To feel awkward shopping at markets

[wanderingwillows]

I always feel awkward wandering around markets (eg Saturday morning artisan market or local festival stalls) because I feel bad if I don’t buy from any particular stall!! Surely the stallholders think/know you’re silently judging their products and if you don’t choose to buy one then it’s like a damning judgment on their hard work or craft?! Is it just me?!

I feel the same. I feel very watched and much more pressure to buy something, if I stop to look!

Same! Even in independent shops where they greet me when I go in. I prefer to be ignored until I approach the till otherwise it’s too much pressure 😳

Yes! I don't look round them now as the pressure l feel isn’t worth it! I once went to a very small, indoor craft market. When l walked in, l realised l was the only customer. It was excruciating as each stall holder looked at me expectantly. I ended up buying a pair of earrings from one stall because l felt so much obligation!

I know what you mean, I remember going into an independent shop a while ago that must have been struggling because it has recently closed.

As soon as I walked in the door the owner was all over me, trying to get me to buy something.

I actually just came in the a browse.

I know it's tough out there, but pressure to buy makes you want to stay at home!

Same. Always feel very awkward about not spending on their relatively expensive artisanal products.

Yeah I feel the same. So I don’t do it!

Yes, it’s hard isn’t it?

Oh my god yes, I just never ever go in them anymore. Sometimes you just want to look and the seller/maker starts a conversation about the materials used, etc. And you're just trying to leave.

Even worse when on holiday and you are expected to haggle. Cannot be arsed with that.

Yes. I’ve never really understood ‘browsing’ as a leisure activity.

The stall holders/artisans ought to know that their products are luxuries tbh.

I've got several things that my dad and his wife bought as presents at these places. Some of them turned out to have been quite expensive and I'll never wear/use them, but they liked "supporting" craftspeople. I've got a garish silk scarf that cost £125!!

I get this too! If there’s something small like a card, I always buy one as they’re often lovely and go in my card box. I once read that just buying something small really helps, there’s a campaign just a card which just for this - https://www.justacard.org

Appreciate that it’s difficult for more specialist markets, I love to browse but feel bad if I don’t buy. Hopefully the sellers understand! Meanwhile I have a box of lovely cards 🙂

Yes, I also hate asking how much something costs because then if I don’t buy it, they’ll think I can’t afford it 😆

I feel exactly the same when walking around car boot sales, and the vendor is sat at the table watching 😬.

Ha ha thought it was just me! Glad I’m not alone.

Even worse when there are no prices. The only reason for not having the prices, is so the can decide at the time what they think you can afford. I don't bother with stalls like that, even if its something I'd consider buying.

I sell high end items at craft markets. Please don’t feel awkward - I am very happy for customers to browse my stall but not buy anything. You are making my stall look busy/popular just by standing there and looking, which often encourages other people to look too.

I hate artisan markets. The prices are insane. I'm still smarting from telling DS he could choose something and the little horror chose a bag of four marshmallows for £8, in 2006.

Omg yes. We had a festival locally and I was too scared to look at the stalls as I didn’t want to raise their hopes and then not buy anything.

I used to feel awkward, thinking the stall holder was pinning their hopes on me and would be angry if they spent time explaining something that I then didn't want. But then I looked after my FIL's craft stall a couple of times and realised that actually there is no expectation that anyone wants to buy, the sellers speak to you because they're human and not because they're trying to make you feel guilty if you walk away with nothing, and they're not thinking you're cheap/heartless if you don't fancy anything you see!

I sell at craft markets and never, never have an expectation of customers buying anything just because they’ve had a browse. Sometimes it’s even just nice that people are complimentary! I do try and judge by people’s manner as they approach - if they say hi, make eye contact etc and play it by ear as I go. But please don’t be put off. Most of us work alone and the market is the only time we get feedback/reaction.

I’m totally with you.
Theres no way on gods earth I can bring myself to pay £7 for a brownie.
And I feel incredibly judged when I look and smile.
The only think I usually buy are sausages - I don’t buy anything I make myself as it’s generally not as good looking at you£7 brownies!

I already like you fellow grudge holder !
The £7 brownie was 2016. Still cross with myself.

Yup, I think it's because markets and small shops are generally a lot quieter these days that you feel "watched" all the time. If you go to a busy one, then the stallholders/staff are more likely to be dealing with another customer, and even if not, then you're not as self conscious because there's lots of other customers looking around too. I find it really off-putting and it does mean I am less likely to go to them and if so, more likely to speed through and not actually look/buy anything.

Don't know what the answer is really.

Of course, another aspect is the rise of shoplifting, so stallholders and shop staff ARE on the look out for people nicking stuff, so they WILL be watching you, even more so if they own the business rather than employed staff, as owners are more likely to challenge/stop shoplifters rather than staff who these days seem to be told not to intervene!

OP, and all the rest of you who don’t get it, that’s the whole point of a market! A load of sellers set up their stalls precisely so that people can come and look, judge, and buy if the product it worth buying for them.

<shakes head sadly>