The touched article belongs to the toucher (the person who has touched it)

[JACEK1]

Hello again.

Yesterday I was about to post the sentence "The touched article belongs to the toucher (the person who has touched it)" on this forum when I heard someone say "You touch, you buy" twice on TV.

Do you confirm that "The touched article belongs to the toucher (the person who has touched it)" means the same as "You touch, you buy"?

Thank you.

 

[MikeNewYork]

What is the "article" in question?

 

[JACEK1]

Something you buy or a product.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I have never heard "you touch you buy" and I doubt it is legal.

 

[tedmc]

I wonder who would buy such a product from such an arrogant seller.
But the title seems to imply otherwise - "you touch you own".

 

[JACEK1]

It is not about what a seller says to a customer but there is a saying "The touched article belongs to the toucher (the person who has touched it)" in Polish and probably in other languages.

 

[emsr2d2]

I've certainly never heard "You touch, you buy". I can't imagine any shop where you have to buy something just because you picked it up to have a look at it. Some shops have signs saying "If you break it, you buy it" - that's fair.

However, if a company is trying to say that the moment you pick something up, you will find it so desirable, you will feel that you have to buy it then the slogan might work.

 

[JACEK1]

Maybe "You touch, you buy" applies to vegetables and foodstuffs.

 

[emsr2d2]

The health food shop where I work would be very unpopular if we insisted on that rule. Most people who come in for our fresh, organic fruit and vegetables pick them up, have a good look at them, squeeze them, sniff them and then either put them back or put them in their basket.

 

[Eckaslike]

Maybe "You touch, you buy" applies to vegetables and foodstuffs.

I have heard it used before, very occasionally, at markets.

You are right, in that context the stallholder would be saying that just by touching something you are obliged to buy it. One place I can think of where this might be especially true is at a fish, or meat, stall.

This travel writer uses the phrase about shopping at Boqueria Market in Barcelona. http://offtrackplanet.com/magazine/articles/top-10-free-things-to-do-in-spain-that-won-t-suck

I'm thinking of this type of market stall in Sheffield: http://tinyurl.com/qycwkac

 

[Boris Tatarenko]

It seems like you have never been to an Arab country. It is a normal rule in touristic zones in such countries like Egypt, Jordan and so on.
I'm not saying it's legal or fair but I just want to assure you that this "rule" exists. :-D