Pick n Pay in broken chocolate row

[schumi]

Cape Town -*Pick n Pay is investigating a claim that a Mitchells Plain granny and her grandson were reduced to tears over a demand that the elderly woman pay for a slab of chocolate the boy broke.

A picture of the woman on the floor, cradling the boy, was being shared on Facebook on Sunday by people demanding that action be taken against the store's security and manager for the way the situation was handled.

Another picture shows a slab of Dairy Milk broken in half with the wrapper still intact and Facebook users expressing their outrage over the way the two were treated at the store on Saturday.

Michelle Davids wrote on the Mitchells Plain Gangwatch Facebook page, "The child didn't even open and eat from the chocolate" while Shantelle Engelbrecht wrote on the retailer's Facebook page, "I was planning on doing the walk in

Kimberley till I saw the story of pick n pay Mitchell's plain traumatising a granny and grandchild till they were crying on the floor for breaking a chocolate... Not stealing ... Wth so sorry m.. Sort your brand out first".

Apologised for distress

Pick n Pay said in a statement that the incident was unacceptable and apologised for the distress it had caused.

"We are trying to identify and contact the family concerned to apologise to them. We are urgently investigating the incident with our franchisee who runs this store, to understand the circumstances and take the necessary steps to ensure it never happens again."

The incident also sparked a conversation on what shops should do when children damage an item, and whether it was considered stealing to open an item and eat it in the shop before paying for it.

News24
Link: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/pick-n-pay-in-broken-chocolate-row-20160424

 

[pinball wizard]

whether it was considered stealing to open an item and eat it in the shop before paying for it

Dunno about theft, but it sure points to a complete lack of self control. I cannot stand people who do this.

 

[Pitbull]

Cape Town -*Pick n Pay is investigating a claim that a Mitchells Plain granny and her grandson were reduced to tears over a demand that the elderly woman pay for a slab of chocolate the boy broke.

A picture of the woman on the floor, cradling the boy, was being shared on Facebook on Sunday by people demanding that action be taken against the store's security and manager for the way the situation was handled.

Another picture shows a slab of Dairy Milk broken in half with the wrapper still intact and Facebook users expressing their outrage over the way the two were treated at the store on Saturday.

Michelle Davids wrote on the Mitchells Plain Gangwatch Facebook page, "The child didn't even open and eat from the chocolate" while Shantelle Engelbrecht wrote on the retailer's Facebook page, "I was planning on doing the walk in

Kimberley till I saw the story of pick n pay Mitchell's plain traumatising a granny and grandchild till they were crying on the floor for breaking a chocolate... Not stealing ... Wth so sorry m.. Sort your brand out first".

Apologised for distress

Pick n Pay said in a statement that the incident was unacceptable and apologised for the distress it had caused.

"We are trying to identify and contact the family concerned to apologise to them. We are urgently investigating the incident with our franchisee who runs this store, to understand the circumstances and take the necessary steps to ensure it never happens again."

The incident also sparked a conversation on what shops should do when children damage an item, and whether it was considered stealing to open an item and eat it in the shop before paying for it.

News24
Link: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/pick-n-pay-in-broken-chocolate-row-20160424

Stealing is walking out of the shop without paying.

My wife and kids normally eat something while doing shopping. We keep the wrappers and pay them at the till. Up until such time that you leave the store without paying for something, only then is it stealing.

 

[grok]

I don't care who you are, break my chocolate and I will come for you..

 

[C4Cat]

Dunno about theft, but it sure points to a complete lack of self control. I cannot stand people who do this.

If I'm thirsty and there is a long queue, I'll often open and drink whatever I'm buying before I get to the till.

 

[Pilgrim]

Dunno about theft, but it sure points to a complete lack of self control. I cannot stand people who do this.

I also felt that way before I had a kid. My son is 3 years old and very well behaved, however there are times when he really really wants a cool drink or snack while we shop. Rather than going into an all out battle of wills over it I simply give it to him and pay for it when I reach the till.

You pick your battles, and that is one that is not worth it. I do put my foot down when he wants more than one sweet, he has to choose.

 

[yebocan]

From what I have read about the incident, a case of...this could have been handled a whole lot differently. Whether the child was throwing a tantrum or whatever...to traumatise a youngster and elderly woman, like this, is uncalled for...over a chocolate.

 

[Cray]

Stealing is walking out of the shop without paying.

My wife and kids normally eat something while doing shopping. We keep the wrappers and pay them at the till. Up until such time that you leave the store without paying for something, only then is it stealing.

Assuming you can actually pay for the goods, ever considered what might happen if your card is declines or you accidentally forget to bring cash? Officially you are consuming the good without having paid for it, Pick and Pay lets it slide because that is a sensible attitude towards someone who is obviously well off but I doubt they would let a homeless person/vagrant get away with it.

