# Every package of grapes is open **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 5, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411 "2014-04-05T13:29:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/21 "2014-04-06T16:19:32Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > In all my 46 years and living all over Texas, I’ve never heard of a grocery store of any stripe, giving a shit if you sample one grape. And I’ve dated two produce managers, one for Brookshires and another for Walmart. As a matter of fact, my dad stills works for Walmart and they’d much rather you sample one grape (for freshness / bitterness / whatever) than to buy the whole bunch and return them due to them not being up to your standards. [hijack] Huh. Is it true what they say about produce managers? ::I have no idea what that means. I just thought it was interesting about your personal history. I dated two doctors, FWIW. But not at the same time and at competing hospitals.:: [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Gretchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8edcca/32.png) [@Gretchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gretchion)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/22 "2014-04-06T16:54:03Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > This open package method also allows the customer to alter the size of their purchase and I consider that a plus. That’s fine, but anyone that wants less than what’s in the bag, please get a produce bag to put your grapes in and leave the rest in the original grape bag. So many people take half the grapes out of a bag, and just put them back on the shelf without any bag. It looks nasty seeing grapes all over the shelf outside of bags. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/23 "2014-04-06T17:32:41Z")
No one mentioned yet that grapes are supposed to be stored with a reasonable amount of ventilation. If they are in mesh bags, it probably wouldn’t matter if the bags are closed, but in ordinary plastic, you’d definitely want them open. FWIW, I remember noticing that all the bags of grapes in one of my local groceries were in zip-loc type bags and all were open. So it would seem to be a pretty common practice. > [@Mangetout](#): > > Any sensible retailer would not consider it theft - not everything in store is amenable to being conveniently sampled (apples per your example, or sausages, or frozen fish), but some things are - grapes, cherries, cheese and other deli items(at the counter, if you ask). Agreed. Reminds of an upscale grocery I sometimes go to that has a prepared-food counter with all kinds of sometimes exotic and pricey stuff. In general you can ask to taste pretty much anything, and they often even offer and provide a little paper plate, plastic fork, and napkin. But common sense prevails. Once when I was there a woman asked “for a taste” of champagne-marinated grilled jumbo shrimp. These were really gigantic shrimp that were selling for something like $50 a pound, so that each individual one probably cost about ten bucks. The answer was a polite “no”, and the woman stormed off vowing that she not only wouldn’t buy the shrimp, she wouldn’t buy anything else there, either. The rest of us just laughed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/24 "2014-04-06T17:55:37Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > In all my 46 years and living all over Texas, I’ve never heard of a grocery store of any stripe, giving a shit if you sample one grape. I have no trouble believing that a low value theft like this is too minour for them to actually go to the trouble of having someone arrested, or even making a scene. That is not necessarily the same thing as their thinking it is just fine, however. An informal poll: how many people are like me, and have bought countless bunches of grapes at the supermarket, without ever having “sampled” one (unless it was in a clearly marked sample area)? I am generally eager to take advantage of actual samples, but I’ve never just sampled out of the stock of food on the shelves, nor did I think this was common or at all legitimate. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/25 "2014-04-06T17:58:14Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > No one mentioned yet that grapes are supposed to be stored with a reasonable amount of ventilation. If they are in mesh bags, it probably wouldn’t matter if the bags are closed, but in ordinary plastic, you’d definitely want them open. FWIW, I remember noticing that all the bags of grapes in one of my local groceries were in zip-loc type bags and all were open. So it would seem to be a pretty common practice. I always thought it so the spiders could get out. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/26 "2014-04-06T18:05:15Z")
A follow-up question for the “samplers”: do you believe yourselves to be in the majority? Or do you think you are in the minority (my wife estimated 20% just now when I asked her; before reading this thread, I wouldn’t have thought it higher than 2%) but you don’t give a shit that the majority of your fellow shoppers think your practice uncouth at best? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/27 "2014-04-06T18:12:32Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Do you also take a bite out of an apple before buying a bag of apples? It is not an inalienable consumer right to taste produce prior to making a purchase. I realize a few grapes are minor in the grand scheme of things, but this is still theft. Normal people analyze our fruits and vegetables for texture and firmness prior to purchase, sure. But flavor is always a bit of a crapshoot. > [@Shakes](#): > > Oh FFS! > /Rolleyes x’s 1000 > [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Eating produce you haven’t purchased is low-class, and it’s theft. But this is hardly a settled point. Doing a google search, lots of people agree with me and lots with you. Sounds like a culture/holy war thread in the making (like tipping). [For example](http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.280464-Poll-Eating-Grapes-at-the-Market-Sampling-or-Stealing?page=2): **Moderating** It’s evident from this thread than many retailers do not consider sampling small amounts of produce theft. If you wish to debate the issue, please take it to another forum. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/28 "2014-04-06T18:14:42Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I have no trouble believing that a low value theft like this is too minour for them to actually go to the trouble of having someone arrested, or even making a scene. That is not necessarily the same thing as their thinking it is just fine, however. > > An informal poll: how many people are like me, and have bought countless bunches of grapes at the supermarket, without ever having “sampled” one (unless it was in a clearly marked sample area)? I am generally eager to take advantage of actual samples, but I’ve never just sampled out of the stock of food on the shelves, nor did I think this was common or at all legitimate. > [@SlackerInc](#): > > A follow-up question for the “samplers”: do you believe yourselves to be in the majority? Or do you think you are in the minority (my wife estimated 20% just now when I asked her; before reading this thread, I wouldn’t have thought it higher than 2%) but you don’t give a shit that the majority of your fellow shoppers think your practice uncouth at best? [Moderating] GQ is not a place for polls, informal or otherwise. If you want to ask people about their opinions about the practice, start a new thread in IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/29 "2014-04-06T18:37:43Z")
