Puzzled by Fruit and Veg Men in the Market

[NotQuiteCockney]

I'm trying to use our local fruit and veg men in the market, particularly as our local supermarket is closing (!!).

But I'm finding the whole "flirting" thing they do rather offputting. I realise they don't mean it. But I still find it very strange to be called "gorgeous" while buying strawberries. (It's not offensive to me, it just seems so silly.) Is there any way to get out of this?

Why do they do it?

Simply say "Thanks you, sex-god" when they hand you your vegetables. If buying a large marrow say "oooh, look at the size of your marrow!" and wink lasciviously.

Men and their egos!!! Thats what they are all like in the markets isn't it? Depends what mood I am in, sometimes I find it fun and cheers up my day and other times its proper embarrassing (especially when I am old enough to be the young lad's mum and his face has an outbreak of acne!!!!).

I think its just a fact of life NQC, building sites are just the same and will never change!!!! We should give as much as we get!!!!

You could try growing a beard, like St Wilgefortis, NQC. I think it takes radical action of this level to stop market traders calling everyone gorgeous.
Soupy's suggestion sounds good, but only if you actually want to buy the world's most pointless vegetable. You could ask to squeeze their lychees I suppose.
You affected by the great Morrisons debacle then?

They do sell more stuff that way, the more familiar sill and humorous they are the more people spend...

Strange but true
It's the same at car boot sales and antiques fairs (ptobably shops as well but it's less the done thing but the hello how are today stuff is a mild version of it)

y'all'ight sweet'eart, whatcha arfer today luv.

i think its all part of it. fruit and veg men can get away with saying all sortsof things that nobody else would

i love the markets, shame i d9ont get to go very often.

Even though its just banter it can sometimes brighten your day when they are like that!!!

Eh, Marina, you've met me. Ok, I don't have a beard, but without kids, I certainly don't look like a heterosexual! I was just so so so boggled.

I'm fine with the "aright love, how you doing?" sort of thing. I've got used to being called "love" for no apparent reason, and sweetheart, too. It's being called "gorgeous" etc that throws me off. I realise they're not expecting me to snog them or anything (although, now that I think about it, that would stop it) ... shopkeepers do not do this sort of thing in Canada.

And yeah, it's a Morrisons thing - are they closing all over? I can't imagine what this will do to my regular way of doing things, and the street it's on.

(I'm not really following news at the moment, well, I am, but I'm running a backlog of newspapers from my holidays still.)

You know, if I dolled myself up etc then I guess it might brighten my day ... but I just am not that interested in all that.

Hmm, now I sound like a nun.

I mean, I do actually like flirting. In Montreal, where I used to live, there's a lot of flirting in the street, but it's (sort-of) real. I mean, people don't generally hit on each other in the street, but if a guy starts making eyes at you, at least you know they mean it! This strange fake flirting just makes me want to laugh, or ask "are you having me on?"

But that would be rude. I'll get used to it, I'm sure. The fruit and veg are good quality and cheap, at least.

Lol at Soupy '"oooh, look at the size of your marrow!" and wink lasciviously.' Very Carry On films!

I'm used to this being born and bred in London - does it happen in other regions I wonder? I can understand how strange it would seem as my inlaws used to live in Cornwall and someone in the shop there once said to me "hello my lover" and I nearly had a heart attack!!

The "allo darlin' crafty cockney" banter is normal to me and I don't bat an eyelid (well I might if the market trader was particularly handsome but I would brush it off and just laugh and say "cheers darlin" back.

A supermarket closing?! Oh good!

I would just play up the role of outraged pillar of the community matron in return.
'Stop that nonsense instantly young man! I'm old enough to be your mother!'

Or alternatively,lean forward,growl and say 'I'd eat you for dinner and still have room for three more.'

You lot make me laugh!

During my pregnancy there was a definite moment when I suddenly went from normal but podgy looking to very obviously pregnant. Saw the fruit and veg guy at the market and he called out, from across the road: 'Hello gorgeous, that's not one of mine, is it?' Made me laugh. But then I'm not offended by their banter - find it quite amusing. Can imagine someone else might have been horrified.

The guy at my local recycling centre took one look at me and yelled to his colleague 'Joe, get a chair for the lady, can't you see she's in a predicament?'. Bless him.

Eat you for dinner would be a dangerous line if you were pregnant, though.

psml at your fruit and veg bloke edam!
What freaked me was when my bump became obvious,a lechy colleague came up and said
'Well well Moondog,and what have you been up to then??' with a lascivious smile.
I felt really...... tainted by his filthy talk.

Yeee-uck, Moondog!

Actually I can see Zippi's point - I suppose they are building contact with their customers.

I love it

Its just such a refreshing change from the poker faced, professional men that I work with. None of them look like they've had a good s**g anytime this century!

Actually I'm kind of guilty of this myself - coming from Yorkshire, when I'm shopping I find myself occasionally calling assistants 'love' as in 'thanks, love'. Or if someone on the street moves over to let me past in the buggy. Get very funny looks here in the S East.

Ugh at your colleague, moondog. It isn't anything like that, thank goodness. It would be quite a different thing if it was.

I agree about a supermarket closing, but at the same time, this one is right next to our local library and is a very practical place to grab a quick thing or two. I'm not at all surprised about it closing, though, it's always been so so badly run.

Awww! I love that about markets. It's all part of the experience.

Mind you I remember when I was young (props herself forward on her stick and beckons, with a bony finger, anyone who'll listen with I used to be furious when blokes wolf whistled or shouted lewd comments from the window of their truck.

These days I'm greateful for any shred of attention they'll give me.

If anyone whistles or makes lewd comments at me now I assume they're taking the p*ss.

Agree, give as good as you get, the odd, flower thrown back on the end of your sentence to whom ever is badgering you can work wonders too!

SD!!
I love it too! Find market traders and workmen quite sexy actually (especially workmen in big boots and hard hats! So different from the average emasculated British bloke pushing a trolley round Tesco in a fleece and a clean pair of jeans. Doesn't do it for me at all i'm afraid...))

There's a lot to be said for a big, strong capable man with a low slung tool belt, a bare chest and a hard hat.
(Glazes over, deep in thought)