To feel awkward shopping at markets

Another market seller here!
Please don't feel judged or awkward. I never speak to people expecting to buy, also it's perfectly OK to say 'I'm just browsing' which I always interpret as 'I don't want to be spoken to'

Omg this is me! And I won’t get any free tasters because I can’t handle trying something then walking away.

This.. I understand the prices absolutely and appreciate the work. But most can’t afford.

Think you lot are overthinking this. I used to sell at craft markets. It’s actually v boring so I said hi to everyone just cos otherwise I may have fallen asleep!

Same. Exactly. Sometimes I feel like this in shops too, but it’s worse in markets.

Yabu. Please don't feel awkward, feel virtuous.

Just by being there, visiting local artisans and not automatically going to Tescos, Amazon Temu and the other giant retailers that are destroying our high streets and the planet, you are helping your local economy.

What makes me feel awkward, is paying upwards of a fiver for some horrible toxic supermarket cake with stupid amounts of packaging.

I know what you mean but unless you want to spend a fortune on stuff you don't really want you either have to avoid the market or develop a thicker skin.

You can admire the wares without buying them - if it's hand made craft the seller will appreciate any compliments even if you don't buy.

It’s nice to feel like I’m not alone in my awkwardness!

@Iriseee I do the “fly past” too!

@DaisyDooley That made me laugh, even the birds wouldn’t have it 😂

I feel so guilty but everything is so expensive. Yes, I know it’s expensive because it’s lovingly handmade and taken 400 hours to make with extra special local ingredients that cost a fortune and they make it all themselves instead of exploiting children in some poverty stricken country. But that doesn’t change the fact it’s unaffordable for most people. Even the small cards cost a bomb. No thanks, I’d rather be a horrible person and go to Card Factory.

I sell at antique fairs. I love talking to customers about the things on my stall. If they buy something, it's a nice bonus, but I'm happy to just chat. I understand that money is tight and antiques are a luxury so I'm never offended if someone just looks.

I do understand the pressure but just ignore it. They just stare at you while you browse ready to jump on you.

I think you can understand the purpose and function of the market whilst still feeling uncomfortable within yourself.

I don't tend to go unless I already have in mind that I'm willing to spend money on something, but that is true of going to the shops in general for me. I don't go to them for the sake of walking around looking at what's for sale - I go if I need something or otherwise genuinely fancy doing some shopping or treating myself and have the funds to do it if I see something I want.

I am a bit socially awkward though, and had a time of it when we went to a market on holiday recently. Lots of lovely things and stallholders but twice I had a sample (food) hoisted on me which I didn't enjoy at all -the stallholders both passionately explaining the making process and how much they love the product made me feel incredibly guilty. It took everything in me to conclude the conversation and leave without just buying them anyway and I thought about it for weeks afterwards and cringed at myself wondering how I could have handled it better, or if that was even possible.

I used to go to a lot of antique fairs - still do occasionally. It never occurred to me to consider what the stallholder thought. I just concentrated on the goods. Possibly because I am a dealer myself and its just business.

Little village hall craft markets are the worse. I end up buying bits of tat because I feel I should even though I go in with the intention of not buying anything other than perhaps a cake.

No, I do not share this feeling at all. They are there for you to judge their products. I am used to markets and enjoyed the banter with them, they know very well you may or may not make a purchase.

OMG yes, it's especially hard when the stall owners pounce on you and then give you a detailed description of their craft and how all the bits are foraged or the chutney is great great great great grandmother's secret recipe or whatever......I feel awful when I walk away. I've decided to stop going to these too!

Would you believe I got caught yesterday!
Again!
£2.50 for a scone -and, get this I BOUGHT TWO.
It gets worse.
I got a fruit one and a cherry & almond one.
I had -well,tried- the cherry one. It was a good size but terribly overcooked, dry and solid.
The birds got the remenants &the fruit one. My birds in the garden get fed every day and the bastards eat everything,
when I came upstairs about 7.30pm the bloody scone was still there! Like a mocking monolith! The birds had eaten everything else - but not the sodding £2.50 scone.
#gutted.
What a mug l am.

This is a sad thread to read, but I do the feel the same. I have developed an elaborate strategy for craft stalls now.

I conduct an initial 'fly past'; a relatively fast-paced stride several metres out which gives the impression that I'm simply passing through. This allows me to clock the stalls that I'm actually interested in, without giving any of them the false hope that I'm planning to stop. When I reach the end I then do a 180 turn and drop into a more leisurely stroll, making a more concerted but casual bee-line for the wares that have caught my attention.

This allows me to bypass the stalls selling 80s bandanas and dolls made out of hairbands and other random (dreadful) things.

For those that do receive my visitation I will always say 'hello' to the stallholder, and usually have a chat. I do like to know the story behind the products they're selling. If I don't want to buy anything I will offer a light compliment like "Gorgeous colours" or "Very beautiful items, thank you" - before strolling on.

I feel so awkward as much as I try not to!! I feel so bad even though I tell myself there’s nothing wrong with browsing and not buying!!

I sell at markets, please don’t feel awkward. I don’t pounce on anyone, neither do I bite; well not at weekends anyway.

I am happy for you to come in and browse, pick things up, show your friends/partner/mum, put it down, say something nice and walk away. Often just you looking will bring someone else into the stall, who might buy. As pp said, please don’t promise to come back later on, we can usually tell those that won’t.

I work on my own so it’s just lovely to be out in the fresh air meeting people, whether they spend money or not.

My items aren’t over priced or particularly artisan, I only sell to fund my hobby really.

So please don’t feel awkward, smile and say hi, I would really appreciate that

Same.

I always feel bad for the sellers at these craft fairs. It's all very nice what they've made, but at the end of the day, the vast majority is just "pretty tat", that fills your home but has no real purpose.
And the stuff that IS usable, like maybe greetings cards, or food products, are priced SO far above the supermarket/mass market equivalent, that it feels like a waste of money.

No I dont feel awkward, theres nearly always freebies of cheese, chocolate, nuts and olives and I go away with a full tummy

If you've ever seen these types of markets in Spain or Italy, the grandmother types go in sharp elbowed, grab loads of cheese samples and just walk off. No shame whatsoever

I was a bit like that for many years. Until about 3 years ago. I changed jobs and now am much more confident. I know just greet the stallholder and say that I am going to look and will ask them if I need. I look around and if there is nothing I wish to buy I just say thank you and move on. It is the same with gift shops, delis, wine shops, antique shops etc.

If it helps, I’ve helped DP a few times when he has had a stall at art markets and I felt super awkward being on the other side of the table too.

Do you try and start a conversation with punters? Do you leave them to have a look at their leisure but then risk seeming rude for not engaging? Should you go full “The Apprentice” and start shouting “roll up, roll up” or dragging people over against their will? It’s a bloody nightmare.

YANBU but I always wonder who does buy their products or produce as they are soo pricy. I did buy some nice pastries through at the last farmers market. But yes painful and just leave me to look!

Armstrong and Miller did a very good sketch about farmers markets.

Food stalls in markets are fine if they are fairly busy. If busy it is easier to just move along if you don’t want something.
Although I am fussy about refrigeration for appropriate items. Anything left out in the sunshine for too long doesn’t get a purchase from me. And I hate no prices. Nor description of what the item actually is.

Craft stalls can be a bit difficult too. I purchased some items out of sympathy once at one market when a gust of wind blew a lot of pottery items for sale on the floor. I really felt for the stall holder. She was clearly distressed.