I need a price check on two grapes. Two measly, stinkin’ grapes. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/30 "2014-04-06T19:01:17Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Pardon me for saying so, but isn’t it just possible this varies from region to region? Yes, but I’m pretty sure that in _most_ parts of town this is considered by both the shopper and the produce vendor to be acceptable–not theft. (And, in fact, in all the other countries I’ve lived it’s standard practice.) Sometimes, vendors will cut up a piece of fruit to encourage you to try it, and induce you to buy. It might be considered “theft” in certain suburbs, but doing a google search is not how you’ll discover that it’s not the norm–rather, just get out and go to some other places. However, in my experience grapes are never the problem. They’re almost always fine. It’s the other stuff that’s nitrogen-packed far away, that should be tasted. They invest so much to make the produce _look_ good, and then–if you’re trusting–you only find out you’ve been deceived once you get home? That’s a warped notion of produce shopping. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/31 "2014-04-06T20:09:53Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > However, in my experience grapes are never the problem. They’re almost always fine. It’s the other stuff that’s nitrogen-packed far away, that should be tasted. They invest so much to make the produce _look_ good, and then–if you’re trusting–you only find out you’ve been deceived once you get home? That’s a warped notion of produce shopping. I concur - I don’t think it’s theft to sample a grape, but I can’t remember having actually done it in this country in a supermarket (in street markets both here in the UK and abroad, I’ve often been encouraged to sample them by the vendor - one time in a little grocery shop in Cyprus, not only did the owner offer us a sample of the grapes, he invited us to come out back and have coffee and cake with his family. I guess there might be regions at the opposite end of the scale where sampling is a horrific and presumptuous crime). But yes - the things I really want to sample before buying are: oranges (too many times I’ve bought a bag of oranges and they’re dry and fibrous inside) Figs, tomatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/32 "2014-04-06T20:22:23Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > But yes - the things I really want to sample before buying are: oranges (too many times I’ve bought a bag of oranges and they’re dry and fibrous inside) Figs, tomatoes. Were I a grocer I don’t think I’d give someone with your name the chance to start sampling products for free. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/33 "2014-04-07T02:10:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > GQ is not a place for polls, informal or otherwise. If you want to ask people about their opinions about the practice, start a new thread in IMHO. [Done.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=720286) ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/34 "2014-04-07T02:42:42Z")
“GQ was probably a lousy place for a poll anyway,” muttered the fox… ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/35 "2014-04-07T02:47:31Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > As I was told many times during my tenure at Safeway, if someone asks for a sample, or even just hints that they’d like to try something, let them have some. Doesn’t matter what it is: produce, yogurt, cookies, whatever (provided you don’t need to cook it). If a customer tells you they’ve never had an Oreo before, rip that package right open and let them have some. Hmmmmmm, our local Safeway usually has a great selection of microbrews. Does that policy apply there? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/36 "2014-04-07T03:12:31Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Sometimes, vendors will cut up a piece of fruit to encourage you to try it, and induce you to buy. Blew my tiny little mind when I was at target and a woman was dithering between two different apple types and the stocker grabbed one of each and came back a minute later with a lovely little sample of apple slices for everyone. It might be regional but I think it’s just the difference between those of us who assume that which is not expressly permitted is forbidden and those who feel the inverse. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/37 "2014-04-07T09:46:45Z")
It’s not that it isn’t expressly forbidden, it’s that’s it’s routine and common practice where I live. I’m in Canada, where a mere hint of disapproval would induce complete compliance. Also where all grapes come from afar, are expensive and sometimes bitter or sour. When you’ve witnessed it done most of your life, and see it done routinely still, it’s maybe not quite as taboo as where you live. Something to consider. In the Chinese markets where the bags are all tightly sealed, no one samples, understandably. But I’ll bet they aren’t selling nearly as many grapes either! ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/38 "2014-04-07T10:31:56Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I guess there might be regions at the opposite end of the scale where sampling is a horrific and presumptuous crime. I wouldn’t try it in Elbonia. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/39 "2014-04-07T12:59:39Z")
> [@Flywheel](#): > > “GQ was probably a lousy place for a poll anyway,” muttered the fox… LOL! Nicely done. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411/40 "2014-04-07T13:59:21Z")
I do sample grapes and I always offer the cashier the option to charge me extra for 3 grapes. I only sample grapes (no other fruits like apples or strawberries or blueberries …) because grapes can be deceptive in appearance and because grapes are easily verified by tasting one from the bunch. Instead of all the arguments above, a SIMPLE service grocery stores can offer is a bar-code sticker available near the grapes section that charges say 50c (or whatever they want) and allows you to sample say upto 5 grapes. That should be a win win for all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-package-of-grapes-is-open/685411.md?page=3)