sharing a drink at mcdonalds - is it stealing?

[brianmanahan]

sometimes my brother and i will go out to eat at McD's and we buy one meal (sandwich/fry/pop) + another sandwich. we'll each eat a sandwich and split the fry and pop, then get a pop refill for the road if we are still thirsty.

i mentioned this in passing on a facebook post, and a guy that we both know saw it and FLIPPED OUT. he insisted that it was stealing and despite laughing it off he continued to post several more walls of text about how evil i am.

next day, he posts that he called the McD's AND the police and says they both agreed with him! he also says that he did not give my name to the police, even though he thinks he should have. at that point i was sick of the crap and unfriended him.

does anyone split drinks? i honestly think the store does not care, otherwise why would they have pop dispensers and free refills?

 

[waggy]

IF you split the drink and REFILL it then yes its theft.

 

[lxskllr]

IF you split the drink and REFILL it then yes its theft.

I'm with this guy. You're getting a free drink, but it's low on the list of offenses I care about.

 

[brianmanahan]

IF you split the drink and REFILL it then yes its theft.

why is that any different than me drinking it and refilling by myself?

 

[BarkingGhostar]

The wife finds it amusing to sip from my drink when I get a Diet Coke no matter where it is from. It can be McDonalds for the $15 cheap meal for us or a restaurant where the bill is easily $250 or more. When a restaurant offers to give me a 'to go' cup I'll get it for her as she'll then refrain from sipping mine in the restaurant.

Now this is with my wife. Naturally I don't pass this with anyone else so the offense is limited and when you consider the profit margin (businesses charging $2-3 for a Coke it is more than negotiable.

BTW, no one place has complained to me and we don't hide the fact we are doing it. IF they were to complain I'd happily pay for another Coke. But they don't seem to want to complain.

 

[brianmanahan]

BTW, no one place has complained to me and we don't hide the fact we are doing it. IF they were to complain I'd happily pay for another Coke. But they don't seem to want to complain.

yeah, thats the thing - the store has never once appeared to care

 

[Chaotic42]

I think the more disturbing thing here is that you and your brother drink after each other. D:

 

[brianmanahan]

I think the more disturbing thing here is that you and your brother drink after each other. D:

its ok, we're tight

 

[bzb_Elder]

To those who say this is theft, I would ask: is sharing a tub of popcorn and getting a free refill at the theater theft also?

I wouldn't exactly consider this theft - but I don't run a restaurant, so maybe I would if I did. Hmm...

 

[lxskllr]

why is that any different than me drinking it and refilling by myself?

Thought and intent. They also lose a sale. Would you feel the same way if you bought a Coke and shared it with everyone in the restaurant? Afterall, a refill is a refill, right?

 

[Crono]

Stop pirating drinks!!!

 

[brianmanahan]

To those who say this is theft, I would ask: is sharing a tub of popcorn and getting a free refill at the theater theft also?

lol, every time my brother-in-law goes to the movies he grabs an empty mega-sized popcorn container from the trash and gets free refill popcorn all night

he asked me if i wanted some one time - i politely declined

 

[Imp]

Can't tell if these replies are serious...

Okay, this is more complicated than I thought.

 

[JEDIYoda]

To those who say this is theft, I would ask: is sharing a tub of popcorn and getting a free refill at the theater theft also?

I wouldn't exactly consider this theft - but I don't run a restaurant, so maybe I would if I did. Hmm...

false equivalency?? The theatre expects that your going to share the tub of popcorn...the norm if for people to buy a single drink for each person. Not one drink to share with you and your friends!

 

[brianmanahan]

Stop pirating drinks!!!

 

[brianmanahan]

Okay, this is more complicated than I thought.

yeah i had no idea it would be such a big deal

but this random acquaintance was wigging out so hard, it sounded like he wanted to throw me in the slammer for it

 

[brianmanahan]

false equivalency?? The theatre expects that your going to share the tub of popcorn...the norm if for people to buy a single drink for each person. Not one drink to share with you and your friends!

how do you know what the theater expects?

and what does the expectations of the theater (or the restaurant) have to do with my usage of the popcorn or drink?

i did not sign an agreement for the popcorn or the drink.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Why would you facebook about it?

 

[brianmanahan]

Why would you facebook about it?

was saying that the 2 of us managed to eat at mcd's for less than 5$ total

 

[manimal]

OP is a gypsy,


give me your gypsy tears

 

[GagHalfrunt]

It's definitely stealing and wrong, but a person that flips out about it is wound awfully tight.

 

[brianmanahan]

It's definitely stealing and wrong, but a person that flips out about it is wound awfully tight.

i dont think legally it is stealing or wrong though

 

[Chaotic42]

i dont think legally it is stealing or wrong though

I doubt you'd get arrested, but I'd say that it's wrong. Not something you should worry about, but something you shouldn't do any more.

 

[Humpy]

I don't believe this happened.

I also can't believe people have actually formed and defended an opinion on one side or the other.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Can I check my understanding.

Could I go into a free buffet/soft-drinks place, and pay for a meal (e.g. $10).
Sit down with a party of 50 (friends) people, who pay NOTHING.
Then continually refill my plate with buffet food, and refill the drink, and pass it round my 50 friends ?
So that they can eat/soft-drink for free ?

I think that paying for the meal, for a single person, and sharing it is NOT too bad.
BUT refilling the drink and passing it to different people is WRONG, as they were only expecting ONE person to consume the drink.
TWO or more people, can drink a lot more, which costs the place more money.