Why Dog Treats Should Not Be Displayed At Checkout

[SixFortyK]

Our checkout registers each have different items on display for last minute impulse purchases. It's mostly obvious stuff like snacks, candy, soda, toothbrushes, toothpaste, batteries, etc. One of the registers has a a number of small pet toys and pet treats. One of the pet treats is jerky for dogs. They are obviously for dogs, as there is a picture of a dog on it. Not to mention, it is surrounded by other dog and cat treats. Now, if you are in a big hurry and don't really look at the package, it does look quite a bit like regular beef jerky.

So, older lady comes up to my counter. She's only buying one thing. She puts the package of doggy jerky on the counter. I see that it is already open. She says, "These really aren't very good." I look up and she's taking another bite of the jerky she has in her hand. I look again at the package to make sure. Yep. There's a picture of a happy looking dog on the package. She's eating jerky treats for dogs.

I really didn't know what to do. She was acting like she was in a hurry, so I just rang it up and took her money.

I felt a bit bad later. I was thinking I should have said something, but I was kind of worried she would react badly and take it out on me.

How would you have handled it?

[Kaylyn]

I would have said, "I'm sorry your dog didn't like it, mine love it!" Just to see the look of horror creep across her face.

Also I came to this thread with expectations based on the title. I'm glad to see I was not disappointed.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

How would you have handled it?

Started giggling like a lunatic, because I would be thinking of this:

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I AGREE

[Sapphire Silk]

How would you have handled it?

Sometimes, silence is golden.

I'm sure she realized what she was eating by the time she got home.

[MoonCat]

Sometimes, silence is golden.

I'm sure she realized what she was eating by the time she got home.

Maybe not.

Years ago, when I was a kid, my grandparents had a small paper bag of fake "chocolate" flavored dog treats behind the pantry door. They were for their dog, a sweet little rat terrier named Peanut (he was a doll!). Not realizing they were doggie treats, I ate one and told my brother not to bother sneaking any - they were terrible. My grandmother laughed her head off when she found out.

Of course in the case of the OP there's a picture of a dog on the wrapper but we all know customers don't read signs or packaging

[Evannah]

I'd have said "Er... they're dog treats" with a look of sheer bewilderment on my face. I can't deal with stupid customers lol.

[taxguykarl]

I agree with Evannah. You don't want that SC to be back about a different pet treat.

[An Haddock]

In this case I think silence is golden. I can just picture the woman going into full SC mode and accusing you of trying to poison her, she's suing everybody, etc.

[wolfie]

One of the pet treats is jerky for dogs. They are obviously for dogs, as there is a picture of a dog on it. Now, if you are in a big hurry and don't really look at the package, it does look quite a bit like regular beef jerky.

I felt a bit bad later. I was thinking I should have said something, but I was kind of worried she would react badly and take it out on me.

If you had said something, and she wound up being a bitch about it, wouldn't it be appropriate for her to be eating dog treats?

[Sapphire Silk]

If you had said something, and she wound up being a bitch about it, wouldn't it be appropriate for her to be eating dog treats?

Exactly. Which is why I wouldn't say anything. SC's being what they are, she'd immediately blame you.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Exactly. Which is why I wouldn't say anything. SC's being what they are, she'd immediately blame you.

I have to agree with that.

Sometimes it's better to stay quiet.

[Arucard]

My mum told me a story of when she was growing up in a country town, and her parents ran a store. She'd sneak out tins of biscuits from the back for the bigger kids, because she was too small to be seen by here mum at the counter. She was too young to read as well. One day new biscuits came in, and she thought they were delicious, so she took some out to the bigger kids, who tried them, but thought they tasted weird. She went back in and brought out the tin they came in. Sure enough, dog biscuits.

She wasn't asked to sneak them out any more biscuits after that.

[Lovecats]

My big sister used to like dog biscuits when she was younger. Don't know if she still does.

[Seanette]

My mother claims I snacked on the occasional MilkBone (brand of dog biscuit, for those who don't know) as a small child, and as far as she could tell, it didn't harm me, so she didn't stress about it.

[Arucard]

It's hardly harmful. There are people who taste dog food for a living.