 

[Pitbull]

Assuming you can actually pay for the goods, ever considered what might happen if your card is declines or you accidentally forget to bring cash? Officially you are consuming the good without having paid for it, Pick and Pay lets it slide because that is a sensible attitude towards someone who is obviously well off but I doubt they would let a homeless person/vagrant get away with it.

No matter how you look at it. Only when you leave the store without paying is it seen as theft. If you card is declined you pay cash. If you can't pay cash you speak to the manager so you can go out, get cash and come back. It's still not theft.

 

[Nerfherder]

The article shared on my FB said they had threatened the granny with jail time ?

Looks like a bit of a farce to me....

 

[konfab]

Kimberley till I saw the story of pick n pay Mitchell's plain traumatising a granny and grandchild till they were crying on the floor for breaking a chocolate... Not stealing ... Wth so sorry m.. Sort your brand out first".

It isn't stealing, it is vandalism.

"Stop traumatising my flesh goblin and I for my lack of control of it. That broken LCD screen is still in it's box...Not stealing"

As for opening food whilst shopping: Either feed yourself or your child before you go in. This is not a difficult thing to do for a responsible adult. A grocery shop is not a diner.

 

[Nod]

Do PnP also go after their packers that break chocolate bars while packing?
The number of pre-broken chocolate bars on the rack is astonishing, so acting like this when I kid breaks one, is just ridiculous.

 

[spiff]

and whether it was considered stealing to open an item and eat it in the shop before paying for it.

personally I don't think "un paid for" items should be eaten or drunk merrily whilst roaming around the shop - as far as I'm concerned you have NOT paid for it YET - therefor it's not your property to consume.

 

[Mars]

Pick and Pay is not a restaurant, pay for your stuff before you consume it.

As for the kid that broke the chocolate, It seems like there where two hard asses up against each other and it got out of hand.
Besides, Pick and Pay has already taken action and is trying to sort it out. Their comment was the first on the original post on facebook.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

No matter how you look at it. Only when you leave the store without paying is it seen as theft. If you card is declined you pay cash. If you can't pay cash you speak to the manager so you can go out, get cash and come back. It's still not theft.

What about if someone eats something and jams the wrapper onto a shelf somewhere and doesn't pay for it?

 

[Pitbull]

It isn't stealing, it is vandalism.

"Stop traumatising my flesh goblin and I for my lack of control of it. That broken LCD screen is still in it's box...Not stealing"

As for opening food whilst shopping: Either feed yourself or your child before you go in. This is not a difficult thing to do for a responsible adult. A grocery shop is not a diner.

Why?

I'm paying for it so I'll gladly let my kids have a packet of crisps while I do the shopping without them nagging for other things. Those posting this can only be one of two things:

1. Don't have kids
2. Never take kids shopping

No one is claiming it to be a diner. I'm not ordering food and sitting at the garden section at the garden tables and chairs eating... Having a cold drink while shopping or having a bag of crisps as a light snack is my concern not yours. I pay for it

 

[Pitbull]

What about if someone eats something and jams the wrapper onto a shelf somewhere and doesn't pay for it?

That would constitute theft the moment they leave the store.

Have you ever seen anyone being arrested for shop lifting? They only arrest the people the moment they leave the store. Up until they do so they can still claim they are going to pay for it. Once they leave then obviously they never intended paying for it.

 

[Mars]

Why?

I'm paying for it so I'll gladly let my kids have a packet of crisps while I do the shopping without them nagging for other things. Those posting this can only be one of two things:

1. Don't have kids
2. Never take kids shopping

No one is claiming it to be a diner. I'm not ordering food and sitting at the garden section at the garden tables and chairs eating... Having a cold drink while shopping or having a bag of crisps as a light snack is my concern not yours. I pay for it

I take my kids shopping all the time. I have never ever let them open anything until its paid for. Its never been a problem for me.

Its not actually your decision. Its the decision of the shop owner. Go and find out how PNP feels about it.

 

[Cray]

No matter how you look at it. Only when you leave the store without paying is it seen as theft. If you card is declined you pay cash. If you can't pay cash you speak to the manager so you can go out, get cash and come back. It's still not theft.

You are applying the principle to yourself and your own circumstances - not being able to pay is a temporary inconvenience at most.. What it the person decides to eat a bar of chocolate or a pie and does not have the ability to pay? i.e. flat broke - that is stealing regardless of them having left the store.

 

[LazyLion]

People need to learn some self discipline and teach it to their kids as well. We are raising a generation of instant gratification pussies.
My parents taught me to respect other people's stuff. And never mind eating in the shop, we didn't even eat in the car or parking lot. We waited until we got home.
People think everybody else on this planet owes them a favour.
You're not that special.
Grow up. Learn some damn manners.