Would you steal a grape? (Annoying commentary on NPR)

[TXlib]

There was a segment on NPR this morning about "supermarket ethics". They asked people if they'd sneak a grape, then asked if they'd report somebody else sneaking things of various values.

The ethicist they were interviewing said something to the effect of, "It's incredible that all these people think it's OK to steal a grape! I hope they're not sampling the mayonnaise, too. Do they go to car dealerships and come home with little knobs and doohickeys that they could easily pry off the cars?"

I wanted to slap the guy for making such a strawman argument.

IMHO, people generally don't sample a grape unless they have intent to buy, and they want to make sure the grapes are good. Those same people wouldn't dream of opening a jar of an unknown food product to taste it and see if they want it; they'd either not bother at all, or shell out for the whole jar to try it once. Most grocery stores recognise that people try before they buy, and will put out sample dishes, not just of produce, but of many products.

As far as stealing little pieces from new cars, who does that? If the ethicist wanted to make a fair comparison, he would have asked if those people steal cars off lots to take for a joyride. Car dealerships let you test-drive vehicles, anyway.

Still, as annoying as his argument was, there is something about small, discrete produce like grapes, cherries, or unpackaged berries that encourages people to sample them before buying, even if there's a sign posted that warns them that this is stealing, although I suspect the number of people who would actually sample when faced with a sign telling them that this store considers it theft would be a lot smaller.

So, in the absence of sampling dishes, or other obvious invitations to sample produce, do you think it is stealing to try a grape, assuming you're not just snacking, but considering buying the grapes?

[Spirochete]

1. I used to do it

sometimes. But no surreptitiously popping a grape in my mouth for me. no - I'd toss it high in the air and catch it in my mouth when it came down. Sometimes I'd do two or three of them. There were no signs out though. I wouldn't have done it if there had been. I didn't always buy the grapes, either, though I often did. I'm older now, and wouldn't think of doing something like that, but at the time I didn't see anything wrong with it.

[pink_poodle]

2. Technically, it is stealing, but what stops me from "sampling" is.........

the fact that others do it, hence their germs and bacteria are on the food - I won't sample anything left out in the open air like this - when I buy the grapes, they have to be washed first before we eat them.

You know when you see little bowls of candy or mints at places for you to take but they are unwrapped? Yuk!!! Just think how many fingers went into that bowl to get through those candies.

I know this is neurotic.

[northzax]

5. only getthem from places with spoons

I don't want to eat people's sweat either.

[northzax]

3. er, yes.

it is theft. Unless the owner of the grape (er, that would be Safeway, or Giant, or Von's or whatever) invites you to sample something they own, you are taking it without permission. in my books, that is stealing. unless they approve sampling, you are stealing. deal with it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. The place where I buy my grapes....

"The Grape Store" (just kidding, it's a market) has trays out with grapes so you can try before you by.

[Az]

6. Me thinks the ethicist is a bit removed from the enviroment

They package grapes in open containers because grapes are notoriously varied in taste. If a customer cannot sample the product they are less likely to make a purchase at all. Tasting a grape is like squeezing a melon. You are sampling for quality to make a more educated purchase.

Now wandering by and simply eating a grape may have some ethical issues. But that is not what most people do.

[Blue_Chill]

7. Is there a growing problem with grape theft?

If not why was this considered important enough to discuss on the radio? Geez what's on tomorrow - 'using the restroom without buying anything from the store. Is this ok to do?'

BTW - on the car thing, I used to know a guy that would always go to the car shows (big ones) and steal all sort of little things for his car. For example he needed a sensor of some type for his Mazda and came home with 3 of them. What a bastid!

[northzax]

12. hey, he was just sampling them

see if he wanted to buy one, right?

Frederich Schilling: THe blame diminishes as the guilt increases. It is criminal to steal a purse, daring to steal a fortune and a mark of greatness to steal a crown.

[Nobody]

8. There's a simple solution if this really is a problem

Stores are probably aware of the sampling that people do and don't consider it a big deal. Otherwise, they could easily repackage the grapes in packaging that doesn't allow tasting.

Geez, why does this commentator worry about stealing important things, like elections?

