report this crime right away. If they got away with this "simply theft" , what is next? They will remember that cashier the next time they come in and they will go through her line again. This incident may seem trivial to some, but this is why our world is falling apart. People don't say anything and just let it happen, and then it escalates into bigger problems.

It sounds like they were old. Many older are on very fixed income. I don't condone stealing at all but next time could you handle it like this..Hi I want to pay for the person food in front of me.

In the clerk's place, I would have told them I had to ring them up for the chips and coleslaw too. I'm not sure what I would have done in your place, as you were in a much tougher situation - especially once your daughter asked you about it. I would agree with her that it is stealing and that the clerk should have made them pay or get a manager to come over if they were unwilling.

It may be human nature to let things go that are too big a hassle to deal with, especially for minimum wage, but that doesn't mean it is the right behavior and it is definitely NOT an excuse to use in explaining to your daughter. You could ask her how she thinks you should have handled it, but it is not your role to police the other customers. It is a shame the clerk handled it so poorly.

Hi, H.:

You could say to the couple: :"Are you going to pay for that?"

You would be holding them accountable for their inappropriate behavior.
Would you let your family members do what they did?
Of course not., we are all connected as family in this universe.
Thanks for asking.
Your daughter knew it was wrong not to say something.
Why not y'all.
D.

My first thought would have been that they had already paid for it at the deli. I know that I often go in with my kids and buy them something to snack on at the deli, pay there (or else I will forget!) and then shop. Maybe that's what happened?
L.

There are some stores that prohibit store clerks from approaching customers about shoplifting/stealing due to safety concerns, so perhaps this has something to do with why the clerk didn't say anything. I don't know what Walmart's policy is, but that is a possibility.

Personally, for a minimum wage salary, I don't know that I'd feel the need to be confrontational with customers about stealing either. If it was stated in a contract that I signed that this was part of my job responsibility, then I guess I'd have to decide whether I felt comfortable doing that before signing.

As for being a customer, confronting another customer about stealing, NO WAY would I put myself in that potentially volatile situation, especially not with my child present. It's not worth it. I agree that it was wrong, but it's not my place to police stores for shoplifting and to confront people about it. It's too potentially dangerous.

However, I would be sure to talk with my child about it, to be sure that they know that what you both witnessed is not acceptable.

Lastly, although I realize this is not probable, they might have grabbed those items when they first got to the store and paid for them because they were hungry and wanted to snack while shopping? Doubtful, I know, since they could have just shopped and ate, THEN paid for the empty containers, rather than paying twice... but just trying to look at all the possibilities...