Comments on: Am I Stealing by Reading Magazines at Checkout?

By: DebtKid

DebtKid — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:40:00 +0000

Definitely OK what you did. Gosh, sometimes I go to Barnes and Noble and read 1/2 a magazine without purchasing it. I think reading an article while in line is totally OK, if not encouraged!

Plus the fact that you tried to find the article online (presumably going to the publishers site, driving traffic and ad revenues)...I think its fine.

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 01:38:00 +0000

I’m glad to see you all think browsing isn’t stealing. By the way I always put the magazine back neatly on the rack.

By: Canadian Saver

Canadian Saver — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 16:49:00 +0000

I agree with the others… I don’t consider it stealing either. But like neumes said, I always make a point of putting it back very neatly.

I much prefer when there is no one in front of me, but when it’s busy, I do browse through the rack……..

By: Neumes

Neumes — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 07:54:00 +0000

I consider browsing the magazines a store's way of placating customers trapped in a slow line from losing it when the person in front can't get their act together and actually pay for their groceries.

I always make sure to put the magazine back neatly. I consider it rude to jam it in and bend it up.

By: Some Girl

Some Girl — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:26:00 +0000

I didn't want to get into the fray over there (at The Simple Dollar), but here I'll say that it may be more of an etiquette issue than an ethical one. Browsing a mag while you stand in line is socially acceptable. It'd take something more (like ruining the mag) to make it into an ethical issue. Just my $.02.

By: Brooke

Brooke — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 12:08:00 +0000

Nope, not stealing. If you were looking at it at your local library, it wouldn’t be stealing either!

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 05:56:00 +0000

Stores purposefully place magazines in checkout lanes because they are impulse goods. They hope waiting customers will start reading, then purchase the magazine to read more later. Obviously they don't expect everyone who opens a magazine to buy it. The magazine's placement is a sales tactic: they figure some portion of people will become interested enough to buy it.

A customer isn't obligated to buy a magazine or book after browsing through it. Otherwise magazines would be sealed in plastic. Remember that by buying a magazine (or book) you get more than the information inside (which may be freely available elswhere) - you also get a convenient way to read and reference the information, especially while offline (e.g. on a bus).

If you didn't purchase that magazine, then you obviously didn't think it would be worth your money. I think you made the right decision.