Money Moral Dilemma: Is pick and mix nibbling theft?

webkami

That is daylight theft and so is the price of these outside cinema.
But two wrongs do not make a right.

sophiesofa

Well it is theft because my ex boyfriend was arrested for eating from the pic 'n mix. I don't know the full story but I assume he must have been rude and aggressive went confronted hence the need for police - i'm glad he's my ex is all i can say!

Idiophreak

relaxtwotribes wrote: »

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.

That's not really true..As BPD above says, cinemas aren't competing in a free market when it comes to the food and drinks they sell. It's unreasonable to expect someone (especially young'ens) to sit for 4 hours without food or drink. It's just not healthy - and that's key. It implies there is harm being done to the customer lest they part with an unduly large amount of money - and that's pretty much the definition of extortion right there.

If a cinema lets you take in your own food and drink, there's no problem, but as soon as they stop that, "extortion" really *is* the word.

Pellyman

It's THEFT. I would let my 'friend' know I disapprove and leave it at that, but I wouldn't hang around whilst he underpaid for his sweeties - and I wouldn't take one if he offered me one!

sophiesofa

it always annoys me when i see people 'testing' grapes in the supermarket - whoever buys the packed they've tested will be paying for what someone else has nibbled on!!

JayD

Of course it is theft.

What to do about it seems to be the real dilemma here.

Personally, I would make it clear to said friends that I totally disapproved and that, in fact, I was embarrassed by their 'childish - can't wait' behaviour and would expect them to show more self control and honesty. Hopefully my disapproval would have some effect for future purchases they made.

I would not report them to the management or anyone else and I would certainly not contact the police, who seem to have little enough time to deal with more significant crimes.

In future I would ensure that I am nowhere near them when they buy Pic n Mix. It would lower them in my estimation considerably but I can't say that it would be the end of me having any association with them.

Munkee2

Yes it is stealing. The prices may be high but that does NOT give you/me/us the right to take any. You either choose to pay the amount they ask or you don't have to buy them at all. You're either prepared to pay that price or you're not. If you're not, then you don't take/eat any sweets.

To answer the question, no I would not report the friend but I would advise them that they should pay before eating any more 'or we'll both get chucked out'. I'd make a joke out of it to ease the tension of 'telling-off' said friend.

Would I take my own food and drink into a cinema? Darn right I would - and I do. If they don't like it, they can take them off me (I'd be ok with that - fair enough) - but at least its not stealing.

What's all this about 'I have the right to try a sweet to check I like it'? No, you don't! Does that mean you can try one cube of fudge to see if you like it, then one jelly teddy to see if you like those, then one liquorice alsort to make sure you like those too? Come off it. Do you go into Asda are start opening packets of things to make sure you like them or do you think 'I might not like it but I want to try it, so I'll pay for it, take it home, try and and I don't like it, I know not to buy it again'?

The 'grape rule' - YES I very often try a grape before buying. It's rare I choose not to buy them though. This is somewhat different to opening a packet of own brand Weetabix and having a nibble before deciding whether to buy.

Also, if you're in a supermarket and are going to pay for something yet you eat/drink it before getting to the till, technically that is still stealing because you have consumed the goods which you have not paid for - however, I have on several occasions taken a drink (ie one bottle or carton) out of a multipack that I KNOW I will pay for and drink it going round. I always feel the need to apologise to the person serving me but when you're literally about to hit the deck due to thirst I'm sure they wouldn't mind you taking a drink that you know you're definitely going to pay for. I used to work in a supermarket and yes, they DO expect people to consume products in store before paying, but according to the law it is still theft.

The person who said they had the right to try sweets to make sure they liked them has really ruffled my feathers. Try that next time you nip to Tesco for a bottle of wine. I'm sure if the price of the wine is high enough, they won't mind you popping the cork out and having a few swigs because heaven forbid you might you like it enough to pay! Where's the eye-rolling smiley gone?

toby3000

Chinkle wrote: »

And if you don't like the "extortionate" prices for food at the cinema don't buy them. I never understand why people have to gorge themselves when watching a film. But my OH is one of them and I make sure he has a can of drink from the supermarket and a freshly microwaved popcorn packet with him before we go.

