When we take all the freebies for ourselves are we stealing?

I guess technically you aren't stealing if something says free. But I wouldn't feel right about taking more than one or two. If you take something out of someone's mailbox then I think that's stealing. Even if it was free, if it has their address on it or is on their property, it is legally theirs then, right? Unless it's just on the property and it could be yours, though. I never thought about that until just now, but our free base newspapers get thrown crazy sometimes and I've went and picked one up off the neighbor's sidewalk. I guess some people might think I was stealing theirs, then. But they got two delivered though so I know one of them was mine.

Getting free product samples is a consumer's privilege. And it's a way for retailers/manufacturers of saying "Thank you for patronizing our products". But ofcourse, this items are limited only for everyone to enjoy. Now, if you try to get all the free products on display, without the retailer's/manufacturere's consent, then that become stealing, because you're getting so much just for your own personal use and leaving nothing for other consumers to try on and enjoy. But then, if you ask the person assigned on giving away those free products to have more than what is suppose you should have, it's up to him/her if he/she will give you more or just enough for you to enjoy. So the best thing to do here is to ask first before getting anything from the display. And it would be a nice move since you are asking for their permission to get more. Who knows, maybe they'll give you a 1 month or 2 of free supply of those products, you'll never know... c",)

If the display says "Free" and someone takes the entire thing I don't think it is stealing because the sign said free but offered no conditions. I think it is tacky and greedy for people to do this but that is all. If the sign says, "One per customer" then the person takes all of them, I would say that it was because the place was only offering one per person for free. Out of someone's mailbox? Isn't that a felony in USA- Tampering with mail. If it is off someone else's steps that is stealing because the product was meant for that person not you. It is pretty much all in all a rude thing to do no matter what the angle. (In my opinion)

I can say when it is free and you take one product to test it we can't really say it was stealing because it was legally said it was free. But when you said that she take more than a bag but it indicates free I can't really say it was stealing because it was free the right word for that I should say is GREED. When you fill your bag but it says that take 1 only then it is really something else he/she can be reprimanded for that but steal can't be accuse of stealing because it was tag as free. When you get someones sample on someones doorstep and mailbox then I can really say it was stealing and you are violating the law for it was not yours at all. This are all my views some view would be differ but we should try to respect each other view.

Most food displays in supermarkets do say "free" although anymore than two, in my opinion is kinda stealing. why? they're also for other customers to try and some people are greedy enough to pinch the whole lot and take them home. ^ I've seen that happen quite a few times. I personally don't agree with it because it's common sense they mean one maybe two if your nice. to take a whole lot home for example would be stealing because your not testing or trying the product. Free is when you don't take advantage of "trials" or simular schemes. for it to become stealing i would say it's when those become greedy and don't keep the best intention. Kudos ~Joey

First of all I am the one that gets to the asket of FREE when it is already empty! Not trying to sound Sarcastic but so very true. I Sometimes on Halloween leave a Bowl of candy on my doorstep with a sign that says please take one and leave some for the rest of the trick or treaters! I Know however that when the first trick or treater shows up he is thinking no one will ever know if he took one or if he took them all. But thats not true he will know! I always return home on Halloween with my bowl broken into peices, My Pumpkins faces kicked in and No candy in sight, I think this is because some kids came up to my porch light on and all my candy gone from that first trick or treater. You remember the one who thought there were no concequenses to his actions ? I tend to believe That we all know what isright , Wrong and coming very close to the middle , and if we all thought about the next erson in line we would all have a better life and possibly More free stuff! I know it sounds a little deep but, if you tink about it its true! How many people are walking around with your free stuff or your fair share of the Halloween candy? God Bless

Well I don't think something that is marked free is stealing. I would certainly not take over my limit..but I also think first to show then first to be served so to speak. I would not take something from someone's mailbox or doorstep because that is wrong. I do like to get free samples because it also helps you to decide if you would purchase the product in the future...so they are great!

Well to me free is when something is giving to you but if your taking or braking rules for example take one and you take 6 or all then yes I consider that stealing. Its not really an ethical question its just knowing the difference between right and wrong. I dont even like getting anything free it feels like a hand out to me.