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. steal, no....

but I make sure to lick all the grapes. How do you think some of them get that nice glossy coating.

:)

[rock]

10. Grapes, votes

You'd think we (Americans) could do a better job of getting our priorities in order.

[BigMcLargehuge]

11. I get all my grapes from Kazaa

fishing them out of the case is hard though once I finish downloading.

[DBoon]

13. Yes people do open jars

I have seen this on occasion at supermarkets. I'm very glad for those tamper resistant seals.

The problem isn't stealing - it is spreading germs

[TXlib]

17. Eeeeww! Now THAT'S unequivocally wrong!

If you sample one grape, and then decide not to buy the bunch, it's not ruined for the next person. If you open a jar to taste the contents, and decide not to buy, it IS ruined for the next person.

It's not clear to me if sampling a grape in the absence of a clear invitation to do so would normally be considered stealing; it's so widespread, and generally accepted, I assume it's anticipated. If the grapes are packaged in a bag, or a sign is posted warning against sampling, then it's clearly stealing.

Whenever my wife goes to CostCo or Central Market, they have so many free samples out, not just of produce, but of packaged, frozen foods (prepared, of course) that one could almost make a meal of it.

[LuminousX]

14. Unwashed Grapes

Gross.

But I've done it. There were two weeks in a row in which I picked up flavorless and kind of bitter red grapes and I didn't want that to happen again. So I sampled. I sampled 5 different packages of grapes until I found one that was sweet.

A lot of what that is about is truly testing before buying. Like taking the car for a test drive, or asking the guy at the ice cream place to let you sample the double-nut choco fudge swirl.

I heard that report this morning and I was bothered by it too. If there was a sign posted, I'm sure it would cut down on sampling dramatically, but it would also cut down on sales. You don't notice a lot of people 'sampling' out of the Brach's bulk candy bins. I've never seen anyone grab a strawberry (though those are another notorious 'could be tasteless' fruit).

I do a lot of shopping at Trader Joe's and they are keen on making sure people sample the stuff. They even have a police that if you don't like what you bought, bring back the empty package for a refund. So while this ethicist is quibbling over grapes, I'm going to Trader Joe's, grabbing a small cup of Kona coffee, tasting the new cookies, and grabbing a roastbeef and horseradish hummus wrap before buying a few bottles of Charles Shaw wine.

[TXlib]

18. Bulk candy bins

Yes, I rarely see people sampling out of those; I assume it's a twofold reason: first, the quality is more even; second, even if you want to sample a type of candy you've never tried before to see if you want to buy some, it would be more difficult to argue that point to anybody who might challenge you over it.

Strawberries (pretty much all other berries, too) are usually sold in pint containers, and they're large, so if you take one, the guy who buys it is screwed. If strawberries were sold loose, I bet you'd see the same sampling there that occurs with grapes and cherries.

[bleedingheart]

15. I sent a letter to NPR

this morning telling them that picking on some poor sap about a grape as an ethics issue in this country is a joke...

I then asked how ethical the media was when they labeled Gore a liar and pushed * on us...
An unelected president who lies about the reasons for war and they are focusing on a guy who samples a grape???

Look at the White House for ethics and prepare to be disgusted.

[BiggJawn]

16. Glad I missed that! I ALWAYS sample the grapes.

I figure that back in the day before I "tried before I buyed" I wasted enough money on in-edible grapes to MORE than make up for the few I sample every week. If the grapes meet spec, I buy a coupla pounds. If they don't make spec, I make a sour face at the produce stocker and go to the bananas.

I guess NPR couldn't find an agnst-ridden soccer mom to pontificate about whether or not the "Golden Child" refastens her bicycle helmet the "wrong" way after she leaves the house for that perilous journey to the End of The Driveway?

Or are they saving that for ATC this afternoon?

[masslib]

19. The problem with grapes is that you can't tell by looking,

smelling or touching whether they're ripe or not. Most other fruit and vegetables provide these type of clues.

I don't sample them but I've also gotten screwed buying sour grapes. I figure I've bought enough sour grapes to pay for any grapes I might sample.

Maybe if there was a guarantee by the grocery store that their food was edible people wouldn't sample the grapes.