Newspaper conundrum

simu

You buy a newspaper in a shop and carry it around with you under your arm as you have no bag with you. You do not think of asking for a receipt for the newspaper as it's only a newspaper after all. You walk further around town and you suddenly remember you need something else like milk or a magazine. You are about to go into the next shop you come upon but you realise the guys in the shop might not see you coming in and think you took the newspaper from their shelves without paying. What should one do?

Normally, I'd chance going into the second shop and so far, I haven't had any problems but I'm wondering if any other boards person has. Or, at least, tell me I'm not the only one to find this situation awkward!

delly

I'd go into the shop and make my purchases while keeping the paper in plain view, but not near the counter, therefore indicating that its not being included in the sale. Most places give away free newspapers such as the 'Northside People' etc., so its not an uncommon thing to have a paper under your arm.

Gordon

Yeah, I wave the newspaper or magazine at the person by the counter before I commence my shopping.

therecklessone

I've faced this problem a number of times.

Have the paper open to an inside page, and if challenged say "f*ck sake, I'm hardly gonna pick up a paper in here, open it out to page 7, then try and sneak out without paying, am I?"

I've never had to actually carry through with this plan, but its my backup.

simu

therecklessone wrote:

I've faced this problem a number of times.

Have the paper open to an inside page, and if challenged say "f*ck sake, I'm hardly gonna pick up a paper in here, open it out to page 7, then try and sneak out without paying, am I?"

I've never had to actually carry through with this plan, but its my backup.

Aha! That's a good idea. The problem with waving or having the paper in plain view is that the shop people might be too busy to notice.

joejoem

Say oh no I paid for this already. If the chinese guy doesnt understand ask for a manager, if the chinese manager doesnt understand, ask them to watch the video of you walking again. Then when proved right say, you should have belived me, now I will never come in here again, or dont bother the Chinese guy wont understand anyway.

vector

therecklessone wrote:

I've faced this problem a number of times.

Have the paper open to an inside page, and if challenged say "f*ck sake, I'm hardly gonna pick up a paper in here, open it out to page 7, then try and sneak out without paying, am I?"

I've never had to actually carry through with this plan, but its my backup.

Funny this topic should come up, I've often wondered myself what people do.

I put it into may bag if I have one I usually do cos in in College,
but if I don't then I'll avoid newsagents all day.

simu

joejoem wrote:

Say oh no I paid for this already. If the chinese guy doesnt understand ask for a manager, if the chinese manager doesnt understand, ask them to watch the video of you walking again. Then when proved right say, you should have belived me, now I will never come in here again, or dont bother the Chinese guy wont understand anyway.

???

What Chinese people? Where did I mention Chinese people? Do you have a grudge against the Chinese or what?

Robbo

therecklessone wrote:

I've faced this problem a number of times.

Have the paper open to an inside page, and if challenged say "f*ck sake, I'm hardly gonna pick up a paper in here, open it out to page 7, then try and sneak out without paying, am I?"

I've never had to actually carry through with this plan, but its my backup.

I use a half completed crossword as my alibi. Should I ever need one.

Third_Echelon

simu wrote:

???

What Chinese people? Where did I mention Chinese people? Do you have a grudge against the Chinese or what?

I think the point was stating that its more than likely going to be a chinese person working in the shop, and if this is in Dublin, I'd tend to agree.

Usaully spar/centra personnel are of chinese/indian/eastern european origin.

simu

Third_Echelon wrote:

I think the point was stating that its more than likely going to be a chinese person working in the shop, and if this is in Dublin, I'd tend to agree.

Usaully spar/centra personnel are of chinese/indian/eastern european origin.

Oh. Most of the people in shops near me tend to be Irish but any foreign shop-workers I've had contact with have had good communication skills so I don't see that it has anything to do with my conundrum!

vector

maybe people should just carry hidden video cameras with them at all times, so if you were ever accused of something you could say, "no, I am innocent, here is the footage"

Of better still in car cameras, like the police have for speed chases in the UK in your car, if there ever was an accident you could show who was at fault
(and if it was your fault you could keep quiet about the footage, as there would'nt be an expectation of its existance.

simu

vector wrote:

maybe people should just carry hidden video cameras with them at all times, so if you were ever accused of something you could say, "no, I am innocent, here is the footage"

Of better still in car cameras, like the police have for speed chases in the UK in your car, if there ever was an accident you could show who was at fault
(and if it was your fault you could keep quiet about the footage, as there would'nt be an expectation of its existance.

Most shops already have cameras afaik.

joejoem

simu wrote:

???

What Chinese people? Where did I mention Chinese people? Do you have a grudge against the Chinese or what?

No, just 9 times out of 10 its a chinese person. I have nothing against them, it just irritates the crap out of me when something goes wrong and they cant understand you, they jsut yell at eachother. It should be manditory to have 1 fluent english person there at all times.

stagolee

i used to work in a newsagent , and people would even put down the newspaper with other stuff they were buying , didnt bother me , just as long as they told me they had already paid for it so i didnt charge them again

therecklessone

Robbo wrote:

I use a half completed crossword as my alibi. Should I ever need one.

Ha ha, imagine if they challenged you.

"Yeah right, I was hiding in the corner grappling with 7 down"