Musings from a Market Stall
I like selling stuff (specially wool) , listening to people talk about their projects, advising. Talking about wool - I surprise myself sometimes.
I don't like - people who rudely interrupt when you are dealing with a customer - specially ones who prod you. Putting out the baskets every morning (and taking them in again at night) especially the tower ones that have to be manhandled up and down a step. Given how much of the employee advice/contract is taken over by the safety elf this is malpractice. I keep wondering what the 3 Saftey elves I have worked with would have to say - and I know for a fact anyone asked to shift them in a factory would walk out - we have no choice. Watch this space this could be an accident waiting to happen.
Favourite people: The lady who brought a big tin of chocolates (Heroes if you really want to know) for 'the girls'
Anyone who has their money ready
Anyone who has the CORRECT money ready
Little children getting excited about Father Christmas/Santa Claus
The man who came and spent £80 on wadding (44 metres of the stuff) and finally told us it was for a grotto for Santa
People making costumes for the school play/fancy dress night who know what they want to look like but haven't a clue and go away delighted with some cord and tassles (to make a belt for shepherd/grandson, sequins to glitter up an Elvis outfit, fur to turn ordinary wellies into Santa boots when they are standing in for Santa at a party.
People who walk past talking on their mobiles and you know they are lying to the person they are talking too. (A man stood outside the stall assuring person on the other end he was in bed waiting for the doctor to come and give him an injection. I did wonder if I had actually lost the plot at that point. NO I didn't deliberately listen but he was standing behind a lady I was swerving and talking very very loudly. Said lady had much trouble trying not to giggle.
Unfavourite people: Those who hand over what they want and take 10 minutes to get a tenner out of their purses
People who huff and puff because the person in front wants 4 metres of 3 different ribbons (then do the above)
Women who send their husbands with vague instructions about what they want (cue elderly gentleman waving a piece of green wool at me saying 'the wife's ill in bed and she bought her wool last week and she bought something to sew it up but it wasn't in the bag when she got home. She went to the cash point and took so long to come back you'd put her stuff back on the shelf. Do you know what it was?' Er no. I eventually (after touring the shop for 15 mins) sent him off with a skein of nearly matching tapestry wool as he finally admitted it cost nearly 50p and was beside the counter.
Men who come in and ask for a metre of elastic for the missus but haven't been told what it is for/what width they need. I have visions of an army of irate women descending on us clutching elastic/buttons/thread etc. in one hand and a reeipt in the other cos we sold their other halves the wrong thing.
People who come in spend 35p on a ribbon bundle at 10 past 9 and hand over £20 giving us change problems for the rest of the day.
The not so small boy who on being warned the lino part of the floor had just been washed and not to slip scraped his shoes on it leaving nasty rubbery marks on it that took ages to wash off.
All that aside we have fun and get on well. It is so much easier and much less pressure than the old job.
I don't like - people who rudely interrupt when you are dealing with a customer - specially ones who prod you. Putting out the baskets every morning (and taking them in again at night) especially the tower ones that have to be manhandled up and down a step. Given how much of the employee advice/contract is taken over by the safety elf this is malpractice. I keep wondering what the 3 Saftey elves I have worked with would have to say - and I know for a fact anyone asked to shift them in a factory would walk out - we have no choice. Watch this space this could be an accident waiting to happen.
Favourite people: The lady who brought a big tin of chocolates (Heroes if you really want to know) for 'the girls'
Anyone who has their money ready
Anyone who has the CORRECT money ready
Little children getting excited about Father Christmas/Santa Claus
The man who came and spent £80 on wadding (44 metres of the stuff) and finally told us it was for a grotto for Santa
People making costumes for the school play/fancy dress night who know what they want to look like but haven't a clue and go away delighted with some cord and tassles (to make a belt for shepherd/grandson, sequins to glitter up an Elvis outfit, fur to turn ordinary wellies into Santa boots when they are standing in for Santa at a party.
People who walk past talking on their mobiles and you know they are lying to the person they are talking too. (A man stood outside the stall assuring person on the other end he was in bed waiting for the doctor to come and give him an injection. I did wonder if I had actually lost the plot at that point. NO I didn't deliberately listen but he was standing behind a lady I was swerving and talking very very loudly. Said lady had much trouble trying not to giggle.
Unfavourite people: Those who hand over what they want and take 10 minutes to get a tenner out of their purses
People who huff and puff because the person in front wants 4 metres of 3 different ribbons (then do the above)
Women who send their husbands with vague instructions about what they want (cue elderly gentleman waving a piece of green wool at me saying 'the wife's ill in bed and she bought her wool last week and she bought something to sew it up but it wasn't in the bag when she got home. She went to the cash point and took so long to come back you'd put her stuff back on the shelf. Do you know what it was?' Er no. I eventually (after touring the shop for 15 mins) sent him off with a skein of nearly matching tapestry wool as he finally admitted it cost nearly 50p and was beside the counter.
Men who come in and ask for a metre of elastic for the missus but haven't been told what it is for/what width they need. I have visions of an army of irate women descending on us clutching elastic/buttons/thread etc. in one hand and a reeipt in the other cos we sold their other halves the wrong thing.
People who come in spend 35p on a ribbon bundle at 10 past 9 and hand over £20 giving us change problems for the rest of the day.
The not so small boy who on being warned the lino part of the floor had just been washed and not to slip scraped his shoes on it leaving nasty rubbery marks on it that took ages to wash off.
All that aside we have fun and get on well. It is so much easier and much less pressure than the old job.