# Do you think the store needed to apologize? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 2, 2011, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-store-needed-to-apologize/601599 "2011-11-02T08:01:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-store-needed-to-apologize/601599/401 "2011-11-14T16:41:57Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Maybe yes, maybe no. Based on facts before us, the answer is yes. > [@](#): > > However, it might also be her/their , out in case she’s spotted eating something. Out? So they are hedging their bets by leaving the wrapper in the cart and hoping people will not notice the wrapper or say anything about it? > [@](#): > > Do you think a store employee is going to ask, “what’s that loose plastic in your cart?” Not likely, although they may need to start. Of course they do. Thats why carts are not opaque, so that the cashier can see inside and under the cart. > [@](#): > > A friend of mine is a McD’s manager. You’d be amazed at the petty scams people run over a freakin burger and fries. Latest one. > Someone comes in and places an order. He takes his receipt and drink cup and wanders away. When the order comes up his partner picks it up. Then he comes back with the receipt and drink cup and asks where his order is and insists on a refund. > [@](#): > > As strange as it seems I’ve seen a lot of bizarre behavior in retail. It wouldn’t surprise me to discover people eat stuff in the store all the time and only pay when specifically asked about it. I’d be willing to bet this store had an issue with just such a thing and that’s why they reacted the way they did. That doesn’t make it any more legal. > [@](#): > > I remember a thread here a while back about people trimming the stalks off of broccoli and asparagus in store and still expecting the lower price. I remember that one too and I don’t believe there was much debate about that. The two are not comparable. I think that a lot of people are just getting hung up on the notion that eating a sandwich inside a store is not theft unless they never intended to pay for it. And unless you can point to SOMETHING that supports the notion that hey didn’t intend to pay for it, you don’t have probable cause. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-store-needed-to-apologize/601599/402 "2011-11-14T16:47:21Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > I see your point, but I’m saying that when she walked out without paying that’s shoplifting. despite the fact that is factually not shoplifting > [@](#): > > I had the wrapper in my cart , that proves I intended to pay for it. No it doesn’t. Yes it does. > [@](#): > > It seems obvious no store should call the cops over a sandwich or two unless some dumb upper management insists. The store may have had reason to believe it was habitual behavior and only backed down because of unforeseen bad PR. They had never been to that store before. > [@](#): > > Let’s assume the store had some ongoing issue with people helping themselves in the store and then “forgetting” to pay. How many times would they forget before you called it intent? When they try to hide the wrapper. > [@](#): > > That said, based on limited information, if this woman and her So were not pegged as habitual offenders it was an incredibly bad call by the staff and possibly the police, although I think technically the police had just cause to arrest. I think technically you are wrong. > [@](#): > > It would be a crazy circumstance to go to court over unless you had evidence they pulled that scam on a regular basis, but as I said, actually eating the item and then leaving without paying implies enough intent. … > Technically, eating the food before you pay for it could be considered stealing. Thats your opinion ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-store-needed-to-apologize/601599/403 "2011-11-14T17:38:49Z")
Eight and a half pages and thirteen days of “Uh huh/Nuh uh” is sufficient. No one appears to have new facts, better logic, or a novel insight that will change anyone else’s perceptions. The “debate” went out of this thread a long time ago. I am closing it. [/Moderating] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-store-needed-to-apologize/601599.md?page=20)