# Free sample abusers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578 "2014-08-26T18:14:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/21 "2014-08-26T20:42:21Z")
Supermarket samples are there to try to get you to buy that product. You’re obligated to at least spend a second pretending to consider buying them, then making a fake “oh no, I don’t like that” face before moving on. It sounds like you were planning on just treating it as a free snack as well. Certainly not as egregious as the big fella, but not without fault. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/22 "2014-08-26T20:44:14Z")
[Took the whole bowl…](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq7Eki5EZ8o&t=2m20s) ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/23 "2014-08-26T20:52:10Z")
Where I work, we manufacture household goods such as hair and cleaning products. Occasionally, we order cases of product in order to conduct post-production testing. When they are done with the tests, they’ll usually leave the products out for employees to take home. Some employees help themselves to entire cases. Our Department Admin, upon learning of this activity by a man who wasn’t even in our department, marched to the dude’s desk and asked for the product back. He complied, but grumbled that the sign wasn’t clear. What a tool. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/24 "2014-08-26T21:11:01Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Supermarket samples are there to try to get you to buy that product. You’re obligated to at least spend a second pretending to consider buying them, then making a fake “oh no, I don’t like that” face before moving on. It sounds like you were planning on just treating it as a free snack as well. Certainly not as egregious as the big fella, but not without fault. I buy the peaunut butter cookies at least a couple of times a month. I feel entitled to a free sample. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/25 "2014-08-26T21:14:16Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Why does it matter that he was fat? > > Would it be ok if a thin person abused the free samples? It really shouldn’t matter except this guy has slob written all over him, buttons are popped on his shirt so belly his hanging out, pants falling off his ass. But his hair is perfect all the time, he has a perfect pompador from the 60’s. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/26 "2014-08-26T21:38:22Z")
Early 60’s I hope, otherwise man, what a square. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/27 "2014-08-26T21:45:31Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > [Took the whole bowl…](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq7Eki5EZ8o&t=2m20s) [Fixed link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq7Eki5EZ8o&t=2m20s). That line was the first thing i thought of when i read the OP. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/28 "2014-08-26T21:51:09Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I buy the peaunut butter cookies at least a couple of times a month. I feel entitled to a free sample. So you sample entire packages of them a couple of times a month and still need the freebies at the store? Still on the fence about them? Honey badgers didn’t give a fuck about anything, except not getting a free cookie apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/29 "2014-08-26T21:53:13Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > It really shouldn’t matter except this guy has slob written all over him, buttons are popped on his shirt so belly his hanging out, pants falling off his ass. But his hair is perfect all the time, he has a perfect pompador from the 60’s. Nothing messes up a pompador like getting shanked.😉 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/30 "2014-08-26T21:57:41Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Why does it matter that he was fat? > > Would it be ok if a thin person abused the free samples? > [@QuickSilver](#): > > Yes. They need the calories. Exactly. He could have been a Yazidi refuge who just spent the last month on a mountaintop in Syria!! ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/31 "2014-08-26T22:00:27Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > It really shouldn’t matter except this guy has slob written all over him, buttons are popped on his shirt so belly his hanging out, pants falling off his ass. But his hair is perfect all the time, he has a perfect pompador from the 60’s. Elvis? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/32 "2014-08-26T22:02:59Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > So you sample entire packages of them a couple of times a month and still need the freebies at the store? Still on the fence about them? > > Honey badgers didn’t give a fuck about anything, except not getting a free cookie apparently. I really do tend to over react when someone fucks with my food! ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/33 "2014-08-26T22:18:10Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > when I came across him in the store a few minutes later I cussed him out. > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > He is a first class prick who really needs his ass kicked. Woah, slow you roll dude. No need to go all ducati on his ass. We don’t need a genocide. > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I really do tend to over react when someone fucks with my food! So the cookies that belonged to the store who was giving them away to all the customers are now suddenly “yours”? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/34 "2014-08-27T03:02:02Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I really do tend to over react when someone fucks with my food! If only you could have caught him after the first handful, then uttered the magic phrase…“you’re done.” You could have thwarted the crime right then:( ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/35 "2014-08-27T03:37:53Z")
