Grocery store etiquette

[shepgirl]

I personally don't have a problem with that as long as the kid is not making a mess or anything. But technically until you've actually paid for it, it's not yours to eat or use. The store has no way of knowing which people are going to pay and which ones aren't. Plus alot of people do that with things that are priced per pound like grapes/produce. As a cashier I had people hand me an empty grape bag full of stems and expect me to ring it up. Oh I rang it up alright but I guarantee you it was priced as if they had about 10 pounds of grapes.

Forgot to mention the fact that when the kid is finished with whatever he or she is eating the mom puts it back on any shelf - NO...it never is paid for it. I wouldn't mind the kids doing this if it kept them quiet and the parents rang the items up but I remember having to go back to the store with a bag of half eaten cookies that someone put back on the shelf.
I have yet to see any parent bring the item to the cash to have it paid for.

[smokey the elder]

People hogging the middle of the aisle, and who can't keep their kids under control.

Some points about bags: I find if I don't double-bag heavy or dense items like liquids, the belly (bottom) seam often fails or at least gets holes in it. Also, I re-use them to deal with the pre-owned kitty litter that 18 cats and kittens generate!