I have a Christmas shopping question

[WutheredOut]

I own a small shop that is always very very popular at Xmas and this week seems to have bought out the worst in people - I totally understand everyone is frantic and probably not being their best self but I have two questions

If you picked up and then dropped a very expensive piece of pottery would you offer to pay for it (as a reasonable shop keeper I would only ever accept the customer paying cost price for something they broke and would never charge full price - but with my margins I now need to sell four more identical items to pay for the broken pot)

Also …. if you wanted, for example, a panettone for new year would you’d ask the shop keeper when they would be reducing the price of their stock after Xmas or would you buy the panettone full price now (for the record I never reduce my Xmas stock after Xmas!)

Small businesses are really struggling this year and with our incredible government adding new and interesting extra costs next year we will be struggling even more

I am constantly amazed at how people try to barter with someone who is obviously trying to run a small family business

I suspect I am too emotional and financially involved but am I being unreasonable?

If I or my child broke something, I'd absolutely offer to pay. I likely wouldn't ask when stock would be reduced, I'd just go back after Xmas and see if it had been or not. I can't barter and don't attempt to. If I think something is more than im willing to pay, I don't buy it.

1 - yes I'd offer to pay.
2 - don't see the harm in asking if there's a sale after Xmas but no wouldn't ask the date.

My problem is I am too nice! I had a small child in a few weeks ago who broke a gingerbread man - they put it back on the shelf so I picked it up and said oh I guess I might have to eat that with my cup of tea!
I hate confrontation 😂
My staff are fabulous and they are more likely to accept a offer of payment

Mind you I had a man who came in with his son last week - he gave him a bag of flour to hold which he dropped and split - I said never mind we can tape that up for you

He then unbeknownst to me put it back on the shelf and selected a new one

Fortunately I can always use flour but argh it’s so frustrating!

This for me too. I would never ask for a discount.
I would most likely linger in the supermarket for panettone but I don't really like it.
I have a few small businesses I really try to use and my NY resolution is to use them more and really restrict my Amazon use.
I'm sorry you are going through it.
It's hard when you are too nice cos others just aren't.

You need a clear sign on the door that items are fragile and breakages will have to be paid for. It’s a fair warning to look out for if you are clumsy or taking in children.

Many shops display a notice "all breakages must be paid for". But that may be a difficult concept in a world where people think nothing of buying a dress online, wearing it for an event, and then returning it to get their money back.

If I were buying a panettone for new year, I would be waiting and hoping I could get it reduced after Christmas, or late on Christmas Eve. I wouldn't ask the shop owner.

I agree with all of this.

When ds was 2ish, we were in a farm shop type place. I was holding him on my front with his head on my shoulder. I thought he was asleep, until he reached out his arm and swept a shelf of jams and chutneys etc to the (slate) floor. They all smashed. Must have been £100 worth of stock.

I attempted to pay, offered to clean up, but they wouldn't take payment. Probably just wanted us out of there!

That must have been 15 years ago. I have shopped there (without ds) more often than I probably would have done if I didn't feel I owed them a load of profit!

This!