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[miles]

As for pre-eating, I tend to think of it as mostly appropriate for kids who need distractions; god only knows there were enough supermarket trips when I was a wee one that I probably got through only by virtue of Pringles. That said, if you're going to pay, what's the damage?

Always the voice of reason

Anyway, I think Ray is in top form in this strip.  I especially love panels three and four.  First, Beef warning that the cops may come, and then looking around for the cops--apparently he believes that someone actually will call the cops--I guess he doesn't realize it's fuck*ng Ray Smuckles we're talking about here, and then the "Yum, Man!"

Something is seriously wrong with the corn guy, I think.

[AlohaDawg]

I have only done this when there's a kid what needs placating nearby, but I don't get into an indignant state if other people munch a little.

The bulk bins is a different story, though - once you eat that stuff there is no way to pay for it. So that's not a good way to go.

I never though about having a brew in the store, though. I may have to try that.

A few years ago when I first got here a lawyer was going to have some coffee at the store at the self serve urn, but he tried a little mouthful of it first and it was horrible so he threw the cup away (there was only a little in the bottom) and left. They arrested him for shoplifting if you can believe it.

[V-Adore]

Yeah, the bulk bins (and to some extent produce) bug me quite a bit, since there's no way to pay for it -- do you tell the cashier "by the way, I had two or three gummi worms before I filled the bag, so add their rough weight in?" With produce, I think it depends; if you actually buy the grapes, no harm no foul, but if you don't, you've probably made that bunch of grapes as unpurchasable as an opened, half-consumed box of Triscuits sitting at the back of a shelf where the semi-consumer prays it will not be noticed by the Supermarket Police.

Also, I think there is just something hell of sad about an obviously middle-aged or elderly gentleman doing samples at the grocery store -- like the happiest thing that has happened to him all day is a stranger pouring half a beer into his mouth. The apparent enthusiasm is very sad indeed.

(I don't know why there is not the same sense of sadness around middle-aged or elderly women doing such a thing; is it because we assume that women of such an age are "part-timing" after having been full-times wives or mothers, but that men must have spent their entire productive lives at the supermarket or have had no meaningful vocation at all? Man, now this is going to bug me.)

[AlohaDawg]

I don't see how the grapes would be unpurchasable - maybe you don't want to know what produce goes through before it gets to you - but the bulk bin argument applies to everything sold by weight.

[V-Adore]

I don't see how the grapes would be unpurchasable - maybe you don't want to know what produce goes through before it gets to you - but the bulk bin argument applies to everything sold by weight.

Well, I'm not basing this on any hard research, but I know a lot of consumers are reluctant to buy damaged-looking produce, and I assume that bunches of grapes that have obviously been scavenged from are in that category. At least, were I in a grape-purchasing position and had the option of scavenged-looking or intact bunches, I know what I'd choose.

This thread is getting sort of deep.

[AlohaDawg]

So all those loose grapes that are in and among the grape clusters didn't fall off of the bunches? I doubt I've ever bought a bunch of grapes with a perfect grape on every little stem.

You know what I HATE most about the produce section? Yesterday I;m looking at the tangerines. Maybe just to be artsy, there was 6" of stem left on each one and a few "jaunty" leaves. Maybe Martha Stewart would say "it's a good thing".

I say "If I'm buying these by weight, why the hell do I want to pay for this extra wood and leaf"?

I've noticed lately that a lot more produce seems to come with extra, inedible parts attached. Sometimes length of root (I saw this yesterday with the claim that the vegetable would stay fresher longer), sometimes with extra leaves or parts that are usually trimmed and I can't help but think that this is nothing more than a ruse to get you to pay more. Each person, maybe, doesn't pay much more but on a truckload of carrots, the tops might make up significant weight...and no one's eating them.

[AugustWest]

So all those loose grapes that are in and among the grape clusters didn't fall off of the bunches? I doubt I've ever bought a bunch of grapes with a perfect grape on every little stem.

Brother, you just haven't lived until you've bought a bunch of grapes with a perfect grape on every little stem.

[CortJstr]

Don't grapes generally come in bags? Thus an open bag would be obvious.

Several supermarkets around me have done away with bulk food entirely. Most of sat around and got stale. Then some was "sampled" either to detect said staleness or just as a free mid-store snack. Plus every couple of months there'd be a story on the news about how bulk food is hella unsanitary and there are all kinds of hair and droppings and eggs mixed in with your yogurt raisins. So basically it wasn't cost-effective when they could use the same aisle to carry more beer or salty snacks or something.

The store my mom always shopped at when I was little had somebody who weighed and tagged the bulk food right in the bulk area. That way we could snack freely for the rest of our visit.

[MattFish]

I don't see how the grapes would be unpurchasable - maybe you don't want to know what produce goes through before it gets to you - but the bulk bin argument applies to everything sold by weight.

considering this is a comic strip message board, it might be worth mentioning that an old Dilbert covered this exact subject once, and they ended up sticking him on the produce scale.

[Bozack]

...when they could use the same aisle to carry more beer or salty snacks or something.

I'm pretty sure whenever you have an option of "more beer and salty snacks," you should take it, no matter what. This isn't just in supermarkets, this is across the board.

[AlohaDawg]

So all those loose grapes that are in and among the grape clusters didn't fall off of the bunches? I doubt I've ever bought a bunch of grapes with a perfect grape on every little stem.

Brother, you just haven't lived until you've bought a bunch of grapes with a perfect grape on every little stem.

Preach it.

[Bobby Isosceles]

Obligatory Swedish Rap Video

[starlight]

The corn salesman looks to be having a seizure and / or is possessed in the 5th panel... then beer cured it!
Well, at least that's what I thought...

---

To make myself even weirder.. no, I've never eaten or started drinking anything before purchasing.. mostly since I don't like to eat or drink in public much.. people looking makes it not as enjoyable.  that only came about in '98 though, so before then it was just habit.

[wombat]

I'm beginning to think that Bobby is crying out for some kind of intervention.  Cort, do you think we can find out where he lives and drag him out of there and get him deprogrammed?

[cellardoor]

The corn salesman is shocked to see people interested in sampling his wares, hence the sudden head turning. No movement lines make it hard to tell though.
That wasn't a criticsm Chris, honestly.
I love you.