From the article: Dealing with Difficult Craft Show Shoppers
Difficult craft show shoppers come in two basic varieties: time wasters and profit cutters with many variations on those two themes. When working at craft shows, what are some of the difficult customer situations you've encountered and how have you handled it - maybe even turning the less-than-ideal circumstance into a successful sale? Share Your Experience
Some ideas about a difficult customer
- For the customer who wants to cut price, ask what part of the piece she thinks is overpriced? Then make her a deal (all with humor) you find me someone who will make that at no cost to me, and will not only pass the savings on to you, I will pay a referral fee". I have looked for years for him/her to work with their material and time for free then allow me to sell it. It usually gets a sale, or they move on. For the one who just will not leave, I would give them a dollar and ask if they would mind running to the stand and buying a coke for me? I never had a refusal, never got the coke, but for a dollar I did get rid of the pest. For the guy who can buy cheaper at another store, look him in the eye and ask ever so sweetly, "well why in the world didn't you buy it"? You do not want to work angry, you will never win them all, but you can have some fun with the jerk. Remember your other customers hear every word you say, never be nasty. Good Selling, Edana
- —Guest Edana_Daithi
Design Theft
- I've had 3 obvious cases of attempted design theft at craft markets - one refused to engage in coversation, the other two were not shy about it. Buying the least expensive item they could escape with, one lady said "I'll take these to the nursing home - that would be a good project for them." The other one said, "We have so many beads at the Girl Guides, we can use them to make some of these." It's killing me - because I spent months and mucho dollars developing my original designs. I'm going to make a design theft warning card that I slip into their bag of goodies next time!
- —Guest me too
...and I'm glad I said it.
- I once had a woman say (not whisper) out loud to her friend right in front of me pointing to my hand-fabricated jewelry saying, "Oh. My granddaughter can do that. Don't waste your money." My response? "She can? How wonderful! Will you give her my phone number? I'm looking for a studio assistant!" With a HUGE smile on my face, of course :D Sometimes you just can't turn a sale around and you have to have some fun with the rude ones...and I'm not sorry I did it :)
- —Guest MarloM
Problem Talker
- I used to have a brick and mortar shop and sometimes it was difficult to get rid of people who had overstayed their welcome. Mostly the fake phone call trick would work, but one very slow day I had a couple come in who Would Not Leave. They flat out told me they didn't have any money, but they just stood there yakking away at me and not even looking around at the merchandise. Just talking AT me and it was not even remotely interesting. I told them I had work to do, I told them I had a custom project to do for another customer. I told them how nice it was talking, BYE NOW. They just didn't get it. I finally had to fake a phone call from my neighbor telling me my house was on fire. Seriously. I told the couple and they STILL wanted to chat. So I got out my keys and led them to the door and CLOSED. I think they were still standing outside the shop, dumbfounded, as I drove away.
- —Guest lefthandedgoth
I don't haggle prices
- I have dealt with every type of problem customer there is, and it's never easy. But when it comes to my prices, I NEVER negotiate. This is not a flea market or a yard sale, it is a retail event where the prices are set. When I am asked to reduce my prices, my response is a polite but firm "No". There are plenty of people who come to shows prepared to pay the prices that are posted, so I don't need to haggle with those looking to get something for nothing. Unfortunately, so many crafters will haggle that it makes it hard for those of us who won't. My items are unique, handmade, and high quality. Therefore I don't have a problem charging what they are worth. I don't justify my prices, and I don't apologize for them. This has not been an easy road to take, but my purpose here is to make a living, not just to get rid of inventory. We are competing with imports, so I choose my shows carefully, to make sure that I am in a quality show. This takes time and effort, but it's worth it
- —Guest Pam
It's a craft show not speed dating
- I really hate it when some guy thinks it's ok to just hang around my booth chattering like we're at a speed dating event. I mean really! Do I have to bring my boyfriend with me to every craft show I attend? It's creepy and offensive.
- —Guest Clara
Craft Show Cheapskates
- All I will say is that all my craft show customers have been cheapskates but that's because I know I'm at the wrong shows. I haven't gotten juried into the really great shows around here as there is unfortunately a clique controlling most of the good shows. We are (un)fortunately blessed by the presence of the RI School of Design which dominates most of the art shows around here. So I'm stuck with the small shows where the penny pinchers abound. Also I don't make jewelry or sew--I do more quirky stuff which is admired by people but most don't buy. And my prices are CHEAP. I cover my expenses to make something, that's it. I don't charge for my time because I'm just trying to make sales. I need to get my etsy shop up and running plus a couple of other places, just haven't had time up until now. http://rhodyart.blogspot.com
- —Lin
Design Theft
- I've had to totally eliminate photography at my booth. I used to let potential customers use their phone to take an image of something they might be back to buy. No more. I've found out this is just another method competitors use to copy designs.
- —Guest Jason
Justifying the Cost of My Craft
- My pet peeve is when craft show shopper tell me they can buy my craft item for less money at another booth or at a store like Target. My main defense is to point out the quality of my craft and give them a little tutorial on how I made it. Sometimes I turn this into a sale, other times I don't but at least I tried.
- —Guest Jennifer M