There’s a guy that shops at my store, we call him “the sample king”. If we see him pull into the parking lot, we pull the samples from the store. Whatever we have out there, he’ll finish. If it’s just the end of some salsa or something, we leave it, who cares. The problem is if we don’t see him come in, he polishes off $10 worth of guac and $5 worth of pico and all the chips. It’s to the point where, he’ll take a few bites and we’ll grab it when he turns his back. On top of that, he’s fucking ballsy about it too. No samples out that day, he’ll come to the back room and ASK for samples of something. “Hey guys, sampling anything today, how about some steak sandwiches or maybe wings” (not things we sell, or would even sample). To add to that, I’ve seen him at the local mega mart, asking for samples of just about everything at the deli counter (with a line of people behind him). At least he bought most of the stuff he tried there. At my store, he’s just eating to eat. Another employee saw him at a salon…a SALON. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but she said the cashier kept saying ‘no, sir, we don’t do that’. I think it’s safe to assume he was asking for samples. Between that and some of his, um, quirks, I think he’s got some social issues. His wife is just as bad. He’s nice, he just doesn’t seem to understand that the samples aren’t there for him to clean out, they’re there for him to have a bite of (or even two bites) and walk away. One of our employees even said that to him a few times. He caught her taking them away and when confronted about it she said “you can’t eat the entire thing, you’re supposed to just have one or two and leave the rest for the other people”. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/36 "2014-08-27T11:18:28Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > There’s a guy that shops at my store, we call him “the sample king”. We had a woman who would come in and chat up the receptionist. Each time my employee turned her back, she’d grab a handful of candy from a dish kept on the counter, eventually transferring all of the candy to her purse. Then she’d go out to her car and grab a couple of empty water bottles. She refilled them from my water cooler. She moved far away right about the time things were coming to a head, saving me from a nasty confrontation. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/37 "2014-08-27T11:34:53Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > We had a woman who would come in and chat up the receptionist. Each time my employee turned her back, she’d grab a handful of candy from a dish kept on the counter, eventually transferring all of the candy to her purse. Then she’d go out to her car and grab a couple of empty water bottles. She refilled them from my water cooler. > > She moved far away right about the time things were coming to a head, saving me from a nasty confrontation. We have a customer we call “pennies” because she takes all the money out of the ‘take a penny/leave a penny’ dish. She probably makes off with close to a dollar sometimes. She’s pretty blatant about it too. I think one time she said “this is my payment for shopping here”. Like we do with the sample guy, we put the penny dish away when we see her walking in. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/38 "2014-08-27T11:37:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > We had a woman who would come in and chat up the receptionist. Each time my employee turned her back, she’d grab a handful of candy from a dish kept on the counter, eventually transferring all of the candy to her purse. Then she’d go out to her car and grab a couple of empty water bottles. She refilled them from my water cooler. How does something like this even start? Was she a former client/customer? Stopped in at random? Used to know the receptionist in your office three businesses ago? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/39 "2014-08-27T11:48:01Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > How does something like this even start? Was she a former client/customer? Stopped in at random? Used to know the receptionist in your office three businesses ago? She was a client. Spent around $500 a year. She would stop maybe once a week to ask a question. A few people do that, stopping in rather than making a phone call. At first she was subtle, but then one time the receptionist had just finished filling the candy dish when she walked in. We already knew about her water bottle thing, but water is cheap and we just accepted it. Once we knew to watch the candy, it was obvious. (Aside: she was a schoolteacher. One morning she stopped on her way to school to use the restroom. She took a massive dump and didn’t bother to flush. WTF???) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578/40 "2014-08-27T12:36:14Z")
My mother is a sample lady at Costco - there are LOTS of people who are rude and inconsiderate the moment something “free” is involved (well, they are probably rude and inconsiderate always). The lonely Seniors who come in every day and eat their lunch from the sample trays aren’t bad. They usually take one, make the rounds, then come back a second or third time. Its the people on a crowded Saturday treating it like Golden Corral. And being rude to the staff “can’t you hurry up, I don’t have all day to wait for my seventh sample of pizza.” I think her current favorite are the folks who have a food allergy who expect the food samples to adapt. “Oh, you are sampling pita chips - do they have gluten in them? I can’t eat them, can you get me some that are gluten free?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sample-abusers/696578.md?page=3)