Shoppers are placing expensive eggs in cheaper cartons - but people fear it may lead to adding security tags

• e-mail

As supermarkets across the UK grapple with the rising cost of living, customers have been accused of employing a new sneaky tactic to get more value for their money. 

Shoppers have reported discovering 'cheaper' own-brand or value eggs in more expensive cartons, with some claiming to have caught fellow customers in the act swapping the products. 

Britons now fear eggs might soon become subject to the same security measures as items with high levels of theft, such as alcohol, laundry detergent and chocolate, as shoppers anticipate security tags being placed on cartons to prevent sneaky swaps.

In November, a Reddit user known as u/SpudgunDaveHedgehog shared their experience of catching a customer in the act on the popular subreddit, r/CasualUK. 

In the post, they reported how, while shopping at a Morrisons store, they noticed a man behaving suspiciously in the egg aisle, blocking access for other customers. 

After the man left, the Redditor realised the eggs in an expensive carton had been swapped with cheaper own-brand eggs from another box. 

The shopper noted the man had left 'a load of loose eggs at the back of a shelf with an empty "expensive" egg box; so he can scan a box of cheap eggs at checkout.'

He added: 'I get cost of living crisis and such, but the price difference is a quid or so. Our Morrisons now has barriers in the booze aisle which means you have to call staff to open up to get any spirits.

Shoppers have reported discovering 'cheaper' own-brand or value eggs in more expensive cartons, with some claiming to have caught fellow customers in the act swapping the products (stock image)

'How long before eggs come in an alarmed box, or behind barriers? How close are we to stealing expensive milk via decanting?'

The post has since prompted hundreds of shoppers to chime in with their own experiences of spotting incorrect contents in eggs cartons, while others expressed fear of supermarkets retaliating by placing tags on the everyday product 

Responding to the shopper's experience, one Redditor joked: 'That's a bit mental. What's he going to do, have the expensive eggs with the cheapest bacon and beans on his fry up?'

Another added: 'Let’s talk about the man here. This man isn’t thieving out of necessity. He can obviously afford to buy the cheaper eggs but he just doesn’t want to pay for the luxury eggs that he wants. This isn’t about staving off hunger. 

'He feels entitled to the more expensive product but doesn’t want to pay the asking price for it so expects another customer (the customer that ends up with the cheap eggs whilst expecting the expensive ones) to do it for him.'

Meanwhile, one person reported: 'Not that long ago at the till by Lidl the cashier was checking the eggs so I thought she checks for cracks and I told her non are broken she informed me that she checked for the size as people were swapping them.' 

Another said: 'I was thinking about this in Asda today. If you see someone stealing nappies, wipes, pasta and so on, you turn away. If it's steak, expensive eggs, or electronics, they’re just scum.'

A third wrote: 'A colleague checked a box of eggs and found that 3 had been switched with kinder eggs. 

The post has since prompted hundreds of shoppers to chime in with their own experiences of spotting incorrect contents in eggs cartons, while others expressed fear of supermarkets retaliating by placing tags on the everyday products 

'He looked at the customer in disbelief and just said “Really????” Customer tried to accuse him of changing it, demanded the manager. 

Read More

Tesco puts £1.25 Cadbury chocolate bars in anti-theft security boxes

'Manager just laughed and said we don’t have kinder eggs at checkout so that’s not possible. They asked the customer if they wanted 3 normal eggs, or the 3 kinder. And explained that the customer was lucky not to be facing attempted theft charges.'

Another customer reported: 'We get our shopping delivered and I’ve noticed on multiple occasions that our expensive (Burford Brown) eggs have been switched out for cheaper eggs. 

'The BB eggs themselves are a dark brown colour so it’s quite noticeable when you get a box full of eggs with pale shells.'

One shopper suggested their own solution, writing: 'I use Ocado for this reason - it all comes from a closed warehouse, far less chance of this than using one of the ones where they pick it from a shop floor somewhere.'

Another advised: 'If you buy organic eggs, check that the red stamp on each egg begins with "0UK." Free Range will begin with "1UK."'

It comes as WH Smith has stepped up a Christmas crackdown on UK's shoplifting scourge by attaching security tags to discount Advent calendars, £2 Terry's Chocolate Oranges and card games.

The retailer has installed anti-theft tags on items ranging from chocolates and sweet treats to toys and games, with some items costing just £1, amid theft concerns.

According to the Mirror, the high street chain has put some toys and games, such as Cards Against Humanity or Wheel of Fortune, in plastic security alarms in stores in Croydon and Redhill.