The thing about smaller communities is that you don't want to be known as the douche bag vendor. Ask for the money first, people think you don't trust them and they in return don't trust you. Sure it means you get ripped off every once in a while but better than the community looking on you as a suspicious disrespectful a-hole.
Hey! You're not old enough to drink! Now go and die for your country!!!

it was compete overkill for the hot dog vendor to abandon his cart and chase a kid many blocks away over a single hot dog that wasn't paid for.

This message has been deleted.

That last post gave me severe douche chills.
You know what hurts the most is the the lack of respect. You know? That's what hurts the most.

This message has been deleted.

It's a scam that is still being used to this day; I literally saw someone dart out of subway without paying last night. I guess it's just people on the spot don't really think about it and therefore don't plan a counter-move.
The thing that get's me is that in the book, Shakes points out that the vendor was wary of him and seemed suspicious that something might happen. Why he handed him the hot dog without receiving payment is beyond me if that is the case.

I thought this too. But I guess Shakes wouldn't hand over the money first anyway. Vendor wants to get paid and will only do so when he hands over a hotdog.