Money Moral Dilemma: Is pick and mix nibbling theft?

Ivrytwr3

Yes it's theft, doesn't stop me doing it though!!

(on the rare occassion i can afford to treat myself to a movie!)

worbikeman

The cinema doesn't lose any profits - they simply adjust the price so that honest paying customers cover the loss. Have you noticed how, in supermarkets, small, easily concealed items are exorbitantly priced?:think:

connellans

Yes it is theft, but come on, a couple of sweets really wouldn't hurt anyone. They charge extortionate fees to go to the pictures then charge you the earth for any goodies you have. For me personally, i buy sweets elsewhere and take them in my bag. Also take a drink too. If they didn't charge so much i don't suppose people would be tempted to steal.

carlgriffiths1

Doesn't it depend on how the Pick n Mix is charged for? At some of them you fill the bag with what you want and then weigh it. you are then given a printed sticker showing the charge which you have to pay at the till. so even if you or your "robbing" friend eat a few you are still paying for them a few minutes later.

isn't the legal definition of theft something along the lines of "having the intention to permanently deprive the true owner of his/her rights in connection with the said item"?

if so, you intend to pay and as such have not committed theft.

However, if you are steady handed enough to cradle the bag of sweets on the weighing scales so you get a cheaper sticker, that is another matter!!

cliveoram

It's that simple

Idiophreak

carlgriffiths1 wrote: »

Doesn't it depend on how the Pick n Mix is charged for? At some of them you fill the bag with what you want and then weigh it. you are then given a printed sticker showing the charge which you have to pay at the till. so even if you or your "robbing" friend eat a few you are still paying for them a few minutes later.

Absolutely, that's an entirely different thing - I've had occasions in the past where I've been dying of thirst, so have necked my bottle of water in the queue for the checkouts - but have still paid for it afterward, don't think that's the same thing at all...

carlgriffiths1 wrote: »

However, if you are steady handed enough to cradle the bag of sweets on the weighing scales so you get a cheaper sticker, that is another matter!!

Err, wouldn't it be easier just to weight the bag, then chuck some more sweets in afterward?

Summer76

It is theft, but must admit I once tried a sweet in the pick and mix before buying it as I had never had this sweet before, but was chatting to one of the staff at the same time about the sweets and they told me to try it before I buy it. Next time I was in the same shop with a friend I took her to the pick and mix as the sweets were so lovely and said, the same to her 'try before you buy'. She was mortified that I even suggested it and said it was stealing. I felt so bad afterwards and thought about it and yes it would be considered stealing even though when I did it, it was with the approval of a member of staff. One taste is ok, but to be grabbing loads is obviously wrong.

blued

I really couldnt care less and find it quite funny that some of the replies include "they would become and ex friend" and "I wouldnt trust them anymore". We dont buy food in the cinema due to the ridiculous prices, we buy in tesco and take them in. What do you lot on your high horses think of that?! Should we be arrested? Should our friends disown us?!

relaxtwotribes

Stop using the word 'extortionate' to describe prices for cinema tickets, sweets, coke, popcorn etc. There is no extortion involved. They offer you a product/service and if you accept the price you get it. If you don't accept it you don't get it.
'Extortionate price' is usually just a term used to justify theft.

Simples.

aliasojo

MSE_Penelope wrote: »

Report them to the cinema? Call the police?

Reagrdless of the rights or wrongs of sweet nibbling, would anyone really do this? Is this a question with a reasonable hypothetical?