What you should ask yourself is: Do I really need this product and do I need so much of it? If the sample is unlimited and I feel that one of my friends would like one to I take one with me for that person. But with a 1 limit per person I would not take a new one. Taking it out of someone's mailbox is not nice but you are not stealing from your neighbour but from the company who sent the sample.

Taking a free product or sample isn't stealing, in my eyes, it is there for people to take advantage of. On the other hand, if someone was to come along and take all the free products left, then that is disrespectful, plain greed and not fair on everyone entitled to the free product. I am not sure if it would be classed as stealing, to some degree yes because you are taking away something that is not meant for one person but several people. Anything taken from another persons mail box, whether it is a free sample or not is stealing, it is private and intended for that person at the end of the day.

to me one is enough, we should give other peoples chance to try it, to me it is not only a question of ethic, it is also a question of selfrespect and respect to other, if you greedy enough to take everything, what would other people think of you, do you like being the attention by people around you? if you have respect for youself and to others i think you will give others chance too.. ohh and it is surely a stealing if you take from others mailbox or doorstep even if it is a free things, so what is your opinion...

It probably isn't considered stealing in the eyes of the law, but probably in the eyes of the LORD. If you don't believe in God, then it probably puts a stain on your karma or what ever.... My dad, who was an athiest, would've considered it stealing. And if you go down & take ANYTHING out of someone else's mailbox, then you are "tampering with the mail" and that IS stealing. However, if the person with the free samples is finished for the day & gives them to you - as happened recently to us at the adoption day - that is not. She gave the group about 20 bags of the samples. The lady in charge gave them to me because 20 bags would've gone stale since even giving the cats a "treat" at adoption day we used less than a bag. I used them to feed my outside cat until they were gone.

It's not stealing if its free. However, it feel wrong to not let others get a chance to get a freebie as well. A person doesn't have to let others get freebies. I think the company's purpose in giving out freebies is to promote their product though.

Yeah! If it is marked as free you can take up to 3 for free! Anything after 3 is rude and inconsiderate! That could be considered stealing so if you take 5 your stealing. so filling up your whole shopping bag would be inconsiderate and very selfish!

If there is not sign with a limit, taking one or two would be okat, more than that would just be rude and greedy. Taking something out of someones mail box is stealing. If it is on a mailbox, it already belongs someones and is not up for grabs.

I think it's wrong to take everything. I mean come on, if it says directly in front of you take only 1, it means only take 1. Don't become some greedy person and steal from other people that didn't get a chance to sample the product. Now if a person goes inside another person's mail box and takes something that's illegal and a federal crime to take a person's mail even if it's a samle. Again, it's illegal to take something from someone's front porch. That's trespassing and you can go to jail.

I'd say if the display says one per person, then it means ONE is free. If someone took a free sample out of someone's mailbox, then that is mail fraud or a felony for taking someone elses mail (whatever they call that, lol) as it was meant for person that lives at that address even though it may say "occupant". At the very least I'd use adjectives like "greedy" and "rude".

I don't know if it would be considered stealing if you too all the freebies, but it would defianlty be GREEDY

yes I think it is some way of stealing because you are depriving other people opportunity to try the samples also and to have the freebies too. More so when you are instructed to take only one. And it is definitely stealing when you get the freebies from other people's mailbox and doorstep. And is it not a federal offense to open other people's mail? I think it is quite the same when you get things from their mailboxes. And when it is sent into your neighbors' doorstep it just means that it was given to them so why get it right? It is definitely stealing.

I have a related story to share. In sixth grade, all the students stood in a circle and the instructor handed one person a huge plate of M&M's - told him to take as many or as few as he wanted, then pass the plate to his left. The second student was told the same thing. We quickly found out who the greedy students in our class were, and half of the class didn't get any M&M's at all. "That's how life works," the instructor told us. I think it is stealing to take the whole basket of free products, because although details are not spelled out on the sign, the products are obviously not intended for only one person. Taking a few is ok, provided that a lot remain for future passers-by. It is assumed that, as adults, we know the rules and do not need them spelled out each time.