A UK-based mom is sparking a debate on social media after sharing a story about an unpleasant interaction with a grocery store cashier. TikTok user Samantha Mary posted a video detailing the interaction she had with a Tesco cashier after she allowed her son to eat food in the shopping cart before she paid for it.
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The whole situation left her feeling "so cross"
"I feel a mix of both really cross and really upset," she began the video that has over a million views and thousands of comments. "I've never felt, in one moment, so judged by somebody. I'll be honest, I snapped."
Her son had been feeling ill for several days when they went shopping
She went on to explain that though she had brought snacks for her son, he didn't want them. Instead he wanted to eat something in the shopping cart. "Because he had not eaten, I was like, 'If he wants it, he can have it,'" she explained, adding that he also ate a yogurt she was planning to purchase.
Once they got to the register, she let the cashier know her son had eaten something in advance, and gave her the items to scan. Samantha said that the cashier then gave her "the most disgusted look" before scanning the items and throwing them away, even though her son hadn't finished his snack.
The cashier had something to say about Samantha's actions
After apologizing and retrieving the items, the cashier then decided to share her thoughts.
"She said, 'I just don't think it's right that people let their kids eat stuff from the food shop on the way around,'" Samantha explained, adding that the cashier pushed her "mom button."
"I said, 'I don't really think it is your job to be giving your opinion on what you think — my child is really unwell, he has basically not eaten properly for a week, he wanted something in the shop, so I jumped on that opportunity for him to have something to eat,'" she said, and then the cashier offered a "half-apology." In the caption of the video, she made it clear that she will be filing a complaint with the store.
What would you have done if you were her?
There are over 8,000 messages in the comment section, and people are divided over Samantha's actions. Many believe that she was in the wrong.
"You're actually not supposed to open the items as you go around what if your card wasn’t working at the till? How would you pay for it then," one person asked.
"I work in retail and this is one of my biggest pet peeves, like why can’t you wait to eat or drink things you are buying till you have paid for them?" another said.
"You should have told him you had snacks for him and he couldn’t have what was in the trolley before paying. It’s stealing if you haven’t yet paid," another shared.
"I’ve always taught my kids. Choose something you want. Then as soon as we’ve PAID and got to the car. They CAN open it. Also tell them to have a snack," someone else said.
Sometimes things happen — shouldn't grace be given in those moments?
There were many comments offering Samantha support and understanding her perspective.
"The reason why I go to self scanners even with a big shopping because of people judging it’s so wrong hope your okay ," one person replied.
"Wow… I’m genuinely so sorry that this happened. As a mom, I completely get where you are coming from. I have, on almost every occasion," another person shared.
"I can understand the rules with this but I think given the explanation they should be human and have sympathy," someone else said.
"I used to let my children eat on our way around a supermarket. I always thought as long as I pay for it it wouldn’t matter ,♀️" someone else added.
"From a former Tesco employee we’re literally told to be kind in these situations. As long as she’s honest and pays for it, it shouldn’t be a big deal," a person said.
