eCONomic Scuttle Butt

“It’s the store’s fault,” blamed shopper Irene Hugivsadam as she whisked her cart full of unpaid-for groceries out to the parking lot. “I wasn’t told how much the prices would be increased.”

Ms. Hugivsadam has joined thousands of angry grocery shoppers across the country who now routinely walk away without paying. Most don’t even feel guilty.

“Hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do, right?” said Homer Grabwatican, carrying several bags out a side door while the store manager was distracted by another customer, a popular technique recommended by the new web site YouEatForFree.com, which advises consumers on how to get their share in the national free food frenzy.

But not all shoppers have joined the free rush for the exits.

“I don’t think it’s right to walk out of the store with food like that,” admonished Lester Stuphmifase, tossing a spent banana peel under the bagel bins and grabbing a fresh custard donut from the bakery section. “Anyways, why bother, I just eat here, it’s much more convenient. Have you tried the pumpkin pie? It’s excellent.”

Another shopper complained, “It’s a pretty good deal [sneaking out the door with free food] but the store should do more to help consumers. They should deliver our free groceries right to our homes.”

This entry was posted on Monday, March 3rd, 2008 at 8:58 pm and is filed under eCONomy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.