Am I stealing?
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Am I wrong in thinking that I shouldn't have to pay for easily removable non-edible items in a pay-by-the-pound setting?
Quote: rdw4potusWhen I get the fried chicken, I very carefully remove the breast plate and ribs from the meat and leave those indedible bits behind. It seems to me that if it's inedible and easily removable, I shouldn't have to pay for its weight.
Am I wrong in thinking that I shouldn't have to pay for easily removable non-edible items in a pay-by-the-pound setting?
You really do that? Who the heck is gonna want your naked chicken ribs once you leave them behind? If they offered pizza by the pound also, would you pull out a knife a cut off the crust and leave it behind? If they offer mushrooms, do you pop out the stems and leave them behind?
It is not acceptable behavior. If you were my child, I'd spank you when we got home.
Quote: zippyboyIt is not acceptable behavior. If you were my child, I'd spank you when we got home.
Often, when corn-on-the-cob is sold by the pound, there will be a sign stating "No shucking."
I'd bet there's no "No de-boning" sign, because it never occurred to them that someone will do that.
You might see such a sign in that store in the near future...
Quote: zippyboyYou really do that? Who the heck is gonna want your naked chicken ribs once you leave them behind? If they offered pizza by the pound also, would you pull out a knife a cut off the crust and leave it behind? If they offer mushrooms, do you pop out the stems and leave them behind?
It is not acceptable behavior. If you were my child, I'd spank you when we got home.
I think there's a difference between food that I don't like and things that aren't food. I do take the pizza by the slice and pay for the crusts. And I take pork and beef cuts including fat that I don't eat. But it's different when it's something that nobody wants.
Would you strain veggies or take the broth with a by-the-pound roast? Do you think the last person of the day likes fishing the last of the food out of alllll that remaining liquid?
I was in the supermarket with a friend a few years ago. He picked up a bunch of asparagus and as we walked through the store he was snapping the bottoms off. He left them in a baggie in another aisle. He looked at me and said "they are $4/lbs". Rather dumbstruck I mentioned to him that he is a Corp Lawyers pulling well over 6 figures and his wife is partner in a NYC legal firm earning 10x what he does. He told me that it's OK he never bumps into clients here.
Quote: DJTeddyBearOften, when corn-on-the-cob is sold by the pound, there will be a sign stating "No shucking."
I'd bet there's no "No de-boning" sign, because it never occurred to them that someone will do that.
You might see such a sign in that store in the near future...
There is a guy who buys nothing but imitation crab and bacon bits from the salad side. I've gotta think that's a huge loser for the store. I also wonder what he does with a whole container full of fake crab and (fake?) bacon. He never seems to buy lettuce or other items at all. The idea that this is dinner for him is somewhat nauseating...
Quote: Wavy70Do you throw them away or leave the inedible parts in the buffet tray?
There's only a garbage by the buffet about 80% of the time. I only buy the chicken about 10% of the time. I don't specifically remember leaving the bones in the tray, but I suppose if the non-garbage days lined up with the chicken-buying days it might have happened once or twice.
Maybe since I don't eat the cobs of corn on the cob I can deduct the weight from the price? Probably not, I'm thinking.
Quote: rdw4potusFor the last two years or so, I've done something which they informed me today is considered unacceptable.
Lets get a few things straight.
First of all, you've been doing it longer than the two years that you've admitted to.
You've known it was wrong all along.
You've enjoyed doing it.
You've enjoyed getting away with it.
And, as with the corporate lawyer, you are not in any way ashamed of your behavior and judge it only by the impact that it will have, such as his meeting his clients there.
The unsightly mess you left behind provided you with a secret pleasure because you enjoyed imposing it on successive customers.
The only thing you don't really enjoy is that the clerk finally told you off and probably called you a cheap, penny-pinching uncivilized lout as well.
He was right!
Quote: rdw4potusI also wonder what he does with a whole container full of fake crab and (fake?) bacon. He never seems to buy lettuce or other items at all. The idea that this is dinner for him is somewhat nauseating...
How do you know this is the only thing he ever buys anywhere? When I was in college, I used to go through a few stores and buy each thing I needed where it was the cheapest. OK, this might not be the case there, but still. At least I didn't use some of the more "magic" tricks. Well, a few times, but not really out of greed.