A lot of people seem to be advancing this argument, but it is against the rules to bring in your own food and I'm pretty sure the cinema woukld prefer you to eat a couple of sweets and buy the rest than bring in a sack full of food from Tesco...

If I saw it happening, I might comment on it but the idea that I'd disown them or even consider it a big issue is laughable

alexhawk

Billionpounddreamer wrote: »

Cinema prices ARE extortionate.

Since extortionate means excessive then it's completely subjective whether or not they're excessive.

Billionpounddreamer wrote: »

In a cinema, the company has a monopoly over the price of popcorn. There are no competitors offering it at a lower price. We cannot choose to go elsewhere as the cinemas enforce bans on bringing food in from the outside. And I feel sorry for the person who does not feel that popcorn and a drink are not a part of the cinema experience, so yes we have to buy it.

I'm not trying to be inflammatory here but that's absolute nonsense.

Speaking from experience of working in cineworld I know that the ticket price goes straight to the promoters. We can leave ticket price out of the argument therefore for most cinemas.
This argument was the single most annoying thing about working in a cinema. It is so flawed.

I find the pub analogy works best to explain why this is so wrong.
You are right, they control the price. The cinema is privately owned property, they, like a pub, have a right to charge what they like for food/drink served in their establishment. You have the right not to give them your custom.
Beer generally tastes better (IMHO) when it is served by draft. The three quid my pub charges me is quite a mark up, however it is my choice to pay the extra. I do not have the facilities for draft beer at home, much like I don't have a cinema screen. I choose to pay over the odds for certain prodcts, knowing the facilities in said establishment are better than mine.

When you buy a ticket you're not buying billionpounddreamers idea of what a cinema visit should entail. You're buying a right to view once copyrighted material. You get to watch this film on their system. You don't get free refreshments or food, just entry to the film.

If films and popcorn are inseperable in your opinion but cinema prices are excessive, wait for the film on DVD and watch it at home.

Billionpounddreamer wrote: »

Therefore the cinema has total control over their prices without fear of loss of custom. Forcing people to pay heavy prices for such cheap commodities is, by definition, extortionate.

Do you know the profit margin on popcorn? According to a recent article on MSN, it's over 10,000%. That's higher than cocaine. Tell me that's not extortionate.

Not even the banks charge that kind of margin on overdrafts.

You are assuming 2 things. First people don't have to watch the film on a cinema screen, if people won't pay the prices they will lose custom.
Secondly, you are not being forced to buy popcorn or a cinema ticket. We live in a free market society, don't like it? Then vote with your feet.

Even though cinemas are expensive, if I can show a little restraint and not feel the need to consume suagary products for 2 hours I can go and enjoy a $500 million dollar film shown on a £100,000 state of the art digital projector, complimented with 8 channel surround sound for under a tenner. Not bad imho (though not cheap either!)

The concessions stand and bar are their source of income. You are not just paying for the popcorn. The cinema uses revenue from that for the running of the entire multiplex. It pays for the £100k system you watch the latest blockbuster film on.

Billionpounddreamer wrote: »

As for the dilemma, it is quite clearly stealing. Though if you asked the staff nicely they would almost certainly OK you trying one if you were buying a bag.

Quick MS tip: On Ben and Jerry concessions staff are allowed to give out tasters. Just ask.

alexhawk

Munkee2 wrote: »

Also, if you're in a supermarket and are going to pay for something yet you eat/drink it before getting to the till, technically that is still stealing because you have consumed the goods which you have not paid for...

Just had to pull this one up.
In the law someone has commited a theft if he or she has dishonestly appropriated property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it.
It's the bold part that's important. The item has to be taken, and you have to show intention to permanently deprive (ie, walk out the store) before you've stolen something.