Bulk-bin gold digger -- an ethical question

[InternalDialogue]

Woman in Wild Oats two days ago, standing in a way that blocked me from the bulk bin I wanted to get at. So I waited.

Her bin was a trail mix, and the reason she took so long was that she was selectively picking the bits of the mix she wanted. When she was done, she had a bag of trail mix, but it didn't represent the original mix at all. Some things in the original mix were entirely absent from her bag, while she had a higher percentage of other bits.

My instant, internal analysis: The value of the trail mix is determined by the overall proportion of ingredients. I don't know exactly what she took, but she changed that overall proportion, both in her bag (affecting the value of what she'll pay for) and the remaining bin (affecting the value of what everyone who comes after her will pay for). It's possible she took a larger proportion of the inexpensive ingredients, meaning she'll pay more for less expensive bits, and those who come after will get more of the expensive bits for their money. The converse is also possible, she took the more expensive bits, giving herself a bargain and leaving others to pay more for the less expensive bits.

Value aside, she upset the general balance of ingredients -- someone who comes after her and randomly scoops will not be getting the trail mix in the proportions generally associated with that particular mix.

Question: Was her behavior appropriate? Unethical? Unfair?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. yes i think she was being unethical especially if she was picking the most expensive items

however if she was leaving out things she was allergic to, then maybe not.

about unfairness it depens on the quantity in the bin and how much of the items she removed.

[InternalDialogue]

2. I wish I knew what she had been picking out for herself.

I would have like to check really quickly and see if she was picking things that, bought separately, would have cost more or less than the trail mix itself.

But I also thought that, regardless of the value, she was changing the nature of the mix she left behind. Whether it became worth more or less, it wasn't what people would usually have gotten from that bin.

[Nicole]

15. A question about being allergic

Wouldn't the items she was allergic to have left some residue on the items she took?

I would think cross contamination would be a concern if one was allergic. :shrug:

[taterguy]

3. The only thing more disturbing than you watching what she put in her bag . . .

Was me taking the time to read about it. Relax. Let it go.

[InternalDialogue]

5. It's not bothering me at all.

It's an exercise, an ethical question, the kind of thing that provides an excuse to think and offer an opinion, if anyone cares to.

:hi:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

6. you dirty bulk stealing apologist

shame on you!

[taterguy]

8. Shame on you for having a low post count

That's the only sign of righteousness here

BTW, welcome to DU
:P

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

14. thanks!

[idgiehkt]

23. I think it depends on the store

I've worked in the bulk dept of health food stores and some people that work in them are really tolerant and would understand this. I don't know about a normal grocery, but I think it's not a 'set in stone' kind of thing.

[AllegroRondo]

4. unethical and unfair

its like when I was a kid, and my brother would go through the box of raisin bran and pick out all the raisins. the remaining cereal is nothing but bran, and who wants that?

[Connonym]

7. I think I'm unethical

I always throw back the orange candy when I buy bulk candy. I hates the orange.

[skygazer]

9. I run into this as a grocery store worker

I run the liquor department which includes beer, wine coolers and the little 4-pack single size wines. I have customers who come in and make their own six-pack of beer, choosing several different flavors of the same brand usually though sometimes they mix brands. Or they mix flavors of wine coolers or varietals of the wines.

That bugs me. Though someone might want the mix they left, normally they won't sell and I have to mark them down to clear them out. Different situation than your bulk bin but ethically, I think if a person only wants one or two items from the trail mix, perhaps they should consider buying a package of chashews and a box of raisins (or whatever it is they're picking out) rather than leaving a bin full of their leftovers.

[datasuspect]

10. did she pay for it?

where there instructions/rules regarding the correct proportions of self-service product selection from a bulk bin?

does it matter?

in terms of the yearly product the store purchases and sells, what percentage of her purchase/choice bits selection has any tangible impact on anything?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. Rude.

And unethical. And unfair.

I liken it to someone who pokes their fingers through the plastic covering meats. The reason they have those scoops is so people won't stick their grubby, germ-infested hands in the trail mix.

I would recommend saying something to the store manager the next time you go. Maybe they need to switch to dispensers instead of bins.

[Nicole]

12. I think it's rude.

It's called a mix for a reason. It's not fair to the next customers who are expecting the missing items to be in their mix.

If she wants only certain items in her mix, then she should buy those individually & mix them herself at home.

I don't care for peanuts so I never buy mixed nuts. I buy the nuts that I do like & mix them myself. She should do the same with the trail mix.

[datasuspect]

13. but really

it's not like the store doesn't have another rodent chewed bag of mix to replenish the stock. how much could she have actually purchased? one pound, two pounds?

if they have one of those plastic chingaleras in the bucket, mix it up a bit to reproportionalize the product after this horrifying woman is done finger molesting the trail mix.

this discussion is probably one of the most absurd things i have ever witnessed.

[Nicole]

17. True, they probably have more.

I just don't understand why you would buy a mix if you really don't want the mix? Buying the items you want individually makes more sense to me. :shrug:

Absurd discussions I've witnessed are one of the things that keeps me coming back here. :rofl:

[petronius]

16. And as a follow-up question: what about people who partially shuck ears of corn?

I think your person was technically unethical, but in a trivial way. Considering the size of bulk bins, she'd have to pick out a lot to significantly change the proportions, and I think a certain amount of selective scooping is expected in any serve-yourself situation (it is rational, after all, to aim the scoop at higher concentrations of the good stuff)...

[Omphaloskepsis]

18. I wouldn't have done this.

It seems like a lot of work for very little in return. Awesome, she spent 15 minutes to save 20 cents. I know people that do stupid things like this. My sister will drive across town to save 10 cents per gallon on gas. She doesn't get that she just spent 3 bucks to save 1.50$. Brilliant.

I don't have a problem with what the lady did. It was rude and stupid. But, the next people that buy from the bin can see what is inside. If you only see one m&m on the top you should assume you won't find many in your bag.

[bicentennial_baby]

19. Reminds me of the people who strip the outer leaves off of cabbage

To drop the weight... :mad:

[Karenina]

21. Why not?

Why pay for leaves that take the bulk of the pesticide and piss?

[Nikia]

24. Is it alright that I often break up the bananas?

I am the only one eating bananas at home and I only eat one per day. I don't like overly ripe bananas either. I often break up a bunch so I only take 3-4. This is for bananas sold by the pound.

[Omphaloskepsis]

26. I do the same thing.

I think that it is a little bit different from cutting an apple in half.

[Bullwinkle925]

20. I think that in the produce section and at the bulk bins, people tend to show

you who they really are. I agree with an above poster - buy what you like and mix it yourself. I've done that as well. I do believe the behavior was all of the above - inappropriate, unethical and unfair.

[hippywife]

22. I like people who do this but

only in the bulk candy bins with Hershey's miniatures. I prefer the dark but the majority of the population doesn't so there's always plenty of the dark ones sitting right on top. ;)

No, really, I do think that is inappropriate. Is it a major issue in the grand scheme of things? Probably not but it does bug me sometimes to see people being so selfish, even in the little things.

[dysfunctional press]

25. that's almost as rude as the morans who rip the ears of corn open...

i hate that.