Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

So, I was in Costco today. We decided to pick up some strawberries. They were sold in the plastic clam-shell containers and they were large packs (4 pounds each).

So I wiggle my way into the crowd and I pick up a pack, that a look, see there is one smooshy one in it and put it back, then look for another package.

To the right of me, there is a couple. The wife opens up one of the package, takes one out and starts eating it. She puts the package back and does the same thing to another pack! (I'm not even sure where she was putting the leafy stem she wasn't eating! ). So now she's telling the husband to sample some too and find a "good" pack. In the minute I was there, they must have opened 4 or 5 and ate some out of each.

I don't know why this bothered me so much. Am I in the minority? Do you sample such things like strawberries, grapes, cherries, etc. before you buy?

Just curious. My husband was indifferent, but I said I felt skeeved that I may have picked a package someone stuck their fingers in.

I came home and rinsed them really well before cutting some!

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

grapes yes, anything else, no. But I only try one per bag and will only try 2 bags if first bag is good I will just buy it with out trying any others. If I try a second bag and it is still not good, I don't get grapes.

Message edited 6/6/2009 11:49:24 PM.

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

I would NEVER do that. That is disgusting. They are closed packages for a reason!!!

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Message edited 3/4/2010 7:52:35 PM.

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

I don't sample but it isn't out of courtesy to others.. it's because of the scenario you described and other things.

I don't know WHO handled anything in a store before I did, what their hygiene habits or medical history is.. and I don't take any chances. That lady might be the type who doesn't wash her hands after using the bathroom and might be licking her fingers as she's sampling and then sticking her fingers into the next package. The idea of it makes me a little woozy. Same with grapes.. I've seen people touch the globes to test the firmness or whatever and I have NO IDEA where they've been. So when I buy ANYTHING - it get's rinsed really well when I get home and before anyone in my house eats it.

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

No, I like to wash fruit before I eat it.

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

never. it's not mine to eat. not even one grape......

the only thing I could envision doing in the grocery store in the future is giving DS a slice of cheese from a deli pack that I will buy 20 min later... never sample anything myself, or let DS sample anything that I'm not definitely buying.

who wants to eat unwashed fruit anyway

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Message edited 3/4/2010 7:52:10 PM.

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

no i think that is rude and gross, as someone else said just cause one tastes good doesnt mean the rest will
AND i like to wash the fruit you dont know what pesticides are on the fruit

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

I've NEVER sampled anything in the grocery store (except if they give me a piece of cheese or something at the deli counter while I wait)-- sealed package or not. I always buy what I want and eat it after. UGH!

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

ick!!! that's just gross!!!! they are in a package for a reason!!! i never do that!!!!! i buy something and then i eat it!!! the only time i open anything in the supermarket is to give my kids some crackers or cookies or something but hello im buying the box!!!!!! yuck im soooo grossed out!!!!

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

I don't ever sample from the fruit or veggie dept. But i do sample from the DELI counter.

I have the nicest deli guy at the waldbaums by me, and he gives soooooo many samples, i don;t even ask for them. By the time i leave with all my stuff i am full!

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

OMG! NO! I cannot believe someone did this! Not only is the fruit unwashed but someone else is potentially buying that package not knowing someone had been pawing through it and eating from it!

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

I am glad I am not alone in being skeeved! I just thought it was nasty, not to mention she probably just threw her chewed stems in the pile somewhere

The deli counter is totally different! I say sample away! you are not touching the meats other people are buying!

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

Never. I don't even like it when people are eating out of the boxes of crackers, cereal, etc. before they have bought them.

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

Posted by BJandDan

Posted by Metsmomma
but hello im buying the box!!!!!!

I will do this too... but for me... no kids.

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

For starters those people are idiots-it's strawberries not cookies! Just because one in a pack is good doesn;t mean all the others in the same pack are good! Chances are the whole shipment is either good or not.

I have never even seen anyone sample strawberries from different packs to find a "good" pack.

I would certainly never do it myself, but I do always smell berries (without opening the box) because you can tell a lot by the smell.

I do taste grapes though!

Re: Do you "sample" (i.e., taste) before you buy....

This makes me not want to buy grapes anymore...eww