Wow, Jay, I wouldn't have been able to give $99.25 change that early in market - some weeks not at all. I carry less than $100 in small bills b/c I don't do that much business. Malna - thanks for taking our rants as constructive criticism ;-) - not that you do ANY of those things! But to answer your questions (IMPO): I really have to say "Thanks!" for posting your stories. I will be a much better farmer's market customer from now on. I always do save up my ones and fives and change for shopping there (actually, I apologized when I only had a $20 bill two weeks ago for a $3 purchase). And I'm a cash in the front pocket of my jeans kind of person anyway. I don't do purses. Not a problem unless *every* customer does it. It's hard to plan on how much change to bring, but I really do appreciate exact (or close to) change. I didn't realize that a lengthy chat with a neighbor right smack in front of your booth was annoying. Guilty of that one a few times! I sure can understand it now. Thanks - most markets have open space in the middle, or even if set up in a (g)alley sort of configuration, leaving 4-5ft between your group and the front of the stall so people can walk between you and the stall, and see what we have, is appreciated. So here's some questions from "the other side of the table". Do you appreciate us (customers) bringing reusable bags? Seems like most vendors automatically grab one of theirs and I have to say "No, no, put it in here" even though I have it out and available. Maybe they think it's my purse? Then I get the big sigh as they take stuff out, throw their bag back on the pile and put it in my bag. I love reusable bags to put all the purchases in (I have to buy more plastic T shirt bags - didn't see any at BJs this week). But I do like to use paper lunch bags for jars or tomatoes, plastic produce bags for beans, etc., then you can put them in your bag. As long as you don't set it down on top of my tomatoes or knock my display over ;-)! I don't wash anything (just hydrocool greens and those are bagged) so you have to wash before eating, but I don't want anything getting broken or squished (or beans or cherry tomatoes getting lost in the corners of your bag). I figure it's a courtesy to offer you a bag (and really a necessity when I'm selling cherry tomatoes or beans by the pound, so I can weigh them without them rolling off the scale) but I won't push it. Plus do you wash your reusable bag in between shopping trips? If someone is struggling with purchases from multiple vendors, I'll offer them a large bag - I've even given plastic produce bags to people who have bought cut flowers from other vendors, so they don't drip all over their car. I try to tell vendors when I've gotten really good produce on previous trips, but I feel like they are too busy to listen. I do go early, and they can be very busy, and I don't have time to hang around to talk to them - I specialize in combat shopping; get in and get out as quickly as possible. Would leaving a Thank You note be more appreciated for when you have time for a compliment? I love compliments! A quick compliment (preferably as you're buying something this week, and loud enough for others to hear) is always appreciated! So is a good review or comment on my Facebook page. One of my biggest complaints is that the vendors don't always know what they are selling. I asked one what variety of garlic they were selling (I buy local garlic and replant it myself); she shrugged and said "Lady, it's GARLIC." Needless to say, I don't go to that stand anymore. I know all my produce - esp. tomatoes. I may not have tasted a particular variety, if it's my first time growing it, I have limited supply, it's early in the season, it's a large beefsteak, etc. But I can at least describe what the seed catalog said about it. I haven't tasted Golden Queen, Orange Minsk, or Mark Twain yet, b/c I haven't harvested many this year, but I will tell you what I've read about them. I'll also tell you if a particular tomato is ripe, needs a couple days on the counter, or will last a week until the next market and help you pick out individual heirlooms to eat throughout the week, to serve the number of people you plan on. I had 1 lady buy just 1 of each type of cherry tomato I have this year so she could try them. She asked if I'd have them next week and I told her yes - she wants to stuff them. So I recommended Dr. Carolyn in particular b/c it's large, blocky, and solid - if/when she comes back next week I may have her look at my "salad" tomatoes such as Camp Joy, Bloody Butcher, and Moravsky Div if she wants to make them a little larger. I am always willing to chat with people (esp. about tomatoes) as long as I'm not busy. If we're chatting and someone comes up, I will excuse myself to wait on them, and hope you will move to the side and wait to finish our conversation, or tell me Thank You and See You Next Week. This post was edited by ajsmama on Fri, Sep 12, 14 at 15:19

On the flip side of this I bought a house that was completely staged from top to bottom for sale. Everything was painted, new carpet was installed throughout, and a brand new 3/4 bath was converted from a powder room. Furniture was brought in, art was hung, and flattering photographs were taken for the listing. I happened not to see the listing before I saw the house in person. There happened to be an open house on a day I walked by on my way to look at another house. The kitchen was several years old and none of the appliances had been used except for the refrigerator (There were still plastic wrapped things in DW and Oven) The reality of it was the house had been horribly maintained and everything that had been done for sale was done in the cheapest manner possible. I saw through most of it and bought the house anyway, because I was looking for a house to renovate. I was not planning on having to replace 100% of the plumbing and electrical however. The electrician told me I have been lucky so far that the house hasn't burnt down. Among things that were likely done in the course of readying the house for the market were leaving cut off live wires in the basement, splicing wires in the walls with electrical tape, putting up new fixtures without boxes and connections covered with electrical tape, putting in new bath fans that weren't actually connected to anything. I don't think the seller intended to deceive, I think the seller was an incredibly cheap person who accepted the lowest bid for any project and I know they put their agent through hell. As I said, I fully expected a renovation project, and I got one in spades. But the way the house presented itself in a very superficial staged manner was one that was move-in ready. I think it's more honest, that if the house is in lousy shape, it look like it, for those people who have not, like me, been through the old run-down house game before.

Interesting thread this. I worried that it might be narky, fists banging on the table demanding that people take the advice, but it's in a lower key which I like. 'The funny thing with my scenario, is that I think she got thrown off by what composting actually is - maybe when she saw the flies and maggots on the top of the pile of rotting food and organic matter.' Interesting point, this. These days people don't grow up with their hands in mud making mud pies, having been turfed out of the house to go and play. It's all electronic rot. Sad I reckon. And all that marketing everywhere we are and almost everywhere we go. My father said decades ago how harmful it is to us all. And now, as if it couldn't get any worse, fake grass is springing up. My neighbour had no front garden the other day. Then an attractive retaining wall grew, slowly (by todays standards) and carefully. It looked very nice and they'd taken with it. I went out. When I came back, three trees had sprung up at a height of about six or seven feet high and a bright green 'lawn' lay basking in the sun. Instant garden. I couldn't help but say to my partner, "That isn't gardening..." I wasn't being critical, I just felt perplexed.

Bossyvossy study the - 4 degree symbol very carefully and read what she said is showing on her dashboard. I certainly would have never seen that before since we certainly never get to minus 4 degrees lol