Being polite at all times I think is a must.

I can be very rude intentionally - my family can tell you this as I have quite a sharp and quick tongue when I want to, but I try to leave that aside when doing business!

I can also be rude unintentionally - try asking anyone who has worked with me ( such as SU..... ;-) ) how I can get so focused on the project and the results that I fail to recognise the feelings of the people involved. Thankfully the people I have worked with offer more understanding on this than I probably deserve.

So none of us is perfect and I rather suspect that the dissuaders out there are more to be pitied than argued with - they are obviously very negative people

But I so agree with Bev and Melanie - being rude is not the answer.

Bev, I agree with your points about the high stress stores and educating people on the differences, although some people are absolutely terrified of anything vaguely "political" aren't they.

It just goes to show how much you have to "read" the customer at these events and see what type of infomation will work best with them. Some want details of the components, some dont. Some will like comical banter and some dont. Some will really have their eyes opened when told about the ethical issues and others run a mile and assume we are all lentil-eating tree huggers if we ever start mentioning the origin of products!

As I say, I take my hat off to all of you on the "front line" at fairs. It is so much harder work than people realise isn't it. It would be hard selling fruit and veg all day for goodness sake. But when you are selling your designs, things you put your heart and soul into all day, then even just one nasty comment can sour the day can't it.

Just gotta live and let live, realise that we all have personality flaws ( yes, even MOI!) and forgive people their nastiness and not allow it to upset our mojo.

Don't forget some people are just naturally tactless too but would hate to think they caused offence ( I know, my mother is a an absolute CLASSIC tactless person! lol )

Emma

Awww, Emma, you were never that bad. Honest.

I agree that you can't lose your temper or your cool with people at your stalls, otherwise there are a few I might have handed a slap to at shows. The most clueless woman was one who threw a pen on the table and glared at me, saying 'You must think they're gold-plated!'

I simply could not point out to her that she was a walking oxymoron.


I wanted to, though. It gave me a laugh or two later.

One thing I read on rec.crafts.beads was a great comment about how people value themselves by what they buy. When someone dismisses your work as 'too expensive' or does the 'HOW MUCH?' I just smile and think to myself, 'gosh, it's a shame you don't think you're worth a measly £25 or whatever'.

Makes live at the fairs easier now, as I don't allow comments about prices to upset me, as they're the ones making a judgment about the vaule compared to their own values. I've priced the work, I think it's worth it and that's it. End of story.

-Su

I had two visitors in last week and they were the worst! They kept saying 'oh that watch is nice, but I would prefer it as a bracelet',oh that necklace is nice, but I would have prefered a longer one' 'oh thats ok but I would have prefered it in green' I kept saying,well I will make you whatever you want...'oh no we wouldn't like to put you to any trouble'.
They clearly didn't want to part with their money and were just there to out do eachother.
In the end I said 'There's just no pleasing some people' and walked of