Christmas markets aren't what they used to be?

[SnuggyBuggy]

I don't know if it's nostalgia or getting older and more cynical but am I the only one who thinks there is more tat at some of these markets this year. I like to get good food and interesting presents but haven't bought much so far.

I totally agree.

I went to one the other day where they charged a small fortune for a stand (knew someone who sold nice clothes and accessories who couldn't afford it) and was 90% weird art and nothing people would actually buy as a Christmas present.

To be fair the local one I go to regularly is still awesome.

I suspect its greed of those renting or creating the event. Prices low margin local crafts out.

If you're anywhere near an Aldi or a Lidl, a lot of the Christmas food there is a third of the price that's charged in a market.

I used to work on alot of smaller markets. Unfortunately it's just that people can't afford it. Sky high stand fees (anywhere between £15-2000 some places)
Plus unpredictable footfall and lots of browsers and no buyers mean that alot of smaller businesses just can't afford it. It takes time out of their week to man the stand, and overall it's just not worth the few pounds it generates. Alot of the craft stalls that used to frequent the markets I worked on are now online only, or gone altogether. It's very sad :(

As a lot of the traditional Christmas market goods (foods, artwork, craftwork) are available the whole year round and / or somewhere else, a lot of what used to make them special is gone.
Also a mixture of greed, instant gratification and dumbing down is going on.
I now only go to special 'traditional' markets or markets held at charitable places, but then I am oldish and still stick to my childhood traditions.

plus what @Possumfish said.

I've always thought most of the stuff sold on Christmas markets is all made in china, mass produced overpriced tat. I like some of the food they have on offer though, which you normally wouldn't find on the street at other times of the year

I think it may well have been the case that they were charging too much for a stand. I'd be very surprised if anyone made that amount of money in this case unless someone bought one of the more expensive pieces.

Now good old Aldi hasn't let me down

I think it's just that the novelty has worn off.

I'm just remembering stalls from only a few years ago, this nice one that did cold weather accessories, another that did wooden puzzles, another with really nice wooden children's toys and jigsaws. There is definitely more plastic.

I’ve been to an amazing ‘hippy Christmas market’ today where I purchased gifts I know my vegan and nature loving friends will love (locally made raw chocolate and bamboo toothbrushes etc). But I went to one last week that was full of people trying to sell dodgy plastic baubles filled with unicorns and the likes.

I agree. We went to one the other week which cost £5 each to get in. To be fair the food stalls were great. Loads of choice and we came away with some delicious fudge. But the rest of the market was just rubbish. I expected a lot more Christmassy items eg handmade stockings, decorations, candles, and things that could be bought as presents. Instead there were at least 5 different stalls selling crystals and incense, and I spotted 2 stalls selling near identical ponchos that had obviously been bought as a job lot from China. There was another local one on today but by the looks of the photos on Facebook it was Usborne books and Stella & Dot.

Charging to go to a Christmas market is

You’d be better off shopping from small business on Etsy in front of your own Christmas tree than sitting in traffic before traipsing round a strange town, looking at tat, queuing for cashpoints and being gouged for substandard fatty food and vinegary mulled beverages.

And I’m not even a humbug, honest.

Its the price of mulled wine which gets me

I agree.
I remember years ago you could buy genuine handmade individual gifts.
Now it's all much of a muchness.
It all looks mass produced and cheap.

I haven't been to any larger Christmas markets but the small ones near me always seem to be full of hand made crafty stuff. It's not my bag and I always feel a bit sorry for the stall holders who look so bored. I much prefer a good old rummage at a jumble sale. Books, toys etc.

I’ve never been to one. Where are these ones you’re talking about?

I went to an awesome one yesterday in central London- they called it a car boot sale for wine. It was just wine and a few cheeses. You paid a pound a token and used that to taste wines, a generous slug per token - so probably the equivalent of £7 for 2 big glasses. Then you got a bit squiffy and bought a case of Chilean wine because you loved the people on the stall. Or maybe that was just me. Anyway, it was a top market.

That wine one sounded good.

@PinkOboe most towns seem to do them these days, I remember Birmingham about 5 years ago being good, I think it's gone downhill though.

Posted too soon

Haven't made it to Birmingham in a while

I agree. Crowded and full of tat.

Same old tat, same old annoying people who stop dead right in front of you or gather in a large groups blocking everyone or have an in depth chat with their mate right in front of a stall so you can't get to it.
I've hung my Christmas market hat up once and for all. Never again!
Grinch n proud