On the stripping bones part: It's really the same thing as keeping the money when you've been undercharged, or taking more than needed out of the penny tray, or something like that.
A lot of people do these "tricks". And there's more in store. For instance, on self-service scales, you can hold the item up a bit so it shows less but not obviously so. If there are multiple items that look almost the same, you can print out the cheaper one. Et cetera.
Do you REALLY think that someone else will buy the bones left behind?
By doing what you did, not only are you stealing by reducing the price you're paying for the product, but you're making the entire remainder of the tray unappetizing to the other customers, resulting in the store having to discard all of it.
On a side note, what you're doing is probably a violation of the local health department rules.
It is NOT like taking one veggie out, since the remainder is still sellable. It is exactly like eating some before it gets weighed at the cashier.Quote:The deli kiddo who chastized me compared it to taking only one veggie out of the mixed veggies, or eating some of my food on the way to the cashier.
On the flip side, if the deli personnel package something and put a price sticker on it, it is technically illegal to eat some until it's paid for. However, I doubt anyone would bother anyone about that...
Quote: rdw4potusWell, it seems that this is a more ass-ish move than I'd thought it was. I'll suck it up and stop the practice. Thanks for the input, y'all.
If it helps, chicken is sold in a variety of ways largely depending on how much bone and skin is left or removed. For example, a whole, gutted chicken is the least expensive. Chicken breast steak is the most expensive. This refers to raw chicken in bulk, but it does reflect prizes for latter stages of preparation, too. the reason is labor. While it is relatively quick and easy to de-bone a chicken breast, it adds up over tons fo the product.
Nor is the bone entirely useless. For example, if you're making chicken broth, you'd get a different flavor is you used whole chicken pieces than if you used de-boned and skinned ones. Removing the bone in a packing plant also removes some bits of fat and other tissues; likewise with skinning a chicken. The bones also help keep the chicken intact while you roast it.
the way to look at it is not so much that you pay for the innedible bits, but that you don't pay to have them removed.
I might not hardly notice what you do, but I really get angry with someone who wants to do this buffet ripoff and flatly refuse. I get no thrill from trying to beat the system, and am not interested in trading places next time.
Quote: odiousgambitSituation: you go into a place where your friend gets a cheap entree, but you get the buffet or some kind of all-you-can-eat deal. He wants you to load up so he can eat from the buffet too.
I might not hardly notice what you do, but I really get angry with someone who wants to do this buffet ripoff and flatly refuse. I get no thrill from trying to beat the system, and am not interested in trading places next time.
I've seen people get caught doing this by the management, and charged for a separate buffet. (No, the transgression didn't involve me.) I have to side with the management here. The buffet is "all YOU can eat", not "all you can eat and a friend can snitch from", nor is it "all you can eat and stuff in your pockets or otherwise walk out with".
In the OP's case, where food is sold by weight, I would say you must take any food item meant to be taken as a whole piece. What if it were bananas or oranges -- would it be OK to peel them in the store, then leave the peels there because you won't eat them anyway?
..if it's on the floor!
Except possibly in a casino. Who knows there. You probably get arrested.
Quote: VirgiEveryone is acting so self-righteous about this guy. Take what you can get in this world. It's no crime. Who cares if someone unknown calls you cheapass and claims they're offended by it? Further, when I gas up my truck tomorrow and after the 23 gallons it'll take to fill it up the meter reads $0.00 because it wasn't working properly, I'm happy and gone. Only a fool would try to pay for it.
call me a fool.
But don't call me a saint. I can think of a few times I pulled a fast one I guess. You know what, though, if you do well in life by that time you'll realize hardly a nickel of it really came from trying to rip somebody off... the prosperity will come from elsewhere.
Quote: VirgiEveryone is acting so self-righteous about this guy. Take what you can get in this world. It's no crime. Who cares if someone unknown calls you cheapass and claims they're offended by it? Further, when I gas up my truck tomorrow and after the 23 gallons it'll take to fill it up the meter reads $0.00 because it wasn't working properly, I'm happy and gone. Only a fool would try to pay for it.
Ah, what has caused you to have to have such a moral standard? I mean, where do you get your ethics from? Which religion or is it a more philosophical stand point from Objectivism?
Quote: thecesspitAh, what has caused you to have to have such a moral standard? I mean, where do you get your ethics from? Which religion or is it a more philosophical stand point from Objectivism?
Oh, please. It's just Jerry being his sock puppet again.
But that's no reason to slander Objectivists.
Quote: VirgiTake what you can get in this world.
You should also look into getting a "monkey's paw" as it will increase your slot payouts.
Quote: NareedOh, please. It's just Jerry being his sock puppet again.
But that's no reason to slander Objectivists.
Yeah, your right. That was a little unfair, given the context.
Quote: kpYou should also look into getting a "monkey's paw" as it will increase your slot payouts.
Slots? No, No, No. Jerry is a VP player. The very best one in the world, I hear.
Quote: rdw4potusI frequent the by-the-pound ready-made cafe/deli/salad bar at my neighborhood grocery store. I've been a customer for the past 6 years. For the last two years or so, I've done something which they informed me today is considered unacceptable. When I get the fried chicken, I very carefully remove the breast plate and ribs from the meat and leave those indedible bits behind. It seems to me that if it's inedible and easily removable, I shouldn't have to pay for its weight. The deli kiddo who chastized me compared it to taking only one veggie out of the mixed veggies, or eating some of my food on the way to the cashier. I don't really think that those two things are similar at all, or that either is exactly the same as what I'm doing. But, he was pretty pissed.
Am I wrong in thinking that I shouldn't have to pay for easily removable non-edible items in a pay-by-the-pound setting?
If a whole piece is placed out the whole piece is meant to be taken. If you want to buy that way pay a higher-price for the trimmed product. For crying out loud, do you call the cable tv company to get a refund for the time you had your set turned off?
Quote: odiousgambityou'll realize hardly a nickel of it really came from trying to rip somebody off... the prosperity will come from elsewhere.
One of the great mysteries to be answered: is do thieves really get away with something for free -- or does it all come to naught with some karma eventually? If it's karmic, then everything you took will be taken away, and of course all pleasure it brought to you will be extracted as well.
Well, I consider it a possible mystery; some may consider it known.
Quote: VirgiI'm of independent religion, and I never say no when opportunity knocks. There is nothing illegal with what this guy did, and there is nothing illegal about paying $0.00 if that's what the meter says. Ethics? Only the timid would be concerned with that.
Actually, real men with honour, grace and dignity are concerned with doing what right. Cowards and weasels pretend they're getting even with the system. You can be who ever you want to be.
"Independent Religion" - that's a meaningless, mealy mouthed phrase from someone who doesn't want to be judged for their actions against any standard except their own. Because that's easy, you always hit it square on.
Good luck with it.
Quote: VirgiI live my life with dignity, honor & grace and I also take advantage whenever opportunity knocks.
Taking advantage anytime, even if it's in contrast to honor? That would be DIShonorable.
Quote: VirgiI've always believed that it was the atheists who took the easy way out, because they're too lazy and indecisive to take any particular path.
What??? Really? I thought the religious zealots are taking the easy way out. THEY'RE the ones who are too lazy to think for themselves and believe whatever the preacher or good book tells them to believe.
Quote: VirgiBeing of independent faith, I believe in God and I believe in living a good life while always being kind to others.
Ummmm, belief in God is NOT being independent, it's being part of the sheeple. I live a good life, and I don't have to believe in a faceless man in the sky to do it. If YOU need a book to tell you the difference between right and wrong, then you DON'T think for yourself and therefore are not independent.
Quote: VirgiOn another note, one thing I won't do when I play blackjack is count cards because the casinos have said they don't want players who do that. I believe it's cheating although it's not against the law, in much the same way hustling the by-the-pound buffet is. We are all different.
Wow, really? Using my brainpower is cheating? I use the same info available to everyone but can process it faster than you....that's cheating? You are exactly the kind of loser the casinos want at the tables.
Go away, Jerry.Quote: Virgi
Thank you.
I, of course, voted to pay for the bones.
rdw4potus, I hope you don't mind, but I sent this question into Dear Abby and Emily Post, as if I were the one doing this. Hope you don't mind. I'll report back if they reply.
